Two candidates for eastern Wisconsin Court of Appeals judge share their experience, philosophy
SHEBOYGAN - On April 5, Sheboygan County voters will choose between incumbent Lori Kornblum and Maria Lazar for a six-year position on the District 2 Court of Appeals.
Kornblum, 65, was appointed to the position in November by Gov. Tony Evers. She is a former longtime Milwaukee County prosecutor who specialized in child abuse and neglect cases.
Lazar, 58, a Waukesha County Circuit Court judge since 2015, has experience as a litigator and assistant attorney general over the past 20 years. Lazar has a conservative judicial philosophy and met with conservative groups in District 2, according to her Facebook page.
Both judges say they aim to make fair decisions that follow the laws of the Constitution.
Here’s what cases Court of Appeals judges decide, and more about each candidate in their own words.
The Sheboygan Press does not cover candidate endorsements and edited these responses to only allow candidates to share about themselves rather than commenting on their opponent.
What are the responsibilities of a Court of Appeals judge?
The Wisconsin Court of Appeals, an error-correcting court, has 16 judges and is divided into four districts. Judges work collaboratively on panels of three.
District 2 covers 12 counties: Sheboygan, Calumet, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Kenosha, Manitowoc, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Waukesha, Washington and Winnebago.
If a party does not agree with a trial court’s decision in these counties – including in civil, family, criminal, traffic, mental commitment or juvenile cases – they can appeal the decision, and it goes to the Court of Appeals.
While the Wisconsin Supreme Court can decide whether to take a case, the Court of Appeals must take ever case that is appealed, with rare exceptions.
That means the Court of Appeals hears a large number of cases: In the 2020-2021 term, the state Supreme Court decided 52 cases, according to the Wisconsin State Bar, while the Court of Appeals decided more than 2,000, according to its annual report.
Meet the candidates
Name: Lori Kornblum (incumbent)
City/town of residence: Mequon
Age: 65
Occupation: Judge, Wisconsin Court of Appeals
Education: Bachelor's degree from Yale University 1979 and Juris Doctor from University of California-Berkley Law School 1982
Campaign website: ElectJudgeLoriKornblum.com
Relevant experience: I am the incumbent in this race. As an Appeals Court judge, I uphold the Constitution, respect the rule of law, and apply the law as it is written, fairly and without bias. I have spent my career protecting children and families. I was a prosecutor in Milwaukee County for 22 years. I specialized in prosecuting crimes against children and meeting the needs of victims. I have deep and broad experience throughout the state training hundreds of law enforcement officers, social workers, medical professionals, teachers from preschool through high school, and other first responders on how to serve child abuse victims and their families better. In private practice, I represented people with disabilities, their families, seniors and foster parents. I have taught law at Marquette and Northeastern law schools and in the award-winning paralegal program at MATC.
Name: Maria Lazar
City/town of residence: Brookfield
Age: 58
Occupation: Waukesha County Circuit Court judge since 2015
Education: Georgetown University Law Center; Mount Mary College (now University), magna cum laude; Long Island University Honors Semester, NYC
Campaign website: JudgeMariaLazar.com
Relevant experience: I have spent over 20 years in private practice as a litigator in a business law firm, five years with the Department of Justice as an assistant attorney general, and seven years as an actual trial court judge in Civil, Presiding in Criminal and Juvenile divisions, Drug Treatment Court, and on the mental commitment calendar. I have the experience, judicial temperament, credibility and record to serve on the court of appeals. I have presided over jury trials, court trials, and evidentiary hearings and made decisions orally and in writing. I have a proven record of written decisions upholding the Constitution. I respect and honor the rule of law as a sitting judge. I have argued in the State Supreme Court and multiple federal and state courts. I am a member of the U.S. Supreme Court Bar. I have taught judges in Wisconsin, and nationally taught law students at Marquette Law School in trial advocacy and AAG’s throughout the country on trial practice.
Why are you running for office?
Kornblum: The rule of law — the idea that no one is above the law, that all should be accountable under the same laws, and that everyone should be treated equally and fairly — are goals for our legal system. To reach those goals, our judges must be independent, ethical, committed to upholding the Constitution, dedicated to ensuring everyone gets a fair shake, and experienced in applying and explaining the law. Decisions must be clear and understood by the parties and the public.
I am running to retain my seat on the Court of Appeals because that is the kind of judge I am and those are the values I bring to the bench, every day and in every case.
I am a candidate who has spent her career protecting people and keeping communities safe. I was a prosecutor for 22 years in Milwaukee County, bringing sex offenders and child abusers to justice. My job was to protect victims and children. I worked with law enforcement, victim advocates and experts in treating childhood trauma.
As an attorney in private practice, I advocated for people with disabilities, seniors and foster children. My work helped remove people from unsafe homes, protected them from abuse and made sure they were safe.
I have also been a teacher and professor. I taught law at Marquette and Northeastern University law schools and in the award-winning paralegal program at MATC. I was a proud member of my union, AFT Local 212.
Lazar: I believe I can give back to my community and state by using my extensive judicial and legal background to respect the rule of law, honor the Constitution, and humbly serve the citizens of District 2 in an appellate capacity. I have the determination, dedication and devotion to the law that leads me to aspire to serve as an appellate judge to make decisions that will impact the lives and rights of our citizens.
In addition, while I have given back to the community as a Wish-Granter for Make-A-Wish, and by serving on various judicial boards/committees and for my church, I still believe that I can do more for Wisconsin. All of my experience has led me to this court. I strongly believe in the separation of powers and that my years of constructionism make me an excellent choice to safeguard citizens’ liberties. Having served in Civil and presided in the Criminal, Juvenile, and Drug Treatment courts, I realized that I possess the skills, experience, intelligence, and constitutional basis to exercise the appropriate judicial prudence to review and issue decisions at the appellate level. Simply put, I love Wisconsin, am a life-long resident, and I want to do more to respect and uphold its laws.
What makes you a good candidate in this race?
Kornblum: My experience as a judge on the Court of Appeals, my commitment to reaching out to voters all across the district, and my proven track record of protecting children and keeping communities safe.
I am the only candidate with experience as an appellate judge. I am doing the job every day, deciding cases on the facts and on the law, upholding the Constitution, respecting the rule of law, and applying the law as it is written.
I’ve met with residents from all 12 of counties in this district. My campaign has accepted every invitation we have received to appear jointly with my opponent so that voters can hear from us directly and compare our records, our philosophies and our values. In Wisconsin, we elect our judges, and it is important, and respectful, to voters that candidates be willing to face and interact with those they seek to serve.
Lazar: I have the experience and background as a judge in both private and public legal service, the judicial demeanor, and the intelligence to make critical and fair decisions.
I have spent seven years on the bench as a trial court judge and have learned firsthand how judicial decision-making impacts all citizens. I’ve presided over civil and criminal jury and court trials, I have issued written and oral rulings, and I have had 99% of my decisions affirmed. I have argued cases across the state and country and have written appellate briefs in state, federal and the U.S. Supreme Court. I have consistently held true to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. I’ve spent my entire legal and judicial career upholding and protecting the rights of all citizens. I am rated AV Preeminent, the highest rating for a lawyer, and have been on the Judicial Executive Counsel, the committees on Judicial Education and Juvenile Jury Instructions. The appellate court is error-correcting, and the next appellate judge must have actual experience as a trial court judge making decisions on evidentiary, legal and other matters each day.
What qualities should voters look for in a judge? How do you exemplify those qualities?
Kornblum: When I ask people what they think is most important in a judge, their answers are consistent.
They tell me that fairness, honesty, supporting the laws and the Constitution, and not having a preconceived idea about the outcome of a case are what matter most to them.
And that is the kind of judge I am. My job is to uphold the laws and the Constitution and to do so fairly and impartially. To look at the facts of each case and apply the law, to review cases fairly, to judge each case on its own merits and to treat everyone equally.
Voters also tell me they have grown weary of politicized courts. They can see that often the majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court approaches cases with an outcome in mind. They want judges who come to cases with an open mind, rather than having an outcome in mind. They want judges who are fair, knowledgeable and who will never forget they are working for the people, not special interests.
They also want judges who will uphold the principles of our democratic system.
Lazar: A great judge must have the proper temperament, demeanor, legal scholarship, ability to make difficult but proper decisions, and the experience to address all of the multiple types of cases that appear on a docket. I have a proven track record of written decisions that respect the rule of law and have been affirmed 99% of the time. I have a reputation for fairness and impartiality for all individuals who have appeared in front of me for over seven years. I have sentenced defendants to prison, jail or probation. I have made instant decisions in multiple trials and hearings.
A great judge has to have passion, determination and dedication to the Constitution, the law, litigants and the judicial system. I have a proven record of precisely that. It is not enough to have practiced in one area of the law. An appellate judge has to be well-versed in all legal areas; I have both the legal and judicial experience in every area of the law.
A great judge has to write clearly and concisely so that parties and other judges understand decisions. My written decisions have been complimented on appeal and affirmed.
Finally, a great judge has to be humble and able to work collaboratively. I believe that I meet that as well. I have chaired multiple state-wide judicial conferences, taught judges, lawyers and law students, and I am recognized as a Leader in the Law (2015) and Woman in the Law (2012) by the Wisconsin Law Journal.
How to vote
To vote, people must be registered and present a photo ID. People can register to vote online at myvote.wi.gov, in person at their municipal clerk's office or at the polling place the day of the election.
People can also register to vote by mail by printing out the voter registration form from elections.wi.gov and mailing it to their municipal clerk.
In-person voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on April 5.
People must vote at the polling location of the ward they live in. As a result of redistricting, some wards may have changed. People can determine their voting location at myvote.wi.gov or by calling their municipal clerk's office.
Reach Maya Hilty at 920-400-7485 or MHilty@sheboygan.gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @maya_hilty.
This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Candidates for Wisconsin Court of Appeals judge share priorities
