Brian Blanchard

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Brian Blanchard
November 7, 1958
Wisconsin Court of Appeals Judge
Assumed office
August 1, 2010
Term ends
July 31, 2016
Preceded by Charles Dykman
Dane County District Attorney
In office
2001 - 2010

Contents

Brian Blanchard is a judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District 4. He was elected to this position on April 6, 2010 and took office the following August 1st. His current term expires on July 31, 2016.[1]

Court of Appeals bid

See also: Wisconsin judicial elections, 2010

Blanchard is running for Seat 4 on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals in 2010. The seat was previously held by Charles Dykman, who is not running for another term. [2] When asked what sets him apart from the other candidates for the seat, Blanchard replied: "I believe voters want judges who have the experience, the independence and the integrity to apply the law fairly and to make decisions based on the facts and what the law dictates". [3] He points to the three years he spent working on federal appeals as excellent background experience for the Court of Appeals. [4]

Blanchard cites prompt attention to cases as one of his priorities for the court if elected. "One way you measure how good a court is or how good a judge is is how prompt they are in rendering justice. Justice delayed is justice denied — that’s a familiar phrase. One of the things I would set as a high priority joining the court is really working with my colleagues on the court to make sure there are as few delays as possible." He claims that his experience working in the fast-paced District Attorneys office has prepared him for this. [5]

Judges Ramona Gonzalez and Edward Leineweber also ran in the primary for the seat.[6]

Primary results

Unofficial primary results indicate that Blanchard has a comfortable lead in the race for Seat 4 on the Court of Appeals, with 28,157 votes to Leineweber's 12,964 and Gonzalez's 12,782 votes. [7][8] Gonzalez withdrew from the race rather then requesting a recount. She is supporting Leineweber for the seat. She said: "There’s a big difference between how a judge would approach a case rather than how a lawyer approaches a case. These races should be about qualifications and the judicial temperament. That’s why I’m supporting Judge Leineweber." [9]

Final Election Results

Brian Blanchard defeated Judge Edward Leineweber for Seat 4 on the Court of Appeals in the election held April 6, 2010. Official election results from the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board were: Blanchard 104,918 (62.65%); Leineweber 62,135 (37.10%). Apellate Judge-elect Blanchard will be sworn in for a six-year term on August 1, 2010.[10][11]

Endorsements

  • Former Wisconsin Governor Anthony S. Earl [12]
  • Rock County law enforcement
  • District Attorney David O'Leary
  • Sheriff Robert Spoden
  • Judge Michael Fitzpatrick
  • Attorneys Thomas Basting Sr., Steve Caya and Mark Kopp [3]

Biography/Education

Blanchard was born in State College, Pennsylvania on November 7, 1958. He received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan in 1980 and his law degree from Northwestern University in 1989. [13][1]

Professional career

From 1990 to 1997 Blanchard worked as an Assistant U.S. attorney in Chicago. In 1997 he joined a Madison law firm. He was elected Dane County District Attorney in 2000, and has been re-elected to that position three times. Blanchard has also worked as a reporter for the Miami Herald and a law clerk to a United States Appeals Court judge. [3]

Awards and associations

  • Board member, Wisconsin District Attorney's Association
  • Former chair, Dane County Coordinated Response to Domestic Violence
  • Member of both state and county task forces on the problem of disproportionate minority confinement
  • Member and past chairman of the Dane County's Coordinated Community Response to Domestic Violence [3]

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Official biography of Judge Blanchard
  2. ↑ Offices to be elected at February 16, 2010 Spring Primary April 6, 2010 Spring Election
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Gazette Extra "Three vie for 4th District Court of Appeals judgeship", February 13, 2010
  4. ↑ Baraboo News Republic "Leineweber, Blanchard make appeals", March 19, 2010
  5. ↑ Jackson County Chronicle "Judge candidate stresses broad law experience", March 24, 2010
  6. ↑ Candidates Registered for Spring Election 2010
  7. ↑ The Tomah Journal "Turnout light for court election", February 18, 2010
  8. ↑ Channel 3000 "Low Voter Turnout Seen At Polls", February 17, 2010
  9. ↑ LaCrosse Tribune "Gonzalez withdraws from judicial race", February 18, 2010
  10. ↑ [1]
  11. ↑ [2]
  12. ↑ LaCrosse Tribune "Anthony S. Earl: Vote Blanchard in appellate court race", February 14, 2010
  13. ↑ Wisconsin State Journal "Candidate profiles for state Court of Appeals primary", February 11, 2010
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