Judge John P. Roemer
Judge John P. Roemer
The late Judge John P. Roemer, who served 13 years on the Juneau County Circuit Court, is remembered by colleagues as man deeply dedicated to his family, church and the legal profession. He died June 3 at age 68.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Annette Kingsland Ziegler issued the following statement June 4:
“The state’s judicial family is shocked and saddened by this tragedy. Judge Roemer dedicated much of his career to public service in the law. Before taking the bench in 2004, he had served as an assistant district attorney and as an assistant state public defender. He was known by colleagues for his sharp legal mind and his willingness to share his time and knowledge with others. His work made a tremendous difference in the lives of many people in Juneau County and elsewhere in the state. Our deepest sympathy goes to Judge Roemer’s family at this time.”
Roemer was first elected to the circuit court in 2004 and was re-elected in 2010 and 2016. He had retired from the bench in 2017. Roemer had previously served as an assistant district attorney for Juneau County and an assistant state public defender. He also worked in private practice and served as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, from which he retired in 2002.
In his judicial retirement letter to then-Gov. Scott Walker, Roemer wrote: “I graciously wish to thank the citizens of the state of Wisconsin and the county of Juneau for giving me this precious opportunity to serve as their circuit court judge. It is a responsibility that, at times, I can barely fathom.”
Roemer was recognized as a “true Christian gentleman,” a family man, and had a strong sense of community, Chief Justice Ziegler said.
Authorities discovered Roemer dead in his home in the Town of Lisbon, just northwest of Mauston in what the state Department of Justice characterized as a “targeted act.”
The department reported that at approximately 6:30 a.m. June 3, the Juneau County Sheriff’s Office received a call notifying law enforcement of an armed person and two shots fired at the home. Following failed attempts to negotiate with Douglas K. Uhde, 56, who was in the home, at approximately 10:17 a.m., a tactical response team entered the residence and found Roemer deceased. Uhde was located in the basement with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Law enforcement began life-saving measures, and Uhde was transported to a medical facility. A firearm was recovered at the scene. Uhde was declared legally brain dead June 4, the department reported.
A full obituary and additional information about Judge Roemer, including "guestbook tributes", can be found on the Crandall Funeral Home website.
Third Branch eNews is an online monthly newsletter of the Director of State Courts Office. If you are interested in contributing an article about your department’s programs or accomplishments, contact your department head. Information about judicial retirements and judicial obituaries may be submitted to: Sara.Foster@wicourts.gov