The race for the state Supreme Court continued to intensify Wednesday, when a special interest group advertisement stated Justice Louis Butler ruled in cases where he had conflicts of interest.

The conservative group Coalition for America’s Families, which has spent $418,000 in ads against Butler, stated in the ad Butler had accepted $30,000 in contributions from lawyers who were arguing before the Supreme Court.

Erin Celello, communications director for the Butler campaign, said the contributions are legal and Butler reports donations whenever necessary. “This is eleventh hour mudslinging in a desperate attempt to discredit an honorable Supreme Court justice,” Celello said.

Butler has asked for all special interest group ads to be taken off the air, according to Celello. She said the amount of money spent by special interest groups is making it difficult for both campaigns to reach voters.

Darrin Schmitz, consultant for Burnett Circuit Court Judge Michael Gableman, said it would be important for voters to consider candidates’ ethical records before the election Tuesday.

Gableman is also against the amount of money spent by outside interest groups, according to Schmitz.

“Judge Gableman has stated time and time again that he wishes third party groups would take their interests elsewhere and not participate,” Schmitz said.

Special interest groups have spent over $1.8 million in the race, with typically Republican-leaning groups supporting Gableman and Democratic-leaning groups supporting Butler. The two candidates are campaigning for a 10-year position on the court.