Joan F. Kessler

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The Honorable
Joan F. Kessler
Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District I
In office
August 1, 2004 – February 7, 2020
Preceded byCharles B. Schudson
Succeeded byMaxine Aldridge White
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
In office
1978–1981
Appointed byJimmy Carter
Preceded byWilliam J. Mulligan
Succeeded byJoseph Peter Stadtmueller
Personal details
Born1944 (age 79–80)
Louisiana, U.S.
SpouseFred Kessler
Alma mater
Professionlawyer, judge

Joan F. Kessler (born 1944) is an American lawyer and a retired judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, serving from 2004 to 2020. Kessler previously served as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin under President Jimmy Carter, and was the first female U.S. attorney in Wisconsin. She is married to Fred Kessler, who was also an influential Democratic politician and judge in Wisconsin.

Life and career[edit]

A native of Louisiana,[1] Kessler graduated from the University of Kansas in 1966 and from Marquette University Law School in 1968.[2] She worked as a law clerk for United States District Judge John W. Reynolds, Jr., in Milwaukee from 1968 to 1969 before entering private practice.[1][2] Kessler was a supporter of Jimmy Carter's candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1976; in 1978, Carter appointed her United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.[1]

As United States Attorney, Kessler received praise for her performance in court and her open-door policy toward criminal defense attorneys,[3] but clashed with Milwaukee City Attorney James Brennan over her investigation into the Milwaukee Police Department's hiring and promotion practices.[4] She resigned in March 1981, following Carter's 1980 defeat to Ronald Reagan, and entered private practice with the Milwaukee firm Foley and Lardner.[5] Kessler specialized as a divorce attorney at Foley and Lardner and was eventually selected as a partner in the firm.[6]

In 2004, Kessler challenged incumbent Wisconsin Court of Appeals Judge Charles B. Schudson for his seat on the court's Milwaukee-based District I.[6][7] The campaign was hotly contested; Kessler's campaign alleged that Schudson had committed several violations of judicial ethics, charges he vehemently denied; Schudson later levied ethics allegations against Kessler.[7][6] Kessler unseated Schudson in the April general election, but was not cleared of ethical wrongdoing until 2010.[8]

Kessler has participated in several notable cases during her tenure as an appellate judge. In December 2014, she authored a decision affirming the conviction of Kelly Rindfleisch, deputy chief of staff to Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker when he served as Milwaukee County Executive.[9] In July 2015, Kessler wrote a concurring opinion in a decision reinstating Milwaukee's employee residency rules, which had been voided by a Milwaukee County circuit judge.[10]

Electoral history[edit]

Wisconsin Court of Appeals (2004, 2010, 2016)[edit]

Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District I Election, 2004[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 6, 2004
Nonpartisan Joan F. Kessler 106,640 50.62%
Nonpartisan Charles B. Schudson (incumbent) 102,980 48.89%
Scattering 1,035 0.49%
Total votes '210,655' '100.0%' +213.87%
Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District I Election, 2010[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 6, 2010
Nonpartisan Joan F. Kessler (incumbent) 22,196 97.89%
Scattering 478 2.11%
Total votes '22,674' '100.0%'
Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District I Election, 2016[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 5, 2016
Nonpartisan Joan F. Kessler (incumbent) 175,733 98.77%
Scattering 2,189 1.23%
Total votes '177,922' '100.0%'

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Carter Picks Joan Kessler for US Post". The Milwaukee Journal. February 28, 1978. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Judge Joan F. Kessler". Judges. Wisconsin Court System. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  3. ^ Aikin, Jeff (June 5, 1979). "Joan Kessler, prosecutor, one year later". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  4. ^ "Brennan asks probe of Mrs. Kessler". The Milwaukee Journal. April 21, 1980. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  5. ^ "US Dist. Atty. Kessler to step down in March". The Milwaukee Sentinel. January 16, 1981. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  6. ^ a b c Bice, Daniel; Spivak, Cary (February 22, 2006). "Judge may have to state case before court". The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Attorney to run for appellate seat". The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. July 18, 2003. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  8. ^ Vielmetti, Bruce (October 14, 2010). "Kesslers will not be disciplined over 2004 ethics complaints". The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  9. ^ Stein, Jason (November 12, 2014). "Appeals Court rejects Rindfleisch appeal of John Doe conviction". The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  10. ^ Willms, Molly (July 22, 2015). "Wisconsin Cities Can Tell Workers Where to Live". Courthouse News Service. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  11. ^ Results of Spring General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. April 22, 2004. p. 1. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  12. ^ Results of Spring General Election – 04/06/2010 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. April 23, 2010. p. 1. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  13. ^ Canvass Results for 2016 Spring Election and Presidential Preference Vote – 4/5/2016 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. April 26, 2016. p. 2. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
Legal offices
Preceded by
William J. Mulligan
 United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
1978 – 1981 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District I
2004 – 2020 		Succeeded by
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