MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) – Wisconsin Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson says a constitutional amendment approved by voters last week changing the method by which the state’s chief justice is selected cannot be implemented until a “naturally-occurring” vacancy occurs.

Abrahamson filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin Wednesday — the day after state voters approved the amendment, which changes the seniority rule to an election of the justices for a two-year term. The nonpartisan Government Accountability Board is expected to certify the vote at its April 29 meeting.