The Third Branch
Judicial primaries narrow field in six counties
Voters in six counties narrowed the field of candidates for circuit court judgeships this spring.
Dane County Circuit Court, Branch 11
Judge Roger A. Allen v. Ellen K. Berz
In a three-way primary, Assistant State Public Defender Ellen K. Berz came in first place with 44 percent of the vote. The incumbent, Judge Roger A. Allen, took 31 percent for a second-place finish, and in third place was Atty. Francis X. Sullivan, who works for the state Department of Justice.
Gov. Scott Walker appointed Allen last December to succeed Judge Daniel R. Moeser, who retired after 32 years on the bench (see new judges). Moeser is now a reserve judge and an arbitrator/mediator.
Kenosha County Circuit Court, Branch 2
Judge Jason A. Rossell v.
Edward R. Antaramian
Judge Jason A. Rossell came out on top in a five-way primary in Kenosha. Gov. Scott Walker appointed Rossell in November 2011 to succeed Judge Barbara A. Kluka, who served for 22 years on the bench.
Second-place finisher Edward R. Antaramian is Kenosha's longtime city attorney and was among the initial applicants for the appointment.
Menominee-Shawano County
Circuit Court
Judge William F. Kussel Jr. v.
David R. Winter
In a three-way primary for the branch that serves both Menominee and Shawano County Circuit Courts, Atty. David R. Winter, a municipal judge and private practitioner in Shawano, finished less than 40 votes ahead of incumbent Judge William F. Kussel, Jr. Kussel was appointed in 2011 by Gov. Scott Walker to replace Thomas G. Grover, who retired. Eliminated in the primary was Atty. John B. Selsing, who ran last year for the Green Lake County Circuit Court.
Milwaukee County Circuit Court,
Branch 17
Judge Nelson W. Phillips III v.
Carolina M. Stark
In Milwaukee County, Administrative Law Judge Carolina M. Stark narrowly outpolled incumbent Judge Nelson W. Phillips III. In third place was Glendale Municipal Judge Christopher Lipscomb. Phillips was appointed in 2010 by Gov. Scott Walker to replace Judge Francis T. Wasielewski, who retired after 28 years on the bench.
Oneida County Circuit Court,
Branch 2
John F. O'Melia v. Michael H. Bloom
Just 17 votes separated the first- and second-place finishers in the race to fill the vacancy left by Judge Mark A. Mangerson, who was appointed to the Court of Appeals. Atty. John O'Melia, whose brother, Patrick O'Melia, is the county's Branch 1 judge, came in first. Oneida County District Atty. Michael H. Bloom finished second, and Reserve Judge Timothy Vocke, who served in Vilas County Circuit Court from 1979-83, came in a close third.
Rock County Circuit Court
Jack C. Hoag v. Barbara W. McCrory
In Rock County, Jack C. Hoag, a private practitioner, and Court Commissioner Barbara W. McCrory survived a six-person primary in a bid to replace Judge James E. Welker, who is retiring at the end of his term.
Candidates who were eliminated in the primary included Attys. Michael A. Haakenson, Thomas P. McDonald, Harry C. O'Leary (brother of Rock County District Atty. David O'Leary), and Tod O. Daniel.