Evans denies reports of his retirement

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Reports of Terence T. Evans’ retirement are premature.

Contrary to a story last week in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the U.S. Court of Appeals judge, who sits in the 7th Circuit, will assume senior status in the coming months, Evans said he has no intention of retiring.

“At present I have no plans to take senior status,” said Evans. “I will tell you that every Article III judge, when you get to be 65, that is an option and you think about it.”

At 68, Evans said he feels “vigorous” and still has a lot to offer from the bench.

However, he indicated that with children and grandchildren living in Seattle and San Francisco, there is motivation to ease out of the job he has held since being appointed in 1995.

Evans continues to balance his 34-year career as a jurist with a marriage that has lasted 43 years.

“It’s no secret that my wife [Joan] would like to spend more time out there and if it were up to her, I would have taken senior status three years ago,” said Evans, who playfully noted that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has seats in Seattle and San Francisco.

Several former and current colleagues of Evans recently announced their transitional plans including a pair of district court judges in Wisconsin. Rudolph T. Randa, U.S. District Court chief judge for the Eastern District of Wisconsin and John C. Shabaz, U.S. District Court judge for the Western District of Wisconsin each announced their intentions to assume senior status once a replacement is appointed.

On July 15, the White House confirmed its nomination of Milwaukee Circuit Court Judge Timothy G. Dugan for Randa’s seat.

Fellow 7th Circuit Judge Kenneth F. Ripple, who sits in South Bend, Ind., will assume senior status on Sept. 1. A spokesperson from his office said a replacement has yet to be appointed.

Evans said the rash of recent announcements, including that of close friend Randa, have not accelerated his desire to retire.

“What he [Randa] does has absolutely no influence on what I’m going to do,” said Evans, who declined to comment on whether he expected any appointments will be confirmed prior to the end of the Bush administration.

On the heels of a two-week vacation, Evans is turning his attention to an en banc case beginning on Sept. 9.

“If you are on senior status, you don’t get to sit on those,” said Evans.