State's 11 contested judicial races include 4 new seats

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Once the paperwork settled at 5 p.m. on Jan. 2, the Wisconsin State Elections Board reported 28 candidates will campaign in the 11 contested races for seats on the state Supreme Court, court of appeals and circuit courts.

Burnett County Circuit Court Judge Michael J. Gableman is the lone challenger to incumbent Supreme Court Justice Louis B. Butler Jr., after Sun Prairie attorney Charlie Schutze withdrew in late December (see story on page 5).

Judge Lisa S. Neubauer will attempt to retain her seat on the District 2 Court of Appeals after being appointed in Dec-ember to succeed Neal P. Nettesheim. Milwaukee attorney William C. Gleisner, III, will challenge Neubauer.

Four of the five circuit court branches created by the state budget and Wisconsin Act 28, have multiple candidates, including Barron, Chippewa, Juneau and St. Croix counties. St. Croix has the most candidates with five people seeking the new seat.

Kyle Richmond of the State Elections Board said signatures submitted by all candidates will be certified on Jan. 8.

Primary elections in races for the Chippewa Branch 3, Florence-Forest, Outagamie Branch 2 and St. Croix Branch 4 seats will be held on Feb. 19. The general election will follow on April 1.

Below is a listing of the candidates for the 11 contested judicial races:

Wisconsin Supreme Court

Hon. Louis B. Butler (I)
Hon. Michael J. Gableman – Burnett County Circuit Court

Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District 2

Hon. Lisa S. Neubauer (I)
William C. Gleisner, III – Law Offices of William C. Gleisner, III, Milwaukee

Barron County Circuit Court, Branch 3 (New Branch)

James D. Babbitt – Assistant District Attorney, Barron County
James C. McLaughlin – State Public Defenders Office, Spooner

Chippewa County Circuit Court, Branch 3 (New Branch)

Julie A. Anderl – Anderl Law Office LLC, Chippewa Falls
Robert A. Ferg – Ferg & Sinclair, LTD, Chippewa Falls
Steven R. Cray – Wiley Law S.C., Chippewa Falls

Dodge County Circuit Court, Branch 1

(Incumbent is not seeking re-election)

William H. Gergen – Gergen, Gergen & Pretto S.C., Beaver Dam
Brian A. Pfitzinger – Elbert & Pfitzinger Ltd, Juneau

Florence-Forest County Circuit Court

Hon. Robert A. Kennedy (I)
Douglas J. Drexler – Douglas J Drexler SC, Florence
Leon D. Stenz – Forest County District Attorney, Crandon

Juneau County Circuit Court, Branch 2 (New Branch)

Paul S. Curran – Curran, Hollenbeck & Orton SC, Mauston
Stacy A. Smith – Assistant District Attorney, Vernon County

Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Branch 40 (Vacant)

Rebecca F. Dallet – Administrative Court Commissioner, Milwaukee County
Jeffrey B. Norman – Law Office of Jeffrey B. Norman, Milwaukee

Outagamie County Circuit Court, Branch 2

Hon. Nancy J. Krueger (I)
Maureen Roberts Budiac – Judicial
Court Commissioner, Outagamie County
Daniel J. Hoff – Glenn, Hoff & Hoff SC, Appleton

Outagamie County Circuit Court, Branch 3

Hon. Mitchell J. Metropulos (I)
Carrie Schneider – Outagamie County District Attorney

St. Croix County Circuit Court, Branch 4 (New Branch)

Howard Cameron – State Public Defenders Office, Hudson
Mark J. Gherty – Gherty & Gherty SC, Hudson
Charles B. Harris – Charles B. Harris Law Office, Hudson
Carol L. Law – Law & DeMaio SC, Hudson
Kenneth N. Sortedahl – Assistant District Attorney, St. Croix County