Ted Wedemeyer Jr

From Judgepedia

Ted E. Wedemeyer Jr. was a justice on the Wisconsin Courts of Appeal (District I). He passed away of lung cancer in July of 2008. ^[1]

Contents 1 Biography 2 Legal career 3 On the issues 4 Wedemeyer's passing 5 Awards, Memberships and Civic Activities 6 See also 7 References

Biography

Born in Milwaukee on August 30, 1932, Judge Wedemeyer earned his B.A. from the College of Holy Cross in 1954. His legal studies took him to Marquette University Law School where he earned his LL.B., and then to John Marshall Law School where he completed his LL.M. in Taxation in 1962.

Legal career

Judge Wedemeyer was Appellate Judge, District I Court of Appeals where he served from 1991-2008; having served in that position between 1982 and 1988 also. From 1988 to 1991 he served as Circuit Court Judge for Milwaukee County. He also served as a Municipal Court Judge for Milwaukee from 1975 to 1978, having been an attorney in private practice prior to that since 1957. He has acted as Co-chair for the Milwaukee Bar Association Appellate Bench and Bar Committee, as a member of the State Judicial Council, and as Co-chair for the Committee to Revise Appellate Procedure.

On the issues

Wedemeyer championed the use of cameras in state courtrooms. Also, Wedemeyer called himself a middle-of-the-roader and took pride in being described as both a hard-liner on crime and a judge willing to protect the state’s progressive constitutional traditions. ^[1]

Wedemeyer was never a bombastic judge. He treated defendants with dignity and respect, even as they were sentenced for heinous crimes. ^[1]

In 1995, Wedemeyer ran for the Wisconsin State Supreme Court, but lost in a crowded field that saw current justice N. Patrick Crooks eventually win the election. ^[2]

Wedemeyer has been critical of the Wisconsin Supreme Court in the past calling the court "two courts engaged in rhetorical combat," Wedemeyer contends:

"A lot of their opinions send mixed messages. They're long, elaborate opinions that could be articles in a law review. The justices should be making their best effort to mold out of intellectually honest disparate opinions one message, one resolution of the problem so all the parties know what the answer is, and so they provide clear guidance to the public. ^[2]

Wedemeyer's passing

• On July 23, 2008 Judge Wedemeyer passed away after a battle with lung cancer, he was 75^[3].
• Judge Kitty Brennan was appointed by Governor Doyle to replace Judge Wedemeyer.

Awards, Memberships and Civic Activities

• Active Volunteer on Milwaukee Youth Soccer Association
• Served as a Secretary for the Easter Seals
• Member of the Wisconsin Soccer Hall of Fame.^[4]

See also

• Wisconsin Courts of Appeal

References