Election Preview: Milwaukee County Circuit Court (Branch 45)

Incumbent Rebecca Bradley, who was appointed by Gov. Scott Walker to fill a judicial vacancy in Milwaukee County Circuit Court, will face Janet Protasiewicz in the nonpartisan election for the Branch 45 seat on April 2. 

Bradley, a Wauwatosa resident, has spent her legal career in private practice, most recently as a business litigator with the firm Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek, reported the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

According to her website, Bradley volunteered her services to families of developmentally disabled youth in guardianship proceedings.

Protasiewicz, a Marquette Law School graduate, has been a Milwaukee County prosecutor for nearly 25 years in both civil and criminal court.

She prosecutes violent felonies and currently teaches trial advocacy at Marquette University Law School, reported the Shepard Express.

The Milwaukee Bar Association judicial poll revealed that most of its members support Bradley, reported the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Bradley and Protasiewicz were the top two vote-getters in a three-way primary on Feb. 19 and advanced to the general election. Candidate Gilbert Urfer, who lost the primary, is supporting Bradley, reported the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 

In the primary,  while Protasiewicz got received 33 percent.

There are two other Milwaukee County judicial races on the ballot, both uncontested.

Dave Swanson is unopposed in the Branch 11 race and will replace Dominic S. Amato, who did not seek re-election. Judge William Pocan has no opposition in his re-election bid in Branch 26.