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Juan Colás
Juan Colás was a judge for Branch 10 of the Dane County Circuit Court in Wisconsin. Colás assumed office in 2008. Colás left office on December 17, 2022.
Colás ran for re-election for the Branch 10 judge of the Dane County Circuit Court in Wisconsin. Colás won in the general election on April 6, 2021.
Biography
Education
Colás received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.[1] He earned a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1981.[2]
Career
Prior to his appointment to the Dane County Circuit Court in 2008, Colás served as an assistant attorney general in the Wisconsin Department of Justice, beginning in 1992. He also served as legal counsel to Governor Tony Earl.[2] Colás worked in Milwaukee as an assistant public defender before his move to the Department of Justice in 1992.[1]
Elections
2021
See also: Municipal elections in Dane County, Wisconsin (2021)
General election
General election for Dane County Circuit Court Branch 10
Incumbent Juan Colás won election in the general election for Dane County Circuit Court Branch 10 on April 6, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Juan Colás (Nonpartisan) | 99.3 | 78,472 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.7 | 584 | ||
| Total votes: 79,056 | |||
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Nonpartisan primary election
The primary election was canceled. Incumbent Juan Colás advanced from the primary for Dane County Circuit Court Branch 10.
2015
See also: Wisconsin judicial elections, 2015
Colás was re-elected without opposition to the Dane County Circuit Court, Branch 10 in 2015. Wisconsin's general judicial election was held on April 7, 2015. The filing deadline for candidates was January 6, 2015.[3][4]
Campaign themes
2021
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Juan Colás did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.
Noteworthy cases
Small victory for Wisconsin unions
The long-running battle between union leaders and the state of Wisconsin has yielded a small victory for opponents of Governor Scott Walker's collective bargaining restrictions.[5]
On October 21, Dane County Circuit Court Judge Juan Colás ordered labor relations officials to stop enforcing parts of Walker's restrictions. The court decision requires city employers to again meet with unions to discuss wages, working conditions and hours. Though employers are still under no obligation to bend to a union's will, since it is illegal for unions to force arbitration or strike, collective bargaining leaders are pleased by the ruling.[5]
Commented Rick Badger, executive director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 40,
| “ | The big thing is we can at least talk to the employers again. Right now, we had employers who said we’d like to sit down with you but we can’t. This at least allows that dialogue. If that happens, good things happen.[5][6] | ” |
According to Christina Brey, spokeswoman for the Wisconsin Education Association Council, many local union chapters are unsure of what action to take following the ruling. Most teachers unions are still trying to understand it and are seeking legal advice. Without the ability to force arbitration or strike, collective bargainers are not optimistic about negotiations.[5]
There's was no telling if or how long Colás' ruling would remain in effect, as the state supreme court could reverse the decision. The predominantly conservative high court had already upheld the bargaining restrictions once since 2011, when Walker's bill incited months of massive protests on the lawn of the state's capitol.[5]
Dan Thompson, executive director of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, remarked,
| “ | We have an obligation to bargain in good faith, but it’s difficult to bargain when you’re not quite sure what the ruling will be. . . We are in a very fluid, unsettled legal environment and both sides know that.[5][6] | ” |
In November 2013, on a vote of 5-2, the supreme court threw out a contempt order issued against Colás. The majority indicated the lower court infringed on the supreme court's ruling when it issued the contempt order in a matter already pending before the supreme court.[7]
However, the court did not issue a stay on the ruling Colás issued in 2012, which found that portions of the state's 2011 law limiting collective bargaining rights was unconstitutional.[7]
The supreme court held oral arguments in the case on November 11, 2013.[8] On July 31, 2014, the Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld Act 10 "in its entirety", overturning Judge Colás' ruling. The vote was 5-2, with Justices Abrahamson and Bradley in dissent.[9]
Opposition to Act 10
Colás remains steadfast in his opposition to Wisconsin’s Act 10, the controversial collective bargaining reform law, and his 2012 decision declaring the law unconstitutional.[10] He maintains that the law violates the rights to free speech and free association, even though several Wisconsin courts maintain the law's constitutionality. While making clear his opposition to Act 10, he will not stop the state from enforcing the law.[10] The state will continue to enforce Act 10 as the law's constitutionality remains to be decided by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
See also
2021 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Madison.com, "Colas is Appointed Dane Judge Doyle Names the County's First Hispanic Judge," February 7, 2008
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 University of Wisconsin Law School, "First Hispanic judge on Dane County Circuit Court is UW Law School Alumnus," February 8, 2008
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Ballot Access Checklist For 2015 Judicial Candidates," accessed December 18, 2014
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "2015 Spring Election," accessed January 8, 2015
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 HTR News, "Wisconsin employers can impose terms despite ruling," October 22, 2013
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Wisconsin State Journal, "Supreme Court voids Act 10 contempt order," November 22, 2013
- ↑ Wisconsin Reporter, "WI Supreme Court takes up challenge to Act 10," November 12, 2014
- ↑ MacIver Institute, "Wisconsin Supreme Court Upholds Scott Walker's Act 10 "in Its Entirety"," July 31, 2014
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 WatchDog.org, "In Act 10 land, Wisconsin’s Judge Colas stands alone," accessed October 25, 2013
Federal courts:
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Wisconsin, Western District of Wisconsin • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Wisconsin, Western District of Wisconsin
State courts:
Wisconsin Supreme Court • Wisconsin Court of Appeals • Wisconsin Circuit Courts • Wisconsin Municipal Courts
State resources:
Courts in Wisconsin • Wisconsin judicial elections • Judicial selection in Wisconsin
