MADISON, Wis. -- A Jefferson County circuit court judge is expected to announce that he is running against Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson.

Judge Randy Koschnick planned a news conference for Monday afternoon in the state Capitol to discuss the race. His press release was paid for by a committee called Koschnick for Justice.

The 48-year-old Koschnick said in October that he was leaning toward running and if he did, it would be as a "traditional judicial conservative."

The 74-year-old Abrahamson is running for a fourth 10-year term on the court she joined in 1976. She has served as chief justice since 1996.

Koschnick was elected judge in 1999 and previously worked 14 years as a public defender in La Crosse and Jefferson counties.