Wood County Circuit Court judge to lead chief judges

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The Committee of Chief Judges has selected a new leader.

Wood County Circuit Court Judge Gregory Potter was chosen by fellow chief judges to lead the committee starting Aug. 1. Potter is also chief judge of the Sixth Judicial District, which encompasses Adams, Clark, Columbia, Dodge, Green Lake, Juneau, Marquette, Portage, Sauk, Waushara and Wood counties.

Potter replaces outgoing committee chair St. Croix County Circuit Court Judge Scott Needham, who is chief judge of the 10th Judicial District, which includes Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Polk, Rusk, St. Croix, Sawyer and Washburn counties.

Potter, who had been a chief judge since 2012, was appointed to the Wood County bench in 2001, elected in 2002 and re-elected in 2008 and 2014. He was the Wood County district attorney from 1987 to 2000 and worked in private practice from 1984 to 1987. Potter graduated in 1984 from Gonzaga University School of Law. Follow @erikastrebel