Returning to where his career began, outgoing Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel is being appointed as a Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge by Governor Scott Walker.
“Brad Schimel has diligently served the State of Wisconsin as attorney general and the citizens of Waukesha County as district attorney,” said Walker. “Schimel has shown a commitment to the rule of law and the State of Wisconsin. He will continue to faithfully serve our state as Waukesha County Circuit Court judge.”
Schimel replaces Judge Patrick Haughney, who stepped down on November 6. The office is next up for election in next year’s April election.
Before becoming the Wisconsin Attorney General, Schimel served as the District Attorney for Waukesha County from 2006 until 2015. Prior to serving as district attorney, Schimel served as an assistant district attorney for Waukesha County from 1990 to 2007.
In 2014, Schimel defeated Jefferson County District Attorney Susan Happ to succeed J.B. Van Hollen as Wisconsin’s Attorney General. Schimel was narrowly defeated after one term by just 17,190 votes in the 2018 election by Democrat Josh Kaul, a lawyer for the Hillary Clinton campaign and the son of former Wisconsin Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager.
Brian Fraley of Edge Messaging, a senior advisor to Schimel’s re-election campaign, said it’s not surprising that Schimel would choose public service over a higher paying position in the private sector.
“There are dozens of national and state law firms that would love to have a former Attorney General on their letterhead, much less someone of the caliber of Brad Schimel on their team,” Fraley said. “But it does not surprise me that Brad chose a less financially-lucrative option for the next phase of his career. He is a community-oriented guy who believes in public service. Waukesha County will be well served by Schimel serving on the bench.”
