Cop, commissioner face off for seat on Milwaukee bench

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The court commissioner with a decade of experience as a prosecutor or the homicide detective with 12 years of experience in and out of the courtroom — which candidate is most qualified to sit on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court Bench?

The two candidates for the Branch 40 seat stressed their relative strengths during a forum on March 13.

Administrative Court Commissioner Rebecca F. Dallet spoke on her extensive experience in the circuit courts, while attorney Jeffrey B. Norman stressed his broad base of involvement in the legal community.

Dallet said in her role as court commissioner, she routinely helps process 700 to 800 cases daily in small claims court and oversees 10 other court commissioners. She also served as an assistant district attorney in Milwaukee for 11 years and spent three years as a special assistant United States Attorney.

“It takes the skills of having been in the court for the last 14 years to handle a courtroom,” said Dallet. “I would contrast that with my opponent who has really had limited time in the court.”

Norman spent six months as a prosecutor in Milwaukee and has been with the Mil-waukee Police Department since 1996. He currently serves as a homicide detective and said experience should not be limited to the courtroom.

“As a detective, I unfortunately live in the courts and see it on a daily basis,” said Norman. “You need to know not only the law, but also the dynamic behind it.”

He contended that Dallet’s one year of experience as a court commissioner does not necessarily qualify her to be an effective judge.

“On my job,” Norman said, “if you say you are experienced they will say, ‘Sit down rookie. Wait until you have a couple more years under your belt until you start talking about your experience.’”

Dallet said her decade as a state prosecutor and especially the last five years handling civil commitment of sexually violent persons, sharpened her skills in both the criminal and civil areas of the law.

“Because [Norman] only spent 6 months as a prosecutor, I don’t think he understands what it takes when you have a heavy caseload of significant cases,” said Dallet.

Both candidates agreed that it is important for a judge to ensure everyone who comes into the system has their day in court, and that justice is served in a timely manner.