Milwaukee County Circuit Court debate takes contentious turn

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Tuesday’s debate between candidates for two contested races for seats on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court bench took a contentious turn just minutes before the event’s end.

Candidates battling it out for Branch 31 are Hannah Dugan, attorney at Law Offices of Hannah C. Dugan LLC, and Judge Paul Rifelj, incumbent. Judge Michelle Ackerman Havas, incumbent, and Jean Kies, attorney at the Law Offices of Jean Kies, are vying for a seat on Branch 45.

Generally, candidates agreed that a judge’s job reaches beyond the courtroom — they must work to find creative solutions to solve problems such as mass incarceration. Rifelj noted that changes need to come from all players in the justice system.

“There has to be more than negative consequences for negative behavior,” he said.

Dugan agreed, noting that judges must be engaged in the community and that there needs to more conversations about racial equity.

“The key thing to make sure justice happens is that we don’t create records,” she said. “We need to look to alternatives to incarceration.”

However, when time came for closing statements Havas attacked Kies, who had already given her closing statement. Havas alleged Kies was politicizing the race with advertising emphasizing Havas’ appointment to the bench in August by Walker, noting that Kies also applied for the post but was disqualified and applied under Gov. Jim Doyle but failed to secure an appointment.

Havas defended her appointment to the post, noting that while Walker appointed her, she comes endorsed by Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm, a democrat.

“I am who I am. I sat up here with no notes,” Havas said. “And I don’t need them. I don’t need them to tell you who I am. … You’ve had a chance to see how I work.”

After the rest of the candidates gave closing statements, moderator and former Justice Janine Geske gave Kies a chance to rebut Havas’ allegations. Kies said she tried to stay away from being partisan in her closing statements and emphasized that certain groups in the community, including labor unions, Milwaukee aldermen and others, don’t agree with Havas’ appointment.

“Judgeships don’t belong to the governor,” Kies said. “They belong to the people of Milwaukee County.”

The candidates for the contested judicial races in Milwaukee County will face each other at two community forums this week.

The first will be Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. at the Village at Manor Park, 3023 S. 84th St., Milwaukee. Community Brainstorming will host the second forum, which starts at 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Matthew’s Church, 2944 N. 9th St., Milwaukee. Candidates for Wisconsin Supreme Court justice and other races have also been invited to the forum. Follow @erikastrebel