Suspended attorney among Wisconsin county judge candidates

Most Wisconsin county judges up for election this spring will run unchallenged, but the electoral calendar has a few interesting quirks. The races include an attorney fresh off a 60-day suspension and an incumbent who bailed out of the race without notifying state officials.

About 80 percent of Wisconsin judicial races have been uncontested over the last decade, and this year is no different. Just 10 of the 53 circuit court judge positions up for election have more than one candidate, based on filings submitted to the Wisconsin Elections Commission by the Tuesday deadline for nomination papers.

Circuit court judges decide criminal, civil and family law matters in their respective counties, often making decisions with lifelong consequences.

The incumbent judges running uncontested include five who drew particularly low marks in the latest USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin judicial evaluation survey, with the majority of responding attorneys saying they were not fit to remain on the bench. They were Eau Claire County's Jon Theisen, Shawano-Menominee County's William Kussel, Milwaukee County's William Sosnay and Lindsey Grady and Racine County's Michael Piontek.

RELATED: Search our 2017 judicial evaluations database

Winnebago County Judge Thomas Gritton, whose overall survey rating of 2.8 out of 5 was sixth-worst in the state, announced plans to run in August but did not turn in nomination papers by Tuesday's deadline. The election commission has extended the deadline in that race to Friday for other candidates because Gritton did not file the required statement of non-candidacy that alerts other potential candidates of a wide-open seat. Winnebago County Deputy District Attorney Scott Ceman is the lone candidate so far.

None of the 10 contested races involves an established incumbent. Eight seats are vacant because of retirements, and the two incumbents running (in Eau Claire and Price counties) were both appointed by Gov. Scott Walker last year. All eight Milwaukee County judges with terms ending in April are running uncontested.

The contested races include two large fields of candidates, with five people seeking a Manitowoc County post and four in Columbia County. The Columbia County candidates include Steven Sarbacker, whose law license was suspended for 60 days last year for misconduct.

A ruling from the state Office of Lawyer Regulation said Sarbacker garnished a client's wages to collect his fee, then continued collecting wages after the fee was paid. He also failed to promptly return the excess funds or respond to the inquiry from the Office of Lawyer Regulation.

The primary election is Feb. 20 for races with more than two candidates, and the general election is April 3.

Following are the candidates in contested elections:

Buffalo/Pepin counties

(incumbent James Duvall is not running)

Thomas Clark, Buffalo/Pepin district attorney

Roger Hillestad, Buffalo/Pepin family court commissioner, private practice attorney

Clark County

(incumbent Jon Counsell is not running)

Roberta Heckes, private practice attorney

Lyndsey Boon Brunette, former Clark County district attorney and corporation counsel

Columbia County (Branch 3)

(vacant)

Steven Sarbacker, private practice attorney

Clifford Burdon, Columbia County assistant district attorney

Brenda Yaskal, assistant corporation counsel for Sauk County, former Columbia County assistant district attorney

Troy Cross, Columbia County assistant district attorney

Dane County (Branch 1)

(incumbent Timothy Samuelson is not running)

Susan Crawford, private practice attorney

Marilyn Townsend, Shorewood Hills municipal judge, private practice attorney

Eau Claire County (Branch 5)

Shaughnessy Murphy (incumbent, appointed in August)

Sarah Harless, private practice attorney

Juneau County (Branch 1)

(vacant)

Scott Southworth, former Juneau County district attorney

Stacy Smith, Vernon County assistant district attorney

Manitowoc County (Branch 2)

(incumbent Gary Bendix is not running)

Ralph Sczygelski, private practice attorney

John Bilka, private practice attorney, Manitowoc County supplemental court commissioner

Eric Pangburn, Two Rivers Municipal Court judge, private practice attorney

Jerilyn Dietz, former Calumet County district attorney

Patricia Koppa, Manitowoc County court commissioner, register in probate

Price County

Kevin Klein (incumbent, appointed in October)

Mark Fuhr, Price County district attorney

Sauk County (Branch 3)

(incumbent Guy Reynolds is not running)

Pat Barrett, former Sauk County district attorney

Sandra Cardo Gorsuch, private practice attorney

Waukesha County (Branch 12)

(incumbent Kathryn Foster is not running)