Poll: MBA members find Gramling Perez more qualified for judge seat

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Milwaukee circuit judge candidate Laura Gramling Perez received more votes saying that she was qualified for the Branch 32 judge seat than her opponent, Cedric Cornwall, according to a Milwaukee Bar Association poll.

The poll – which asked respondents to rate all judges running for election or re-election on April 1 – found that 205 respondents said Gramling Perez, the chief court commissioner for Milwaukee County, was qualified, while 19 respondents said she was not qualified. Cornwall, also a commissioner, received 157 qualified votes, and 19 not qualified votes.

According to the poll, 156 people had no opinion on Gramling Perez’s qualifications, while 190 had no opinion on Cornwall.

The commissioners are running to fill the seat that will be vacated by Judge Michael Goulee when he retires at the end of his term. That branch is the only contested seat for the April 1 election, as most of the other seats have only the sitting judge registered as a candidate.

Campaign finance records show that Gramling Perez has raised $85,355 through Feb. 3, including $50,000 personal loan. Cornwall raised $58,698.50 through Feb. 6, including a $51,000 personal loan.

The Milwaukee Bar’s poll went out to its 2,100 members, and 398 responded by March 14. However, not all members responded to each question, according to a bar news release.

VIEW THE POLL RESPONSES

Those that answered were asked to rate the candidates based on several factors, including knowledge of the law, management skills, preparation and impartiality.

It also stated that Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney Janet Protasiewicz, who is running for retired Branch 24 Judge Charles Kahn’s seat, received 185 qualified votes, 31 not qualified votes, and 66 no opinion votes. Follow @eheisigWLJ