Kristina Bourget

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Kristina Bourget

Prior offices:

Eau Claire County Circuit Court

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Education

Bachelor's

University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, 1988

Law

University of Wisconsin, 1991

Kristina Bourget was a judge for the Eau Claire County Circuit Court in Wisconsin. She was appointed to the court in June 2013 by Republican Governor Scott Walker. In 2014 she was re-elected for a term that was set to expire in 2020. Bourget resigned from the bench on June 12, 2015.

Bourget lost her bid for election to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District III in April 2015.

Education

Bourget earned a B.B.A. in finance from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 1988 and later received her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin in 1991.

Career

Before her 2013 appointment, Bourget was the owner and vice president of Bourget Law, S.C. She also has 11 years of experience working at Xcel Energy's Office of General Counsel, prior to which she was a criminal defense and civil litigation associate at Kelly & Ryberg, S.C.

Elections

2015

See also: Wisconsin judicial elections, 2015

 

General election, 2015
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Kristina Bourget	42.8%	81,065
Mark A. Seidl	57.2%	108,147
Total Votes		189,536

Candidate survey

Prior to the 2015 general election, Ballotpedia sent out a survey to all contested judicial candidates in Wisconsin. The following are verbatim responses from Kristina Bourget.

Click "show" to reveal responses.

What is your legal experience, and how would it aid you to serve as a judge?

“ I graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin Law School (1991) and was inducted into the Order of the Coif. I am privileged to be a Circuit Court Judge in Eau Claire County (appointed 2013/elected 2014) where I preside over a general jurisdiction court. I am also the presiding judge for Eau Claire County’s AIM (Alternatives to Incarcerating Mothers) Treatment Court and am the supervising judge for the county’s restorative justice program. I have over 20 years of broad experience as a practicing attorney in civil litigation, corporate, credit/collection, employment/labor, public utility regulation, real estate, trademark and other matters. As discussed in response to question 3, my experience as a judge has provided me with expertise in the very legal issues addressed at the appellate level as well as an understanding of the practical implications of decisions made by the appellate court. My work as a practicing attorney encompassed multiple legal disciplines, one of which included practice before administrative agencies. This experience would bring a unique perspective to the Court of Appeals. ”

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What do you believe is the most important quality in a judge?

“ There are several important attributes. Legal acumen and experience are minimum and essential requirements. In terms of personal qualities, I believe that objectivity, fairness and work ethic are critical as is a commitment to following the rule of law. My service as a trial judge demonstrates all of these factors, as confirmed by the endorsements of numerous judges, attorneys and community members. See www.judgebourget.com/endorsements. ”

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Why should voters choose you over your opponent?

“ I have several significant advantages over my opponent. First, I have experience as a trial judge. As a judge in a general jurisdiction court, I preside over a wide array of cases – civil, criminal, family, probate, and others – and decide the same legal issues addressed by appellate courts. In addition, my experience as a trial judge enables me to appreciate the practical impacts of decisions I would make as an appellate judge. Second, in addition to having over 20 years of legal experience as a practicing attorney in many different legal areas, I have significant experience working with regulatory agencies, including the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin and the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The appellate court is regularly called upon to address appeals from administrative agency decisions, and my experience in this area is unmatched by my opponent’s. This experience would also bring a unique perspective to the Court of Appeals in District III. Finally, I have a reputation for being prepared, respectful, objective, fair, and faithful to the rule of law. As a result, I am widely supported by numerous judges, attorneys and community leaders in the Third Appellate District. My reputation as a trial judge provides voters with important knowledge about the caliber of judge they can expect on the Court of Appeals. ”

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Were there any specific cases, role models or mentors, that inspired you to work in law?

“ Throughout my lifetime, I have been blessed to be surrounded by wonderful people interested in my personal development and success. One of those individuals is an attorney for whom I worked during undergraduate school. In addition to fueling my interest in the law, he demonstrated the attributes of a successful attorney – knowledge in the law and a desire to serve and help others. I am grateful to him and others who have supported me in so many ways. ”

2014

See also: Wisconsin judicial elections, 2014
Bourget ran for re-election to the Eau Claire County Circuit Court.
General: She won without opposition in the general election on April 1, 2014.

See also

• Eau Claire County, Wisconsin
• Wisconsin Circuit Courts
• Judicial selection in Wisconsin

External links

• Wisconsin Court System, "Circuit Courts"
• Elect Judge Kristina Bourget campaign website

Footnotes

Wisconsin courts

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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