Gov. Evers taps Alex Seifert as Forest County District Attorney

Listen to this article

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers announced Friday his appointment of Alex Seifert to serve as Forest County District Attorney. The appointment fills a vacancy created by District Attorney Charles J. Simono’s resignation. Seifert will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term that ends January 2025.

“Alex Seifert is an experienced attorney who is committed to public service, having served both his country and his community,” said Evers.

“He will serve the people of Forest County well,” Evers added.

According to Evers, Seifert has been the assistant district attorney in Forest County since January 2020. In his current role, he appears in court almost daily, handles all the civil violations and juvenile cases, and handles a majority of adult criminal matters referred to the office. Previously, he was an assistant public defender in Langlade County, where he represented indigent clients in matters ranging from protective placements to homicide. He began his legal career in 2016 at Sommer, Olk & Payant LLP in Antigo, where he was a general practitioner and served as the assistant corporation counsel for Forest County.

Prior to his legal career, Seifert has served in the Wisconsin National Guard since 1998 and also in the United States Army.

He was deployed to Iraq from 2003 to 2004. After earning his bachelor’s degree, he enlisted in the United States Army in 2008, serving as a diesel mechanic, and was deployed to Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012.

“I am pleased to know that Attorney Alex Seifert has been appointed as Forest County District Attorney,” said Forest County Circuit Court Judge Leon Stenz.

“During his term as Assistant District Attorney, he has demonstrated the skill and competency necessary to protect and serve the citizens of Forest County. His character and adherence to his ethical and moral obligations will contribute to a fair and effective criminal justice system. The citizens of Forest County will be well served by District Attorney Alex Seifert,” Stenz added.

Seifert is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point and Cooley Law School and will be relocating to Forest County to serve in this position. He is currently the district quartermaster for Wisconsin Veterans of Foreign Wars District 7 and serves on the board of directors of Judicare Legal Aid.

“I would like to thank Governor Evers for giving me this opportunity to serve the people of Forest County as the district attorney,” said Seifert.

“Having been in the office for over four years, I’m confident the transition will be seamless. I look forward to serving the citizens of Forest County,” Seifert added.

As previously reported by The Wisconsin Law Journal in March of last year, Wisconsin was on the brink of a constitutional crisis, as courts face unprecedented District Attorney and Public Defender shortages across the state.

Also as previously reported, wage increases unveiled by Wisconsin Republican lawmakers called for a substantial pay increase for Assistant District Attorneys and Public Defenders, slightly surpassing the increase proposed in Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers’ budget.

Evers had previously proposed an increase to $35 an hour for Public Defenders and Assistant District Attorneys. Ultimately it passed the budget committee and was signed into law by Evers.