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Wisconsin judicial elections, 2014: Difference between revisions

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''See also: [[JP Election Brief: Who's qualified? Courts, candidates and special interest groups all want a say]]''
''See also: [[JP Election Brief: Who's qualified? Courts, candidates and special interest groups all want a say]]''


On April 1, [[Wisconsin]] kicked off the season with their spring general election. In the race for Branch 1 of the [[Dunn County Circuit Court, Wisconsin|Dunn County Circuit Court]],[[James M. Peterson]] came out on top. Peterson defeated [[Roger M. Hillestad]] in the primary and received 51.5 percent of the vote in the general election, trumping [[Christina M. Mayer]]'s 39.8 percent.<ref name=dunn>[http://www.dunncountywi.govoffice2.com/vertical/sites/%7B8D65D186-760D-414B-890C-7C4376A23107%7D/uploads/Circuit_Court_Judge.pdf ''Dunn County Website'', "Tabular Statement of Votes Cast," April 1, 2014] ''([[dead link]])''</ref> The contested race for Branch 3 of the [[Jefferson County Circuit Court, Wisconsin|Jefferson County Circuit Court]], [[Dave Wambach]] triumphed over opponent [[Joann Miller]]. Wambach won with 57.6 percent of the electorate compared to Miller's 42.4 percent.<ref name=jefferson>[http://wisconsinelectionwatch.com/16006/jefferson-county-judge-david-wambach-easily-defeats-joann-miller/ ''Wisconsin Election Watch'', "Jefferson County Judge: David Wambach Easily Defeats JoAnn Miller," accessed April 2, 2014]</ref>  
On April 1, [[Wisconsin]] held their spring general election. In the race for Branch 1 of the [[Dunn County Circuit Court, Wisconsin|Dunn County Circuit Court]],[[James M. Peterson]] defeated [[Roger M. Hillestad]] in the primary and received 51.5 percent of the vote in the general election, trumping [[Christina M. Mayer]]'s 39.8 percent.<ref name=dunn>[http://www.dunncountywi.govoffice2.com/vertical/sites/%7B8D65D186-760D-414B-890C-7C4376A23107%7D/uploads/Circuit_Court_Judge.pdf ''Dunn County Website'', "Tabular Statement of Votes Cast," April 1, 2014] ''([[dead link]])''</ref> The contested race for Branch 3 of the [[Jefferson County Circuit Court, Wisconsin|Jefferson County Circuit Court]], [[Dave Wambach]] defeated opponent [[Joann Miller]]. Wambach won with 57.6 percent of the electorate compared to Miller's 42.4 percent.<ref name=jefferson>[http://wisconsinelectionwatch.com/16006/jefferson-county-judge-david-wambach-easily-defeats-joann-miller/ ''Wisconsin Election Watch'', "Jefferson County Judge: David Wambach Easily Defeats JoAnn Miller," accessed April 2, 2014]</ref>  




In an unexpected upset, [[Vicki Taggatz Clussman]] defeated the newly appointed incumbent [[Keith A. Steckbauer]] for Branch 2 of the [[Waupaca County Circuit Court, Wisconsin|Waupaca County Circuit Court]]. Clussman, who had served as assistant district attorney for [[Waupaca County, Wisconsin (Judicial)|Waupaca County]] since 1987, received 57.5 percent of the vote to Steckbauer's 42.3 percent.<ref name=waupaca>[http://www.co.waupaca.wi.us/Portals/0/DeptFiles/County%20Clerk/4-1-14%20Judge%20BRANCH%202%20UNOFFICIAL%20RESULTS.pdf ''Waupaca County Website'', "Tabular Statement of Votes Cast," April 1, 2014]</ref> Steckbauer was a former attorney and owner of the firm ''Steckbauer Law S.C.''. He was appointed to the bench by Governor {{BP|Scott Walker}} on January 14, 2014.<ref name=wew>[http://wisconsinelectionwatch.com/13059/keith-steckbauer-2/ ''Wisconsin Election Watch'', "Keith Steckbauer," accessed January 20, 2014]</ref><ref name=appoint>[http://www.wsaw.com/home/headlines/Governor-Scott-Walker-Appoints-Waupaca-County-Judge-240547981.html ''WSAW News'', "Governor Scott Walker Appoints Waupaca County Judge," January 16, 2014]</ref> The race in Waupaca had been hotly contested since the primary, where Clussman and Steckbauer prevailed over challengers [[Brenda Starr Freeman]] and [[Edmund J. Jelinski]].
[[Vicki Taggatz Clussman]] defeated the newly appointed incumbent [[Keith A. Steckbauer]] for Branch 2 of the [[Waupaca County Circuit Court, Wisconsin|Waupaca County Circuit Court]]. Clussman, who had served as assistant district attorney for [[Waupaca County, Wisconsin (Judicial)|Waupaca County]] since 1987, received 57.5 percent of the vote to Steckbauer's 42.3 percent.<ref name=waupaca>[http://www.co.waupaca.wi.us/Portals/0/DeptFiles/County%20Clerk/4-1-14%20Judge%20BRANCH%202%20UNOFFICIAL%20RESULTS.pdf ''Waupaca County Website'', "Tabular Statement of Votes Cast," April 1, 2014]</ref> Steckbauer was a former attorney and owner of the firm ''Steckbauer Law S.C.''. He was appointed to the bench by Governor {{BP|Scott Walker}} on January 14, 2014.<ref name=wew>[http://wisconsinelectionwatch.com/13059/keith-steckbauer-2/ ''Wisconsin Election Watch'', "Keith Steckbauer," accessed January 20, 2014]</ref><ref name=appoint>[http://www.wsaw.com/home/headlines/Governor-Scott-Walker-Appoints-Waupaca-County-Judge-240547981.html ''WSAW News'', "Governor Scott Walker Appoints Waupaca County Judge," January 16, 2014]</ref> In the primary, Clussman and Steckbauer defeated challengers [[Brenda Starr Freeman]] and [[Edmund J. Jelinski]].




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''See also: [[JP Election Brief: Women successful in judicial races as incumbents face challengers]]''
''See also: [[JP Election Brief: Women successful in judicial races as incumbents face challengers]]''


Wisconsin voters, led the nation with a spring general election which took place on Tuesday, April 1, 2014.
Wisconsin voters led the nation with a spring general election which took place on Tuesday, April 1, 2014.




Judges in [[Wisconsin]] run in [[Nonpartisan election of judges|nonpartisan elections]] across the board. [[Wisconsin Supreme Court|Supreme court]] judges run for 10-year terms, [[Wisconsin Court of Appeals|appellate]] and [[Wisconsin Circuit Courts|circuit court]] judges run for six-year terms. If a judge leaves office mid-term, the Governor appoints a new judge who must then run in the next election. A situation like this happened earlier this year with the [[Waupaca County Circuit Court, Wisconsin|Waupaca County Circuit Court]]. Governor {{BP|Scott Walker}} appointed Judge [[Keith A. Steckbauer]] to the bench to fill the vacancy left by retiring Judge [[John Hoffmann (Wisconsin)|John Hoffmann]]. Steckbauer prevailed in the primary election and faced opponent [[Vicki Taggatz Clussman]] in the general election.
Judges in [[Wisconsin]] run in [[Nonpartisan election of judges|nonpartisan elections]] across the board. [[Wisconsin Supreme Court|Supreme court]] judges run for 10-year terms, [[Wisconsin Court of Appeals|appellate]] and [[Wisconsin Circuit Courts|circuit court]] judges run for six-year terms. If a judge leaves office mid-term, the Governor appoints a new judge who must then run in the next election. A situation like this happened earlier this year with the [[Waupaca County Circuit Court, Wisconsin|Waupaca County Circuit Court]]. Governor {{BP|Scott Walker}} appointed Judge [[Keith A. Steckbauer]] to the bench to fill the vacancy left by retiring Judge [[John Hoffmann (Wisconsin)|John Hoffmann]]. Steckbauer won in the primary election and faced opponent [[Vicki Taggatz Clussman]] in the general election.




The majority of the 2014 judicial races in Wisconsin were unopposed, with a few exceptions. [[Laura Gramling Perez]] faced [[Cedric Cornwall]] to compete for Branch 32 of the [[Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Wisconsin|Milwaukee County Circuit Court]]. For Branch 3 of the [[Jefferson County Circuit Court, Wisconsin|Jefferson County Circuit Court]], [[Dave Wambach]] and [[Joann Miller]] faced off. [[Robert A. Kennedy, Jr.]] challenged incumbent [[Leon Stenz]] of the [[Florence/Forest Counties Circuit Court, Wisconsin|Florence/Forest Counties Circuit Court]]. [[Christina M. Mayer]] and [[James M. Peterson]] competed for a seat on the [[Dunn County Circuit Court, Wisconsin|Dunn County Circuit Court]]. No supreme court judges were up for re-election in 2014, and there were no vacancies to fill, but [[Patricia Curley]], [[Lisa Neubauer]] and [[Gary Sherman]] all sought re-election at the appellate level.
The majority of the 2014 judicial races in Wisconsin were unopposed, with a few exceptions. [[Laura Gramling Perez]] faced [[Cedric Cornwall]] to compete for Branch 32 of the [[Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Wisconsin|Milwaukee County Circuit Court]]. For Branch 3 of the [[Jefferson County Circuit Court, Wisconsin|Jefferson County Circuit Court]], [[Dave Wambach]] and [[Joann Miller]] ran against each other. [[Robert A. Kennedy, Jr.]] challenged incumbent [[Leon Stenz]] of the [[Florence/Forest Counties Circuit Court, Wisconsin|Florence/Forest Counties Circuit Court]]. [[Christina M. Mayer]] and [[James M. Peterson]] competed for a seat on the [[Dunn County Circuit Court, Wisconsin|Dunn County Circuit Court]]. No supreme court judges were up for re-election in 2014, and there were no vacancies to fill, but [[Patricia Curley]], [[Lisa Neubauer]] and [[Gary Sherman]] all sought re-election at the appellate level.




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''See also: [[JP Election Brief: Wisconsin primary concludes as the rest of the nation is just heating up]]''
''See also: [[JP Election Brief: Wisconsin primary concludes as the rest of the nation is just heating up]]''


Two [[Wisconsin]] counties held judicial primaries on February 18, 2014. Here's what happened...
Two [[Wisconsin]] counties held judicial primaries on February 18, 2014.  
 


'''One candidate eliminated from Dunn County nonpartisan ticket'''
'''One candidate eliminated from Dunn County nonpartisan ticket'''


There were 1466 total votes cast in [[Dunn County, Wisconsin (Judicial)|Dunn County]] for the February nonpartisan judicial primary. The Dunn County Clerk reported that [[James M. Peterson]] had the strongest showing in the February 18 primary with 664 votes. Coming in second was [[Christina M. Mayer]] with 583 votes. Finally, [[Roger M. Hillestad]] had 218 votes and thus was not on the general election ballot. Peterson and Mayer squared off in the general election.<ref>[http://www.dunncountywi.govoffice2.com/vertical/sites/%7B8D65D186-760D-414B-890C-7C4376A23107%7D/uploads/UNOFFICIAL_ELECTION_RESULTS_FEBRUARY_18_2014.pdf ''Dunn County,'' Unofficial election results for the February 18, 2014 primary.]</ref>
There were 1466 total votes cast in [[Dunn County, Wisconsin (Judicial)|Dunn County]] for the February nonpartisan judicial primary. The Dunn County Clerk reported that [[James M. Peterson]] had the strongest showing in the February 18 primary with 664 votes. Coming in second was [[Christina M. Mayer]] with 583 votes. Finally, [[Roger M. Hillestad]] had 218 votes and thus was not on the general election ballot. Peterson and Mayer ran in the general election.<ref>[http://www.dunncountywi.govoffice2.com/vertical/sites/%7B8D65D186-760D-414B-890C-7C4376A23107%7D/uploads/UNOFFICIAL_ELECTION_RESULTS_FEBRUARY_18_2014.pdf ''Dunn County,'' Unofficial election results for the February 18, 2014 primary.]</ref>




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{{Election news collapsed
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|Title=Wisconsin 4-way race
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''See also: [[JP Election Brief: The Election Brief is back!]]''
''See also: [[JP Election Brief: The Election Brief is back!]]''


The retirement of former Judge [[John Hoffmann (Wisconsin)|John Hoffmann]] from the [[Waupaca County Circuit Court, Wisconsin|Waupaca County Circuit Court]] in [[Wisconsin]] sparked a perfect storm for a competitive judicial election in 2014.
The retirement of former Judge [[John Hoffmann (Wisconsin)|John Hoffmann]] from the [[Waupaca County Circuit Court, Wisconsin|Waupaca County Circuit Court]] in [[Wisconsin]] resulted in a competitive judicial election in 2014.




[[Keith A. Steckbauer]], [[Edmund J. Jelinski]], [[Vicki Taggatz Clussman]] and [[Brenda Starr Freeman]] all filed for candidacy to replace Hoffmann. Steckbauer was appointed by Governor [[Scott Walker]] to finish the remainder of Hoffmann’s term. He ran a private practice for 17 years prior to that appointment.<ref name=art1>[http://www.waupaca.com/Content/Default/Breaking-News/Article/What-makes-a-fair-judge/-3/37/22170 ''County Post,'' “What makes a fair judge,” By Robert Cloud, January 30, 2014]</ref> The other three challengers brought a wealth of public and private legal experience to the race.<ref name=art2>[http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20140128/APC010404/301280503/Waupaca-County-judge-District-2?nclick_check=1 ''Postcresant.com,'' Waupaca county judge, district 2. Date accessed, February 10, 2014]</ref> Clussman served as a veteran assistant district attorney in [[Waupaca County, Wisconsin (Judicial)|Waupaca County]] for 26 years. Freeman served as a probate contract guardian in [[Outagamie County, Wisconsin (Judicial)|Outagamie County]] and part-time district attorney in Waupaca County. Jelinski worked as a private practice attorney since 2003, and was a district attorney previously.<ref name=art3>[http://www.waupaca.com/Content/News/Waupaca-News/Article/Five-candidates-for-judge/7/16/21792 ''County Post'', “Five candidates for judge,” December 19, 2013]</ref>
[[Keith A. Steckbauer]], [[Edmund J. Jelinski]], [[Vicki Taggatz Clussman]] and [[Brenda Starr Freeman]] all filed for candidacy to replace Hoffmann. Steckbauer was appointed by Governor [[Scott Walker]] to finish the remainder of Hoffmann’s term. He ran a private practice for 17 years prior to that appointment.<ref name=art1>[http://www.waupaca.com/Content/Default/Breaking-News/Article/What-makes-a-fair-judge/-3/37/22170 ''County Post,'' “What makes a fair judge,” By Robert Cloud, January 30, 2014]</ref> The other three challengers brought histories of public and private legal experience to the race.<ref name=art2>[http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20140128/APC010404/301280503/Waupaca-County-judge-District-2?nclick_check=1 ''Postcresant.com,'' Waupaca county judge, district 2. Date accessed, February 10, 2014]</ref> Clussman served as a veteran assistant district attorney in [[Waupaca County, Wisconsin (Judicial)|Waupaca County]] for 26 years. Freeman served as a probate contract guardian in [[Outagamie County, Wisconsin (Judicial)|Outagamie County]] and part-time district attorney in Waupaca County. Jelinski worked as a private practice attorney since 2003, and was a district attorney previously.<ref name=art3>[http://www.waupaca.com/Content/News/Waupaca-News/Article/Five-candidates-for-judge/7/16/21792 ''County Post'', “Five candidates for judge,” December 19, 2013]</ref>




Latest revision as of 04:58, 2 July 2025

Judicial elections
Wisconsin judicial elections, 2014
Total candidates: 52
Incumbents: 41
Unopposed: 39
2015 →
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Judicial elections, 2014
Judicial election dates
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The 2014 Wisconsin judicial elections were the earliest in the nation, concluding in April. In 2014, the following counties saw contested judicial elections for the circuit courts: Dunn, Florence, Forest, Jefferson, Milwaukee and Waupaca.

Election dates

  • January 7: Filing deadline
  • February 18: Primary
  • April 1: General election[1]

In addition to candidate lists, this page includes information about how the state's judicial elections work, as well as articles about noteworthy news in races across the state.

Appellate courts

Wisconsin Court of Appeals District I

Unopposed  Judge Patricia Curley (Seat 1)

Wisconsin Court of Appeals District II

Unopposed  Judge Lisa Neubauer (Seat 1)

Wisconsin Court of Appeals District IV

Unopposed  Judge Gary Sherman (Seat 1)

Circuit courts

Jump to county:

Barron County Circuit Court, Wisconsin

Unopposed  Judge Maureen Boyle (Branch 3)
Unopposed  Judge Michael Bitney (Branch 2)

Chippewa County Circuit Court, Wisconsin

Unopposed  Judge Roderick Cameron (Branch 1)
Unopposed  Judge Steven Cray (Branch 3)

Dane County Circuit Court, Wisconsin

Unopposed  Judge John Markson (Branch 1)
Unopposed  Judge William Hanrahan (Branch 7)

Dodge County Circuit Court, Wisconsin

Unopposed  Judge Brian A. Pfitzinger (Branch 1)

Dodge County Circuit Court, Wisconsin

Unopposed  Judge Steven Bauer (Branch 4)

Dunn County Circuit Court, Wisconsin

Branch 1

CandidateIncumbencyPrimary VoteElection Vote
MayerChristina Mayer No48.4%   DefeatedD
PetersonJames PetersonApprovedANo51.5%   ApprovedA

Eau Claire County Circuit Court, Wisconsin

Unopposed  Judge Kristina Bourget (Branch 1)
Unopposed  Judge Michael Schumacher (Branch 2)

Florence/Forest Counties Circuit Court, Wisconsin

CandidateIncumbencyPrimary VoteElection Vote
KennedyRobert Kennedy Jr. No37.0%   DefeatedD
StenzLeon StenzApprovedAYes63.0%   ApprovedA

Fond du Lac County Circuit Court, Wisconsin

Unopposed  Judge Dale English (Branch 1)

Jefferson County Circuit Court, Wisconsin

Branch 3

CandidateIncumbencyPrimary VoteElection Vote
MillerJoann Miller No42.4%   DefeatedD
WambachDave WambachApprovedAYes57.6%   ApprovedA

Juneau County Circuit Court, Wisconsin

Unopposed  Judge Paul S. Curran (Branch 2)

Kenosha County Circuit Court, Wisconsin

Unopposed  Judge Bruce Schroeder (Branch 3)

Marathon County Circuit Court, Wisconsin

Unopposed  Judge LaMont Jacobson (Branch 3)

Marinette County Circuit Court, Wisconsin

Unopposed  Judge David Miron (Branch 1)

Menominee/Shawano County Circuit Court, Wisconsin

Unopposed  Judge James Habeck (Branch 1)

Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Wisconsin

Unopposed  Judge Thomas McAdams (Branch 7)
Unopposed  Judge William Brash (Branch 21)
Unopposed  Janet Protasiewicz (Branch 24)
Unopposed  Judge Kevin Martens (Branch 27)
Unopposed  Judge Daniel Noonan (Branch 31)
Unopposed  Judge Rebecca Dallet (Branch 40)
Unopposed  Judge John DiMotto (Branch 41)

Branch 32

CandidateIncumbencyPrimary VoteElection Vote
KennedyRobert Kennedy Jr. No40.0%   DefeatedD
PerezLaura PerezApprovedANo59.7%   ApprovedA

Oneida County Circuit Court, Wisconsin

Unopposed  Judge Patrick O'Melia (Branch 1)

Outagamie County Circuit Court, Wisconsin

Unopposed  Judge Nancy Krueger (Branch 2)
Unopposed  Judge Mitchell Metropulos (Branch 3)

Polk County Circuit Court, Wisconsin

Unopposed  Judge Molly GaleWyrick (Branch 1)

Price County Circuit Court, Wisconsin

Unopposed  Judge Douglas Fox (Seat 1)

Racine County Circuit Court, Wisconsin

Unopposed  Judge Charles Constantine (Branch 7)

Rock County Circuit Court, Wisconsin

Unopposed  Judge James Daley (Wisconsin) (Branch 1)

St. Croix County Circuit Court, Wisconsin

Unopposed  Judge Eric Lundell (Branch 1)
Unopposed  Judge Howard Cameron (Branch 4)

Washington County Circuit Court, Wisconsin

Unopposed  Judge James Muehlbauer (Branch 2)

Waukesha County Circuit Court, Wisconsin

Unopposed  Judge Lee Dreyfus (Branch 5)
Unopposed  Judge Patrick Haughney (Branch 6)

Waupaca County Circuit Court, Wisconsin

Branch 2

CandidateIncumbencyPrimary VoteElection Vote
SteckbauerKeith A. Steckbauer Yes29.8%ApprovedA42.3%   DefeatedD
JelinskiEdmund J. Jelinski No22.3% 
FreemanBrenda Starr Freeman No21.1% 
ClussmanVicki Taggatz ClussmanApprovedANo24.8%ApprovedA57.5%   ApprovedA

Wood County Circuit Court, Wisconsin

Unopposed  Judge Gregory Potter (Branch 1)

Process

Judges in Wisconsin participate in nonpartisan elections. Wisconsin is one of four states that hold judicial elections every year, along with Louisiana, New York and Ohio.[2][3]

Primary election

A primary is held on the third Tuesday in February to nominate judicial candidates for the spring election. Candidates seeking election must file by December 1 preceding the spring general election.[2] A primary is required to be held if more than two candidates file for nomination to the supreme court, the same district of an appellate court or for the same branch of a circuit court.[2] If the number of candidates for office does not exceed twice the number to be elected to the office a primary is not held and all the candidates will appear on the ballot in the spring election.[2] The two candidates who receive the most votes in a primary race advance to the general election.[4]

General election

A spring election is held on the first Tuesday in April.[2]

Noteworthy events

The following articles were current as of the dates listed.

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Elections"
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Wisconsin Legislative Council, "Overview of the Election Law in Wisconsin," archived March 31, 2014
  3. ↑ Judgepedia.org, "Judicial Elections by State," accessed April 30, 2014
  4. ↑ American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Wisconsin," accessed March 31, 2014
  5. ↑ Dunn County Website, "Tabular Statement of Votes Cast," April 1, 2014 (dead link)
  6. ↑ Wisconsin Election Watch, "Jefferson County Judge: David Wambach Easily Defeats JoAnn Miller," accessed April 2, 2014
  7. ↑ Waupaca County Website, "Tabular Statement of Votes Cast," April 1, 2014
  8. ↑ Wisconsin Election Watch, "Keith Steckbauer," accessed January 20, 2014
  9. ↑ WSAW News, "Governor Scott Walker Appoints Waupaca County Judge," January 16, 2014
  10. ↑ Dunn County, Unofficial election results for the February 18, 2014 primary.
  11. ↑ Waupaca County, "Unofficial election results of the February 18, 2014 primary"
  12. ↑ Appleton Post Crescent, "Primary elections narrow race for council, county board seats"
  13. ↑ County Post, “What makes a fair judge,” By Robert Cloud, January 30, 2014
  14. ↑ Postcresant.com, Waupaca county judge, district 2. Date accessed, February 10, 2014
  15. ↑ County Post, “Five candidates for judge,” December 19, 2013
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