Last Updated: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 11:51 AM CST
News : Judge Kennedy seeks re-election
Circuit Court Judge Robert A. Kennedy, Jr., is running for re-election to the bench for Florence and Forest Counties. Judge Kennedy is seeking another six year term to continue his local court practices that are not generally employed in Wisconsin trial courts.
An example of his unusual practices can be seen in the Sue Sponte Application, filed April 1, 2005. In this application, the inherent power of the court is used to set a one year deadline to claim bail deposits for arrests four years old not followed up by prosecution. On May 26, 2006, unclaimed funds of $4,965.76 were paid to the Forest County Treasurer for the County's general use. This payment is unique because this concept has never been used before in Wisconsin.
“With as many law books as we have, you'd think everything has already been decided,” said Judge Kennedy. “But it hasn't. I look forward to presiding over issues of first impression.”
Being responsible for deciding the fate of countless individuals, the job of being a judge is very challenging. However, when you add a whole other county to the mix, the job has another element of difficulty.
“The Circuit Court of Florence and Forest Counties has more square miles than any other single judicial circuit. The task of dividing court time between the two courthouses in Florence and Crandon (as well as out of county assignments) is a difficult one,” wrote Judge Kennedy in a summary of his time as a Forest and Florence County judge. “Court staffs in both courthouses are personally committed to the good of the community and are doing a fine job.”
Judge Kennedy uses the speaker phone on all allowable situations, so defendants in prison or other county jails need not be transported to and from the local court at county expense. Video equipment also assists Judge Kennedy as well as other court personnel to manage their court calendars.
In order to deal with the immense amounts of pending cases, many trial courts have hired law clerks at county expense to work on them, according to Kennedy. Judge Kennedy, however, has no law clerks.
Judge Kennedy on his own initiative has successfully challenged administrative decisions of the Office of State Public Defender (SPD) not to provide attorneys for criminal defendants being prosecuted by the State. When SPD denies coverage, the county taxpayers must pay the legal services for these indigent defendants.
According to the judge, his most significant decision came out of a civil case he presided over in Langlade County. Judge Kennedy interpreted the meaning of a statute, s.632.32(4)(a)2.b., concerning uninsured motorist coverage. Judge Kennedy dismissed the complaint but the Court of Appeals reversed it. The Wisconsin Supreme Court agreed to hear the case, and on July 10, 2007, the court reversed the Court of Appeals. Judge Kennedy's original dismissal was reinstated.
Judge Kennedy said he would “like to receive a second term to continue his work and also be in office in 2009 when the Forest County Courthouse celebrates its 100th anniversary.”
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