It's been a long time since Lafayette County residents have had to ponder how to vote in a county judicial race: Retiring Circuit Court Judge William Johnston sat on the bench for 30 years, and he hasn't had an opponent for the seat since he first won election in 1985.
Lafayette County residents have been very fortunate indeed to have a judge the caliber of William Johnston on the bench for these past three decades.
The good news for Lafayette County voters is they have two very strong candidates running to fill the huge judicial shoes Johnston is leaving behind.
Voters will be deciding April 7 between Kate Findley, the current Lafayette County district attorney, and Duane Jorgenson, a long-time Darlington attorney. The race proves to be an interesting one: Findley beat out Jorgenson in the Democratic primary for district attorney in August 2012. In this February's primary for judge, Jorgenson was the clear favorite, earning 897 votes to Findley's 409. But there were two other candidates in that primary who garnered a total of 624 votes, and those ballots could swing either way in the now two-person race.
While they've taken different paths, both have distinguished themselves in their legal careers.
Jorgenson has an extensive resume, including handling a variety of civil and criminal cases and serving 21 years as Lafayette County corporation counsel. He has done extensive work in cases involving child and juvenile court matters and is a passionate advocate for the protection of children.
Before becoming DA in 2013, Findley was the attorney manager of the state public defender's office for Green and Lafayette counties. She has also been a public defender and assistant clinical professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School.
But perhaps the issue that will resonate most with voters is that one candidate is a homegrown, and one is not.
Jorgenson is a life-long resident of Darlington and is proud to be firmly grounded in and involved in the community. Findley, in contrast, says she "chose to commit to Darlington." She had practiced as a private criminal defense attorney in Lafayette County, and throughout the state, before moving to Darlington.
While we appreciate Jorgenson's deeply ingrained understanding of community values and his dedication to serving Lafayette County residents, we're not convinced that alone makes him the best candidate for judge. We have no doubt Jorgenson would fulfill the responsibility of a judge and mete out justice fairly and impartially.
But the fact that Findley could be viewed, and has been painted, as an "outsider" actually puts her in good stead for the judgeship. As a relative newcomer to the county, it will be easier for her to avoid any appearance, however unjustified, of bias or partiality.
Either candidate would do a fine job overseeing the court in Lafayette County, but we believe Findley brings a broader view to the bench, and we endorse her for Lafayette County judge.
Lafayette County residents have been very fortunate indeed to have a judge the caliber of William Johnston on the bench for these past three decades.
The good news for Lafayette County voters is they have two very strong candidates running to fill the huge judicial shoes Johnston is leaving behind.
Voters will be deciding April 7 between Kate Findley, the current Lafayette County district attorney, and Duane Jorgenson, a long-time Darlington attorney. The race proves to be an interesting one: Findley beat out Jorgenson in the Democratic primary for district attorney in August 2012. In this February's primary for judge, Jorgenson was the clear favorite, earning 897 votes to Findley's 409. But there were two other candidates in that primary who garnered a total of 624 votes, and those ballots could swing either way in the now two-person race.
While they've taken different paths, both have distinguished themselves in their legal careers.
Jorgenson has an extensive resume, including handling a variety of civil and criminal cases and serving 21 years as Lafayette County corporation counsel. He has done extensive work in cases involving child and juvenile court matters and is a passionate advocate for the protection of children.
Before becoming DA in 2013, Findley was the attorney manager of the state public defender's office for Green and Lafayette counties. She has also been a public defender and assistant clinical professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School.
But perhaps the issue that will resonate most with voters is that one candidate is a homegrown, and one is not.
Jorgenson is a life-long resident of Darlington and is proud to be firmly grounded in and involved in the community. Findley, in contrast, says she "chose to commit to Darlington." She had practiced as a private criminal defense attorney in Lafayette County, and throughout the state, before moving to Darlington.
While we appreciate Jorgenson's deeply ingrained understanding of community values and his dedication to serving Lafayette County residents, we're not convinced that alone makes him the best candidate for judge. We have no doubt Jorgenson would fulfill the responsibility of a judge and mete out justice fairly and impartially.
But the fact that Findley could be viewed, and has been painted, as an "outsider" actually puts her in good stead for the judgeship. As a relative newcomer to the county, it will be easier for her to avoid any appearance, however unjustified, of bias or partiality.
Either candidate would do a fine job overseeing the court in Lafayette County, but we believe Findley brings a broader view to the bench, and we endorse her for Lafayette County judge.
