Annette Ziegler's handling of cases involving companies with which she has financial ties has become the most talked-about issue in the race for Wisconsin Supreme Court. Here's how the controversy has unfolded:

Jan. 31: The liberal One Wisconsin Now Action group reports that as a Washington County Circuit Court judge, Ziegler was handling a case involving Wal-Mart, in which she owns up to $100,000 in stock.

Feb. 9: Ziegler withdraws from the Wal-Mart case, citing "an appearance of impropriety."

Feb. 15: Jay Bullock reports on his blog, "folkbum's rambles and rants," that Ziegler has presided over cases involving West Bend Savings Bank, where her husband, J.J. Ziegler, is a director

March 1: Ziegler campaign manager Mark Graul tells the Wisconsin State Journal that Ziegler's practice was to notify the parties of conflicts of interest and get their permission to continue overseeing the West Bend Savings cases

March 4: The State Journal reports that contrary to the state Judicial Code of Conduct and Graul's statement, Ziegler did not withdraw from at least four West Bend Savings cases nor notify the parties of her conflict. Ziegler responded that most of the cases were uncontested and some never reached her desk but were handled by a clerk

March 5: Ziegler tells an audience in Spring Green that she uses a "gut check" to determine whether she has a conflict of interest. She said "any judge ruling on those would've ruled the exact same way" and that neither she nor her husband got "one single penny or one single advantage for any decision in any of those cases."

March 6: The State Journal reports that in 46 West Bend Savings cases, Ziegler neither withdrew nor notified the parties of her conflict. The newspaper also reports that Ziegler presided over at least five cases involving United Heathcare, a company in which she owns at least $50,000 in stock.

March 11: The State Journal reports that Ziegler has presided over 22 cases involving companies in which she owns $50,000 or more in stock without withdrawing or notifying the parties of her potential conflict. The newspaper also reports that in a 2000 opinion, the Judicial Conduct Advisory Committee advised that recusal would be required when a judge owns $20,000 in stock.

March 16: Ziegler is quoted in the Hudson Star Observer newspaper as saying that criticism of her handling of the West Bend Savings cases is "big city thinking" and that in a smaller county or town, judges often know the people in the cases they see.

March 19: The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign files a complaint with the Wisconsin Judicial Commission, outlining 16 cases in which the group alleges Ziegler had an undisclosed conflict of interest.

March 22: Ziegler announces she will place the stock she and her husband own in 174 companies in a blind trust. Her spokesman says it's not required but is an "extra step" Ziegler is taking to "give an extra measure of insurance of impartiality."

- By DEE J. HALL | Lee Newspapers

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