MONROE - Thomas Vale is one of three candidates for Green County Circuit Court Second Branch judge position.
Vale is a partner at Duxstad, Vale and Bestul in Monroe as well as city attorney for Albany, New Glarus and Monticello.
Vale is a graduate of University of Wisconsin-Madison, and received his law degree from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. He is a member and past president of the Green County Bar Association.
Vale is married to Karen. They have three children; Erin, Dan and Eric.
Vale responded to a series of questions posed by The Monroe Times, and his answers, as he submitted them, appear below. Timothy Burns and Dan Gartzke also responded to the same questions. Burns' responses were featured Thursday and Gartzke's responses were featured Friday.
How has your training, professional experience, and interests prepared you to serve as Green County Circuit Court judge?
I've spent 27 years in a successful private practice in Monroe, at Duxstad, Vale and Bestul Law Office. I've served hundreds of private clients with many different types of legal issues as well as being Village Attorney for Monticello and New Glarus and acting as attorney for the Town of Albany. This broad experience is needed to handle the variety of cases that come before a judge.
Would you have run for judge had there still been only one branch? Why or why not?
I would not have run if there was still only one branch. I think a candidate normally challenges an incumbent when they have issues with the incumbent's performance and I do not have those types of issues. With the new seat, I feel it is really an opportunity to run "for" myself in a positive manner instead of "against" an incumbent.
List five supporters (individuals or organizations) that speak to your character and/or qualifications?
Last October, I assembled a campaign advisory committee of citizens throughout Green County. Those members are Art Bartsch, Dennis Everson, Attorney Paul Voegeli, Lori Soderberg and Dave Mosher of Monroe, Jeff Pfeuti of Albany, Attorney Ron Braun of Brodhead, Jack Stenbroten of Monticello, and Brad Beal and Gof Thompson of New Glarus.
What role will personal beliefs play in your judicial decision making?
A judge must follow the law as it is written, and a judge is not free to fashion remedies based solely on their own beliefs. But within legal guidelines, a judge does exercise some discretionary decision making authority. I have strong traditional values that will help form the foundation of my decisions along with consideration of the applicable law. These values include respect for the law as well as for the individual.
What is your judicial philosophy and how will it affect the way you function as a judge?
It is critical that a judge bring integrity and trust to the position. There needs to be mutual respect between the court and the litigants and attorneys in the judicial system. Litigants have a right to expect that justice will be administered in a fair and firm fashion and in a timely manner. A judge should dispense justice in a firm, but yet compassionate manner.
What's right or what's wrong with the Green County Circuit Court?
Generally, I think we have a system that functions well, when compared to other court systems. But the state decided to add the second circuit court judge position to lighten the case load that is borne by a single judge. Litigants want a judge to have time to consider the merits of a case. A judge needs time to review motions, briefs and documents outside of court time.
Do you have any ideas on improving the efficiency of the judicial system?
The judge elected in Branch 2 will need to work with Judge Beer in Branch 1 to determine the most efficient process for moving cases through the system. Presently, contempt matters in Family Court proceedings start with the Family Court Commissioner certifying a case is ready to be heard by the Circuit Court Judge, but these cases could go directly before the Circuit Court Judge.
What practices do you believe are necessary to ensure that each person coming before the circuit court receives a fair trial?
There are certain rules of procedure which must be followed by the court for all litigants coming before the court. Part of a judge's responsibility is to see that procedural rules are followed. It is probably not so much the "practices" of the circuit court judge, but his attitude about the participants and the process that are most important in determining the fair outcome of a case.
Under what circumstances would you close a circuit court session or seal a circuit court file?
Proceedings should be open in most cases. Openness promotes faith and trust in the judicial process. The law also sets certain guidelines for having a closed hearing. Juvenile proceedings are generally closed. I would also give careful consideration to protecting the privacy of children who have to testify in a sensitive case, while ensuring the parties receive a fair trial.
Do you believe the Green County Circuit Court is either too lenient or too harsh in dealing with drunken driving cases?
It's difficult to characterize the "Circuit Court" because the court is not just Judge Beer, but other judges who handle cases due to substitutions or acting as a reserve judge. The Fifth Judicial District has developed guidelines for drunk driving cases. The guidelines consider many different factors so that two different offenders may not receive the same sentence.
Do you believe the Green County Circuit Court is either too lenient or too harsh in dealing with domestic violence cases?
Like drunk driving cases, each domestic violence case must be considered independently and there may be aggravating as well as mitigating factors. Domestic violence is a serious matter, complicated by the relationships of families sharing a household. The judge must recognize that each case is different and the disposition can't be the same in each case.
What makes you stand out from your opponents?
I had not planned to seek political office. However, colleagues and friends encouraged me to run, telling me that I have the experience and temperament to be a good judge. With 27 years of experience in private practice as well as the variety of cases that I've handled, I have learned to judge the merits of a case and determine what an appropriate disposition would be.
If you are elected how will voters know whether they've made a wise decision?
Over the course of time, a judge develops a reputation for being fair, firm and open minded in proceedings. Some other judges build up a poor reputation for being unreasonable and not respecting the parties and attorneys using the legal system. I would expect to earn the respect of litigants and lawyers appearing before me.
Vale is a partner at Duxstad, Vale and Bestul in Monroe as well as city attorney for Albany, New Glarus and Monticello.
Vale is a graduate of University of Wisconsin-Madison, and received his law degree from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. He is a member and past president of the Green County Bar Association.
Vale is married to Karen. They have three children; Erin, Dan and Eric.
Vale responded to a series of questions posed by The Monroe Times, and his answers, as he submitted them, appear below. Timothy Burns and Dan Gartzke also responded to the same questions. Burns' responses were featured Thursday and Gartzke's responses were featured Friday.
How has your training, professional experience, and interests prepared you to serve as Green County Circuit Court judge?
I've spent 27 years in a successful private practice in Monroe, at Duxstad, Vale and Bestul Law Office. I've served hundreds of private clients with many different types of legal issues as well as being Village Attorney for Monticello and New Glarus and acting as attorney for the Town of Albany. This broad experience is needed to handle the variety of cases that come before a judge.
Would you have run for judge had there still been only one branch? Why or why not?
I would not have run if there was still only one branch. I think a candidate normally challenges an incumbent when they have issues with the incumbent's performance and I do not have those types of issues. With the new seat, I feel it is really an opportunity to run "for" myself in a positive manner instead of "against" an incumbent.
List five supporters (individuals or organizations) that speak to your character and/or qualifications?
Last October, I assembled a campaign advisory committee of citizens throughout Green County. Those members are Art Bartsch, Dennis Everson, Attorney Paul Voegeli, Lori Soderberg and Dave Mosher of Monroe, Jeff Pfeuti of Albany, Attorney Ron Braun of Brodhead, Jack Stenbroten of Monticello, and Brad Beal and Gof Thompson of New Glarus.
What role will personal beliefs play in your judicial decision making?
A judge must follow the law as it is written, and a judge is not free to fashion remedies based solely on their own beliefs. But within legal guidelines, a judge does exercise some discretionary decision making authority. I have strong traditional values that will help form the foundation of my decisions along with consideration of the applicable law. These values include respect for the law as well as for the individual.
What is your judicial philosophy and how will it affect the way you function as a judge?
It is critical that a judge bring integrity and trust to the position. There needs to be mutual respect between the court and the litigants and attorneys in the judicial system. Litigants have a right to expect that justice will be administered in a fair and firm fashion and in a timely manner. A judge should dispense justice in a firm, but yet compassionate manner.
What's right or what's wrong with the Green County Circuit Court?
Generally, I think we have a system that functions well, when compared to other court systems. But the state decided to add the second circuit court judge position to lighten the case load that is borne by a single judge. Litigants want a judge to have time to consider the merits of a case. A judge needs time to review motions, briefs and documents outside of court time.
Do you have any ideas on improving the efficiency of the judicial system?
The judge elected in Branch 2 will need to work with Judge Beer in Branch 1 to determine the most efficient process for moving cases through the system. Presently, contempt matters in Family Court proceedings start with the Family Court Commissioner certifying a case is ready to be heard by the Circuit Court Judge, but these cases could go directly before the Circuit Court Judge.
What practices do you believe are necessary to ensure that each person coming before the circuit court receives a fair trial?
There are certain rules of procedure which must be followed by the court for all litigants coming before the court. Part of a judge's responsibility is to see that procedural rules are followed. It is probably not so much the "practices" of the circuit court judge, but his attitude about the participants and the process that are most important in determining the fair outcome of a case.
Under what circumstances would you close a circuit court session or seal a circuit court file?
Proceedings should be open in most cases. Openness promotes faith and trust in the judicial process. The law also sets certain guidelines for having a closed hearing. Juvenile proceedings are generally closed. I would also give careful consideration to protecting the privacy of children who have to testify in a sensitive case, while ensuring the parties receive a fair trial.
Do you believe the Green County Circuit Court is either too lenient or too harsh in dealing with drunken driving cases?
It's difficult to characterize the "Circuit Court" because the court is not just Judge Beer, but other judges who handle cases due to substitutions or acting as a reserve judge. The Fifth Judicial District has developed guidelines for drunk driving cases. The guidelines consider many different factors so that two different offenders may not receive the same sentence.
Do you believe the Green County Circuit Court is either too lenient or too harsh in dealing with domestic violence cases?
Like drunk driving cases, each domestic violence case must be considered independently and there may be aggravating as well as mitigating factors. Domestic violence is a serious matter, complicated by the relationships of families sharing a household. The judge must recognize that each case is different and the disposition can't be the same in each case.
What makes you stand out from your opponents?
I had not planned to seek political office. However, colleagues and friends encouraged me to run, telling me that I have the experience and temperament to be a good judge. With 27 years of experience in private practice as well as the variety of cases that I've handled, I have learned to judge the merits of a case and determine what an appropriate disposition would be.
If you are elected how will voters know whether they've made a wise decision?
Over the course of time, a judge develops a reputation for being fair, firm and open minded in proceedings. Some other judges build up a poor reputation for being unreasonable and not respecting the parties and attorneys using the legal system. I would expect to earn the respect of litigants and lawyers appearing before me.