Three seek third branch bench
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By MARK GUNDERMAN mailto:mark.gunderman@lee.net.
Saturday, February 9, 2008 9:48 PM CST
Chippewa County finally has its third court branch on the way, and the first stage of selecting who will sit at that bench comes Feb. 19.
While no doubt most of the people going to the polls that day will be doing so to cast ballots in the presidential primary, the non-partisan judicial primary will also be on the ballot.
Whether they vote in the Democratic or Republican primary, Chippewa County voters will also be able to choose between Julie Anderl, Steve Cray and Bob Ferg in the judicial primary. The top two will advance to the April election. The winner in April will take office in August.
The Herald recently asked the candidates to discuss their decisions for seeking the position and to highlight the points about their backgrounds that they most wanted voters to consider. They were also asked to provide some brief biographical information.
The candidates’ responses are summarized here in alphabetical order.
In an upcoming article, supporters of the three candidates will discuss why they chose to support their candidate.
Julie Anderl
“Over the past 24 years, I have served as an attorney, small claims court commissioner, volunteer and community leader. I believe my experience has given me the tools needed to serve the citizens of Chippewa County as the new circuit court judge. I am passionate about fairness, and believe it is essential that every person who appears before me be treated fairly and impartially,” Anderl said.
“As judge, I envision gathering community leaders and county staff together, for the purpose of exploring programs in the justice system that will provide the possibility of cost savings for taxpayers and healing for victims of crime. I will interact with the community on a regular basis and am particularly interested in partnering with the school district and groups servicing our youth. I am running for judge because I have the experience and integrity that will serve the citizens of Chippewa County.”
Anderl is making her second run for a judge position in Chippewa County. Last year, she was unsuccessful in a challenge of incumbent Thomas Sazama. Anderl reflects on some of the same themes about her qualifications and background in this campaign.
“During my service as a small claims court commissioner, prosecutor and city attorney, I have interpreted and applied the law in a variety of cases. These experiences have played a significant role in my development of the temperament, compassion and knowledge required to serve as a circuit court judge,” she said.
“Furthermore, my extensive service within the community gives me a perspective not brought to the bench by the other candidates. As a result of my continued community service, I understand the concerns, needs and struggles of the citizens of Chippewa County. As judge, everyone who appears before me will receive a fair hearing and will leave my courtroom understanding the reasons for my decision.”
Steve Cray
“After 27 years in private practice, I believe my family life, my community involvement and my legal practice give me a comprehensive foundation to serve as a circuit court judge, which I believe to be a higher cause and an opportunity to better serve my community,” said Cray, who is making his first attempt at a judicial election.
“Prior to this election, I did not consider running for judge because I believe Chippewa County is presently being served by two fine judges. With a new judicial branch opening, I feel my knowledge and experience will be a solid fit for the new circuit court position, and I look forward to working with both Judge Cameron and Judge Sazama.”
Cray served as an assistant district attorney when Sazama was DA. They worked together in prosecuting the high profile Charles Coogan murder trial.
“My experience as prosecutor with the District Attorney’s Office as well as my work in criminal defense has provided me the experience and background necessary to properly handle the criminal cases which appear before a circuit judge,” Cray said. “Unless you have had experience both as a prosecutor and a defense counsel, it is difficult to understand all the aspects of a criminal case. My experience with major criminal cases, including jury trials involving homicide, armed robbery and sexual assault, puts me in a position to handle the major criminal law cases on behalf of Chippewa County.”
“In my civil practice, I have handled a wide variety of cases, both for individuals and for local businesses. Some of these lawsuits involved very complex legal and factual issues that, together with my jury trial experience, will allow me to handle the difficult and diverse civil cases a circuit court judge must handle.”
“Following my parents and grandparents before me, I have chosen to live in Chippewa County for virtually all my life. I know its people and their values. I also have an understanding of the people of Chippewa County and their expectations of both the justice system and its judges. I am prepared to meet those expectations.”
Bob Ferg
“Chippewa County has been granted a new Circuit Court Branch 3 which will be developed from no cases to a full caseload in a short time span. I want to see that new branch serve the people of Chippewa County and flourish,” Ferg said. “After 30 years as a trial attorney, legal counselor and court commissioner, I have gained the background and experience necessary to successfully undertake and perform the services of circuit court judge and make an efficient and effective Branch 3 not just a goal, but a reality.”
Ferg’s private practice has included personal appearances in 38 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties. He has made appearances and oral arguments before the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and the U. S. Federal 7th Circuit Court of Appeals and has seven precedent-setting published opinions.
“I have been involved in numerous jury trials and court trials over the years as both a prosecutor and a defender. I have appeared before over 100 judges,” Ferg said.
Ferg said a good judge has the ability to locate the law quickly, apply it to the facts, get at the real issue, give people the opportunity to be heard, remember common sense and not confuse what’s popular with what’s just.
“These are abilities which I am confident that I have,” he said.
“Through my years of trial practice I have become a strong advocate of judicial independence, which means that judges should decide cases fairly and impartially, relying only on the facts, the law and common sense. Decisions need to be based on determinations of the evidence and the law, not on public opinion polls, personal whim, prejudice, fear, or outside influences. This does not mean that there should not be accountability. It is vital and imperative that judges be held accountable by the public to work hard, keep their calendars current, remain up to date on changes in the law, continually educate themselves, and above all else, to treat each person with the respect and dignity which they deserve. This is what I would bring to the bench.”
Biographical information:
Julie Anderl
AGE: 49
RESIDENCE: City of Chippewa Falls
EDUCATION: Chippewa Falls McDonell High School 1977, undergraduate at UW-Platteville 1981; law school Hamline University in St. Paul 1984.
BEGAN LAW PRACTICE: 1984.
PRIVATE PRACTICE: Guardianship, probate, estate planning, real estate, business, family law, litigation and jury trials. Municipal Attorney for cities of Stanley, Cornell, Chippewa Falls and townships of Tilden and Anson. Prosecutor for the cities of Cornell, Chippewa Falls, Stanley and Bloomer.
JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE: Small Claims Court Commissioner for 10 years, Court Commissioner for 12 years.
COMMUNITY SERVICE: President or past President, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Chippewa Falls Chamber of Commerce, Noon Kiwanis Club, Family Support Center.
Steve Cray
AGE: 56
RESIDENCE: Town of LaFayette
EDUCATION: Chippewa Falls Senior High School 1969, Undergraduate Northwestern University and University of Wisconsin, Law School University of Wisconsin 1976.
BEGAN LAW PRACTICE: 1977
PRIVATE PRACTICE: After work as assistant district attorney in Oneida County and then in Chippewa County, joined Wiley Law Office in 1980 with focus on civil litigation and commercial transactional matters including bankruptcy, real estate, probate, consumer law, commercial law, and criminal law with jury trial experience in these areas.
JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE: Court Commissioner 27 years.
COMMUNITY SERVICE: Board of Directors of the Public Community Access Channel, member Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, sponsor the Lake Wissota July 4th Fireworks celebration.
Bob Ferg
AGE: 55
RESIDENCE: Village of Lake Hallie
EDUCATION: Little Wolf High School, Manawa 1970; Undergraduate St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota 1974; Marquette University Law School 1977.
BEGAN LAW PRACTICE: 1977
PRIVATE PRACTICE: Civil and criminal trial work and appellate work; trials involving homicide, sexual assault and other serious felonies, family law and child welfare cases; real estate, guardianships, municipal law, school law, business and contract law, bankruptcy, labor matters.
JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE: Court Commissioner, 20 years; Small Claims Court Commissioner, four years; Assistant Family Court Commissioner, 20 years.
COMMUNITY SERVICE: Former church congregation president, youth softball coach, WIAA high school four-sport official, committees work through State Bar of Wisconsin.
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