Four appeals judges chosen to help select judicial candidates

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Four Wisconsin Court of Appeals judges were selected Thursday to serve on the Government Accountability Candidate Committee to help select potential new judges.

Court of Appeals Judges Joan Kessler of District 1, Paul Riley of District 2, Lisa Stark of District 3 and JoAnne Kloppenburg of District 4 will serve on the committee, which begins its two-year term March 1. The committee will review applications for candidates to replace Judge Thomas Barland, Eau Claire, whose term on the Government Accountability Board expires in May.

Barland chose not to seek reappointment. He served as chairman of the board in 2011 and 2014.

The judges were chosen by a random drawing Thursday by Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson. As required by law, all seven state Supreme Court justices were present.

For every vacancy on the GAB, the committee submits at least two candidates to the governor, who will make an appointment that must be confirmed with a two-thirds vote from the Senate.

The board oversees elections and ethics compliance in Wisconsin. Its six members are former judges who serve staggered six-year terms. Members may not be affiliated with a political party or make political donations for a year before and during their terms.