MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A recent analysis is raising questions about cases presided over by Washington County circuit judge Annette Ziegler.

The Wisconsin State Journal in Madison found that Ziegler heard 22 cases involving companies in which she owned at least $50,000 worth of stock.

The 43-year-old Ziegler faces Madison attorney Linda Clifford in the April 3 general election for a seat on the state high court.

Wisconsin Judicial Commission executive director James Alexander says Supreme Court rules mandate that judges withdraw from cases in which they have more than an insignificant financial interest -- or inform both parties of the conflict.

A state judicial panel in 2000 said $20,000 should be the minimum cutoff.

Ziegler says she takes her job seriously and that she got no financial or personal gain from any of those cases.

But Alexander says that's irrelevant. He says judges should recuse themselves if there's even the appearance of impropriety.

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