Green County Circuit Judge Branch 1
Dan Gartzke is challenging incumbent Jim Beer for the Green County Circuit Judge, Branch 1 seat.
Age: 68
City/town of residence: Monroe
Family: Wife: Olga, Colony Brands. Daughters: Attorney Tara Beer City of Burlingame, Calif.; Crystal Beer, biologist, Brodhead; Jennifer Beer, senior at UW-Whitewater. Sons: Artem Beer, Deloitte Consulting, Monroe/ Minneapolis; Alex Beer, second grade, Monroe.
Education: Graduate of Monroe High School; Bachelor of Science Degree School of Education, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Juris Doctorate from Marquette University Law School; Northwestern University-National Prosecutor School; Wisconsin Judicial College.
Occupation: Circuit Court Judge, Branch I, Green County;
Previous relevant experience: private practice in Monroe with the law firm of Beer & Blum; District Attorney for Green County; village attorney for Albany; acting Corporation Counsel for Green County; Green County Court Commissioner for eight years; Green Country Family Court Commissioner for three years; member of Green County Board of Supervisors, serving as a chairman of Tourism, vice-chairman Solid Waste Management Board and Green County Human Services Board; acted as a public defender; tried jury cases as defense counsel including first-degree murder, many felonies and personal injury law suits as an attorney; practice probate, tax and family law, bankruptcy, real estate, etc.
What personal qualities or characteristics, other than fairness and impartiality, would you bring to the bench?
I have had the opportunity in my life to work in all types of jobs - from the newspaper boy to the construction worker, a truck driver, and night manager of a grocery store, sports editor for the newspaper, brewery worker, and waiter. I got involved in projects with the Department of Natural Resources. I have served as a secretary-treasurer of the Green County Conservation league as well as on the board of directors of the Kiwanis Club, board of directors of the Green County Historical Society, national president of Genuine Indian Relic Society, and vice- president of Badger State Archeological Society. I have written articles which have been published in the Wisconsin Archeological Journal, Prehistoric America, and Central States Archeological Journal. I have taught lawyers in family law and civil law seminars as well as having served as Court Commissioner for eight years and Family Court Commissioner for three years.
I have had 19 years of experience as Circuit Judge for Green County.
I have also grown up in Green County and have lived here almost all my life which gives me a unique perspective as to the needs of the citizens of Green County and what this court can do to best serve all individuals. I know how much it means for everyone to have their day in court and for everyone to be treated exactly the way I would like to be treated if I were appear in front of a judge.
Is there a case you have been involved with of which you are particularly proud?
Yes. I am particularly proud of the decision I made is Green County Circuit Court Case number 1997-CV-000141, "Irene Blumer vs. Wisconsin Department of Health & Family Services". This case involved what is known as divestiture of assets in order for individuals to receive Medical Assistance. This was an area of the law that I had not had in private practice nor experienced before while on the bench. I listened to testimony and read the briefs which were filed in with the case. After having reviewed the testimony and the briefs I decided this case on November 11, 1998, in favor of the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services. The attorneys for Irene Blumer appealed to the Wisconsin District 4th Court of Appeals, which in a long decision reversed my decision. However, the United States Supreme Court then took this case and in 2002 reversed the Wisconsin 4th District Court of Appeals and ordered that they affirm my trial court decision. This case is one of few cases coming from Green County to go to the U.S. Supreme Court and one of even fewer cases where the trial court in Green County has been affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court. My decision in this case became the law of the land in the United States.
And is there a case you have been involved with that, in retrospect, you wish you had handled differently? Please explain.
No. At this time I do not recall a case that I feel that I did not hear the testimony and fairly decide the case on the law as it existed at the time I rendered a decision.
Do you believe the current criminal/civil court system is effective, or do you believe our current justice system is becoming ineffective? Are there methods or changes you would like to see instituted to increase the effectiveness and/or efficiency of our court system?
No court system is perfect. All judges work hard to conclude their cases in a timely and efficient manner. In 1996 we had one courtroom with absolutely no security and the public, prisoners and court staff all appeared together at the same time in one courtroom, with prisoners brought in through the public entrances. We were not using any electronic security devices. The courtroom had six entrances - three of them behind the judge. The jury box was located behind the witness stand which made it almost impossible for the jury to consider the truthfulness of the testimony by observing the person giving testimony.
We have made huge strides and are planning further developments. I was a leader in the initiative to install a video conferencing telephonic system which we now use daily so the jail prisoners appear in court telephonically from the jail. For additional security, Green County now has bailiffs in each courtroom at the new Justice Center which we did not have in the past. The courtrooms are fully equipped with Wi-Fi and plug-in internet for people to use. Each courtroom has a computer for the judges to use at their disposal to look up case law and court records during court proceedings.
We have designed and work with Chief Judge James Daley of Rock County to establish a Veterans Court which, using V.A. resources, has worked successfully in reducing recidivism in Veterans in OWI cases and providing guidance and help to our veterans during and after the cases. Currently we are working in cooperation with some other courts over Wisconsin in developing a similar drug court program.
We are currently involved in the process of transferring to the electronic filing system and scanning documents to reduce file storage needs and increase effectiveness of the court, as by the year 2017 all courts will be required to be paperless.
Why are you the best candidate for this office?
Before I become circuit judge for Green County in 1996, I had practiced law for 24 years and had appeared in court with my clients in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois, including federal court. I began my law practice with Anna O. Blum, who was one of the first 100 women to practice law in the state of Wisconsin. Attorney Blum was considered an expert in tax law and litigation. I tried cases, including from first-degree murder cases to disorderly conduct cases, traffic and ordinance violations, divorce, and civil cases where I had several cases resulting in recovery of over one million dollars for my client. I also had the privilege of servicing the people of Green County as a District Attorney, served eight years as a Judicial Court Commissioner and three years as a Family Court Commissioner. And now I am in my 19th year serving as Circuit Judge for Branch 1 for Green County. When I began serving as your judge in 1996, there was only one branch in Green County and our caseload made it the busiest Circuit Court branch in the state of Wisconsin. As a Circuit Judge I have served as a chairman of the State Bail - Bond Committee. I have taught continuing Legal Education classes to attorneys in family and civil procedure. I have also heard cases in Lafayette County and Rock County when assigned there by the district court.
City/town of residence: Monroe
Family: Wife: Olga, Colony Brands. Daughters: Attorney Tara Beer City of Burlingame, Calif.; Crystal Beer, biologist, Brodhead; Jennifer Beer, senior at UW-Whitewater. Sons: Artem Beer, Deloitte Consulting, Monroe/ Minneapolis; Alex Beer, second grade, Monroe.
Education: Graduate of Monroe High School; Bachelor of Science Degree School of Education, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Juris Doctorate from Marquette University Law School; Northwestern University-National Prosecutor School; Wisconsin Judicial College.
Occupation: Circuit Court Judge, Branch I, Green County;
Previous relevant experience: private practice in Monroe with the law firm of Beer & Blum; District Attorney for Green County; village attorney for Albany; acting Corporation Counsel for Green County; Green County Court Commissioner for eight years; Green Country Family Court Commissioner for three years; member of Green County Board of Supervisors, serving as a chairman of Tourism, vice-chairman Solid Waste Management Board and Green County Human Services Board; acted as a public defender; tried jury cases as defense counsel including first-degree murder, many felonies and personal injury law suits as an attorney; practice probate, tax and family law, bankruptcy, real estate, etc.
What personal qualities or characteristics, other than fairness and impartiality, would you bring to the bench?
I have had the opportunity in my life to work in all types of jobs - from the newspaper boy to the construction worker, a truck driver, and night manager of a grocery store, sports editor for the newspaper, brewery worker, and waiter. I got involved in projects with the Department of Natural Resources. I have served as a secretary-treasurer of the Green County Conservation league as well as on the board of directors of the Kiwanis Club, board of directors of the Green County Historical Society, national president of Genuine Indian Relic Society, and vice- president of Badger State Archeological Society. I have written articles which have been published in the Wisconsin Archeological Journal, Prehistoric America, and Central States Archeological Journal. I have taught lawyers in family law and civil law seminars as well as having served as Court Commissioner for eight years and Family Court Commissioner for three years.
I have had 19 years of experience as Circuit Judge for Green County.
I have also grown up in Green County and have lived here almost all my life which gives me a unique perspective as to the needs of the citizens of Green County and what this court can do to best serve all individuals. I know how much it means for everyone to have their day in court and for everyone to be treated exactly the way I would like to be treated if I were appear in front of a judge.
Is there a case you have been involved with of which you are particularly proud?
Yes. I am particularly proud of the decision I made is Green County Circuit Court Case number 1997-CV-000141, "Irene Blumer vs. Wisconsin Department of Health & Family Services". This case involved what is known as divestiture of assets in order for individuals to receive Medical Assistance. This was an area of the law that I had not had in private practice nor experienced before while on the bench. I listened to testimony and read the briefs which were filed in with the case. After having reviewed the testimony and the briefs I decided this case on November 11, 1998, in favor of the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services. The attorneys for Irene Blumer appealed to the Wisconsin District 4th Court of Appeals, which in a long decision reversed my decision. However, the United States Supreme Court then took this case and in 2002 reversed the Wisconsin 4th District Court of Appeals and ordered that they affirm my trial court decision. This case is one of few cases coming from Green County to go to the U.S. Supreme Court and one of even fewer cases where the trial court in Green County has been affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court. My decision in this case became the law of the land in the United States.
And is there a case you have been involved with that, in retrospect, you wish you had handled differently? Please explain.
No. At this time I do not recall a case that I feel that I did not hear the testimony and fairly decide the case on the law as it existed at the time I rendered a decision.
Do you believe the current criminal/civil court system is effective, or do you believe our current justice system is becoming ineffective? Are there methods or changes you would like to see instituted to increase the effectiveness and/or efficiency of our court system?
No court system is perfect. All judges work hard to conclude their cases in a timely and efficient manner. In 1996 we had one courtroom with absolutely no security and the public, prisoners and court staff all appeared together at the same time in one courtroom, with prisoners brought in through the public entrances. We were not using any electronic security devices. The courtroom had six entrances - three of them behind the judge. The jury box was located behind the witness stand which made it almost impossible for the jury to consider the truthfulness of the testimony by observing the person giving testimony.
We have made huge strides and are planning further developments. I was a leader in the initiative to install a video conferencing telephonic system which we now use daily so the jail prisoners appear in court telephonically from the jail. For additional security, Green County now has bailiffs in each courtroom at the new Justice Center which we did not have in the past. The courtrooms are fully equipped with Wi-Fi and plug-in internet for people to use. Each courtroom has a computer for the judges to use at their disposal to look up case law and court records during court proceedings.
We have designed and work with Chief Judge James Daley of Rock County to establish a Veterans Court which, using V.A. resources, has worked successfully in reducing recidivism in Veterans in OWI cases and providing guidance and help to our veterans during and after the cases. Currently we are working in cooperation with some other courts over Wisconsin in developing a similar drug court program.
We are currently involved in the process of transferring to the electronic filing system and scanning documents to reduce file storage needs and increase effectiveness of the court, as by the year 2017 all courts will be required to be paperless.
Why are you the best candidate for this office?
Before I become circuit judge for Green County in 1996, I had practiced law for 24 years and had appeared in court with my clients in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois, including federal court. I began my law practice with Anna O. Blum, who was one of the first 100 women to practice law in the state of Wisconsin. Attorney Blum was considered an expert in tax law and litigation. I tried cases, including from first-degree murder cases to disorderly conduct cases, traffic and ordinance violations, divorce, and civil cases where I had several cases resulting in recovery of over one million dollars for my client. I also had the privilege of servicing the people of Green County as a District Attorney, served eight years as a Judicial Court Commissioner and three years as a Family Court Commissioner. And now I am in my 19th year serving as Circuit Judge for Branch 1 for Green County. When I began serving as your judge in 1996, there was only one branch in Green County and our caseload made it the busiest Circuit Court branch in the state of Wisconsin. As a Circuit Judge I have served as a chairman of the State Bail - Bond Committee. I have taught continuing Legal Education classes to attorneys in family and civil procedure. I have also heard cases in Lafayette County and Rock County when assigned there by the district court.