John Shabaz
From Judgepedia
John C. Shabaz is a District (Article III) Court Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin. Shabaz assumed senior status on January 20, 2009.
Background
Shabaz was born in 1931 in Milwaukee and earned his law degree from Marquette University in 1957. Shabaz also graduated from UW-Madison with his undergraduate degree before entering law school. Shabaz served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956 before graduating from Marquette. Shabaz served as a private practice attorney in West Allis from 1957 to 1981. From 1964 to the time of his appointment in 1981, Shabaz served as a state representative in Wisconsin's 83rd Assembly District [1].
State Representative
Shabaz was a Republican Representative in Assembly District 83 Representing the Waukesha and New Berlin areas. Shabaz was first elected in 1964 till his appointment by President Ronald Reagan on the US Courts in 1981. Shabaz was the minority leader from 1973 to 1979 and served as Assistant Majority Leader in 1969. Shabaz served on organizational committees in the Wisconsin State Assembly. [2]
Federal judiciary
Shabaz was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on November 4, 1981, to a seat vacated by James E. Doyle, Sr. the father of Wisconsin Governor James E. Doyle, Jr. Shabaz was confirmed by the Senate on December 9, 1981, and received commission on December 10, 1981.
Shabaz served as the court's Chief Judge from 1996 to 2001[3].
Retirement
Citing the political climate that has affected recent judicial nominations, Shabaz sent a letter of resignation to President George W. Bush in 2007 stating his intentions that he would announce his retirement from the Federal Bench in October 2007, but in his retirement letter to Bush said he would continue to serve until his successor could take over. [4]
However, Shabaz continued to work as a Federal Judge through early 2008 while nominations were gathered to eventually present to President Bush contingent on Senate Approval. In February, citing a shoulder injury, Shabaz took a medical leave and has not returned to the bench since his injury. [4]
In September of 2008, Bush announced the nomination of Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Mac Davis, a former Republican legislator, to succeed Shabaz, but his confirmation never came to a full vote before the Senate before it adjourned. [4]
On January 6, 2009, the Wisconsin State Journal reported that Shabaz would seek senior status on January 20, 2009 and that he would leave without a replacement to the bench. [4]
In selecting a replacement for Shabaz, a Federal Selection commission for the State of Wisconsin that governs both the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin and Wisconsin based nominees for the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals led by Senators Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold who serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee would make a recommendation to President Barack Obama for his nomination pending Senate approval. [4]
References
 |
Federal judges of the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin |
|---|---|
| Active judges |
Crabb • Vacancy |
| Senior judges |
Shabaz |
| Magistrate judges | |
| Former judges |
Bunn • Doyle • Hopkins • Luse • Rabinovitz • Sanborn • Stone |
