The One and Only

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When you are the only person to apply for a job, chances are pretty good you might get it.

But Judge Kitty K. Brennan, the lone applicant for the vacant appellate court seat in District 1, was a likely a lock, regardless of the competition.

On Aug. 21, Gov. Jim Doyle appointed the current Chief Judge in Milwaukee County to the post previously held by Judge Ted E. Wedemeyer, who unexpectedly passed away on July 23.

Brennan publicly discussed her intention to seek the seat days after the passing of her friend and judicial colleague, but nobody else formally declared interest prior to the Aug. 13 deadline.

So maybe it came as no surprise that news of her appointment came mere hours after Brennan finished her final interview in Madison.

In fact, a call into Brennan’s office seeking comment on her promotion caught an unsuspecting staff member off-guard.

‘Wow, I hadn’t heard yet,’ said the assistant, doing her best to veil her obvious surprise.

While the addition is good news for the appellate court, the departure of Brennan, who has spent the last 14 years as a circuit court judge in Milwaukee, and the last three as Chief Judge, will almost certainly have an effect on the county system, at least initially.

Brennan has been instrumental in keeping the court system functional, despite proposed cuts to services on an annual basis. How effective Deputy Chief Judges Mel Flanagan or Judge Jeffrey A. Kremers, the leading candidates to succeed Brennan, will be in negotiating with County Executive Scott Walker remains to be seen.

“I want to thank Governor Doyle for his confidence in me,” Brennan said in a statement. “While I will certainly miss the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, I’m excited about this opportunity to serve the people of Milwaukee and the state as an appellate court judge.”

Brennan, a life-long resident of Milwaukee, will begin her initial term on the bench Sept. 8 and indicated she will run next spring for a full six-year term.

Now we wait and see if there are any challengers the second time around.