Third Branch eNews

Hon. John C. Albert,
Dane County Circuit Court

Retired Dane County Circuit Court Judge John C. Albert died August 13, 2025, at age 78 after a battle with cancer.

Judge Albert was born in Madison on November 4, 1946. He graduated from Edgewood High School and earned his undergraduate degree and law degree from the University of Wisconsin. He served in the U.S. Army before beginning his legal career.

Judge Albert spent 25 years in private practice with Eustice, Albert and Laffey in Sun Prairie and later worked as a staff attorney for the Legal Service Center of Dane County. He rejoined his former firm in 2024 following his retirement from the bench in 2015. Former Gov. Tommy Thompson appointed him to Branch 3 of the Dane County Circuit Court in 1999.

During his judicial service, Judge Albert was known for his work on behalf of children and victims of domestic abuse. He helped transition responsibility for CHIPS cases from the Dane County District Attorney’s Office to the Dane County Corporation Counsel due to growing caseload demands. He supported legislative changes addressing domestic violence and said the reforms had “advanced us years in terms of tools to deal with these delicate and complicated types of cases.”

In retirement, Judge Albert remained active and enjoyed hunting, camping, fishing, and traveling with family and friends. He was widely respected for his compassion, legal knowledge, and sense of humor, and his service to the Wisconsin Court System is remembered with appreciation.

Hon. Francis T. Wasielewski,
Milwaukee County Circuit Court

Judge Francis T. Wasielewski, who served on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court for nearly three decades, died November 18, 2025.

Judge Wasielewski was born in Milwaukee on September 21, 1942. He attended Marquette University High School and earned a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from Marquette University in 1964. He pursued musical studies at the Indiana University School of Music before attending the University of Wisconsin Law School, where he received his law degree in 1968.

Following law school, Judge Wasielewski practiced law with his father and later served as a Milwaukee assistant city attorney. His public service included work as a hearing examiner for the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission, chair of the Milwaukee Administrative Review Appeals Board, and member and chair of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage Commission.

In 1983, Judge Wasielewski was appointed to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court. He was elected to the bench five times and retired in 2011. He presided primarily over civil and family law matters and conducted more than 275 jury trials. He served on committees responsible for revising the civil bench book and civil jury instructions and regularly presented legal education programs for attorneys. In 2009, he received the Trial Judge of the Year Award from the American Board of Trial Attorneys.

Throughout his life, Judge Wasielewski remained active in Milwaukee’s civic and cultural community. He served on the boards of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra, and Civic Music Association, and held leadership roles with the Polish Heritage Alliance, the Historic Water Tower Neighborhood Association, and the Milwaukee Sunrise Rotary.

Judge Wasielewski was widely respected for his intellect, professionalism, and commitment to public service. His contributions to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court and to the broader civic and cultural life of the community are remembered with appreciation.

Leland J. Guetschow,
Manitowoc County Court Reporter

Mr. Leland J. Guetschow, a retired court reporter for Manitowoc County, passed away on December 31, 2025. He was 89 years old.

Born on August 20, 1936, Mr. Guetschow was raised in Two Rivers, WI. He attended Washington High School, where he developed a talent for writing quickly while using the Thomas Natural Shorthand system.

Following high school, he worked as a stenographer for an attorney in Manitowoc. Impressed by Mr. Guetschow’s speed-writing abilities, Judge Jerome V. Ledvina encouraged him to pursue court reporting – thus beginning a celebrated career in Manitowoc County.

“Leland was the epitome of a dedicated public servant for over 42 years,” retired Hon. Darryl W. Deets remembers. “As a judge, it was an honor and a privilege for me to work closely with him for 11 of those years.”

At the start of his career, Mr. Guetschow worked in a Probate and Juvenile County Court “with a very low volume of hearings on the record and transcripts,” Judge Deets says. “When he retired, he was in a Circuit Court with high-volume hearings on the record and trials with constant transcripts. It was as if he went from the horse and buggy days to Nascar.”

Prior to his retirement in 1999, Mr. Guetschow was widely known as the last pen-writing court reporter in Wisconsin. Pen writing – physically writing out court proceedings on paper using shorthand – requires speed and accuracy. “It is a tribute to his skill and professionalism as a court reporter that he was able to do his job so well for so long,” Judge Deets recalls.

Following his retirement, Mr. Guetschow traveled worldwide, visiting 37 countries. He cared deeply about his community, even asking for any donations following his death to be made to the Manitowoc Public Library.

The Wisconsin Court System mourns the loss of Mr. Guetschow. “Not only was he a daily inspiration to me,” Judge Deets says, “he was my close confidant and friend.”