MONROE - Green County Court Commissioner Timothy Burns announced Thursday he is a candidate for Green County Circuit Court Judge.
Burns is running for the Second Branch judge position, which was created last year by the Legislature based on an increased caseload in the county. Green County voters will decide next April who will serve as judge for the Second Branch, with the winner taking office in August 2009.
Thomas Vale, a partner at Duxstad, Vale and Bestul in Monroe, also has announced his candidacy.
Burns has served as court commissioner since 1996. He's responsible for family court, small claims court and various other matters as assigned by the Circuit Court. He also has a private law practice in Monroe.
Among his achievements, Burns cites the creation of an Internet Web site for people who have questions about family court, and a parenting program to help parents going through divorce learn how to keep their children out of the middle of the conflict. Burns also helped create a packet of forms and instructions which allows people without attorneys to get a hearing in family court.
Burns also moved the court commissioner's office to an electronic document system to cut down on storage space needs in his office, he added.
"As commissioner I have worked to make the courts more accessible to people," Burns said.
Burns cited his years on the bench as one of his strengths.
"I enjoy the challenge of hearing and deciding cases that come into my courtroom," he said. "A circuit court judge must listen to and weigh the evidence presented, and my nearly 12 years of experience in that regard will benefit those who appear before me."
Burns has been married to his wife, Kelly, for 30 years. They have three children; Brendan, Columbus; Colin, Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Morgan, Monroe. Burns has taught the karate program for the Monroe Parks and Recreation Department since 1991 and was a member of the Green County Domestic Violence Task Force from 1999 to 2004.
He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin at River Falls and of the University of Colorado School of Law. He is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin and the Green County Bar Association. He is past president of the Green County Bar Association and is vice president of the Wisconsin Family Court Commissioners Association.
Burns said he announced his candidacy now to keep the election in the minds of voters.
"It's nice to have public participation in the process," Burns said.
Burns is running for the Second Branch judge position, which was created last year by the Legislature based on an increased caseload in the county. Green County voters will decide next April who will serve as judge for the Second Branch, with the winner taking office in August 2009.
Thomas Vale, a partner at Duxstad, Vale and Bestul in Monroe, also has announced his candidacy.
Burns has served as court commissioner since 1996. He's responsible for family court, small claims court and various other matters as assigned by the Circuit Court. He also has a private law practice in Monroe.
Among his achievements, Burns cites the creation of an Internet Web site for people who have questions about family court, and a parenting program to help parents going through divorce learn how to keep their children out of the middle of the conflict. Burns also helped create a packet of forms and instructions which allows people without attorneys to get a hearing in family court.
Burns also moved the court commissioner's office to an electronic document system to cut down on storage space needs in his office, he added.
"As commissioner I have worked to make the courts more accessible to people," Burns said.
Burns cited his years on the bench as one of his strengths.
"I enjoy the challenge of hearing and deciding cases that come into my courtroom," he said. "A circuit court judge must listen to and weigh the evidence presented, and my nearly 12 years of experience in that regard will benefit those who appear before me."
Burns has been married to his wife, Kelly, for 30 years. They have three children; Brendan, Columbus; Colin, Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Morgan, Monroe. Burns has taught the karate program for the Monroe Parks and Recreation Department since 1991 and was a member of the Green County Domestic Violence Task Force from 1999 to 2004.
He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin at River Falls and of the University of Colorado School of Law. He is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin and the Green County Bar Association. He is past president of the Green County Bar Association and is vice president of the Wisconsin Family Court Commissioners Association.
Burns said he announced his candidacy now to keep the election in the minds of voters.
"It's nice to have public participation in the process," Burns said.