Edward R. Brunner (born 1953) is an American lawyer and retired judge. He was a judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals from 2007 through 2011 in the Wausau-based District III. Previously, he was a Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for 19 years, and was Chief Judge of the 10th District of Wisconsin Circuit Courts from 1999 through 2005.

The Honorable
Edward R. Brunner
Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District III
In office
August 1, 2007 – September 6, 2011
Preceded byGregory A. Peterson
Succeeded byMark Mangerson
Chief Judge of the 10th District of Wisconsin Circuit Courts
In office
August 1, 1999 – July 31, 2005
Preceded byGregory A. Peterson
Succeeded byBenjamin Proctor
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Barron Circuit, Branch 2
In office
August 1, 1988 – July 31, 2007
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byTimothy M. Doyle
Personal details
Born1953 (age 70–71)
Akron, Ohio
SpouseLinda Stariha Brunner
ChildrenJason
Alexis
ResidenceRice Lake, Wisconsin
Alma mater
Professionlawyer, judge

Biography

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A resident of Rice Lake, Wisconsin, Brunner is a graduate of Marquette University and the University of Akron School of Law. Additionally, he trained as an emergency medical technician at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College.[1] He is married with two children.

Early career

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Brunner began his legal career working for the Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Services, under the Office of Justice Programs in the United States Department of Justice—Brunner was Assistant Regional Administrator in the Akron, Ohio, office. From 1974 until 1977, he was executive director of Youth Services in Lorain, Ohio. In 1977, he moved to Wisconsin and was hired as corporation counsel for the Department of Human Services in Barron County, Wisconsin, where he served until 1979. He worked as an attorney in the private sector for the next decade, and served as City attorney for Rice Lake.[1]

Judicial career

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Brunner was elected Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for Barron County's newly created Branch 2 seat in 1988. He was re-elected in 1994, 2000, and 2006. In 1999 he was designated by the Wisconsin Supreme Court as Chief Judge of the 10th Judicial Administrative District and remained in that role until August 2005.[1]

As Judge, Brunner was responsible for introducing restorative justice projects to Barron County in 1998, and was an advocate for statewide implementation.[1]

He was a candidate for Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2003, but was defeated in the general election by future Chief Justice Patience D. Roggensack. Brunner was endorsed by former Governor Tony Earl and 178 Wisconsin circuit court judges, or 74% of the courts' judges.[2] In 2007, he was elected without opposition to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. He didn't serve his whole term, resigning in September 2011.[1]

Awards and works

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In 2006, he was awarded the 2005 Lifetime Jurist Achievement Award from the State Bar of Wisconsin. The same year, he received the William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence from the Supreme Court of the United States, one of the most prestigious judicial awards in the country.[1]

Electoral history

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Wisconsin Circuit Court (1988, 1994, 2000)

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Wisconsin Circuit Court, Barron Circuit, Branch 2 Election, 1988[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election, February 16, 1988
Nonpartisan Edward R. Brunner 2,354 39.78%
Nonpartisan Edward J. Coe 1,798 30.38%
Nonpartisan David Cusick 1,006 17.00%
Nonpartisan Mark O. Dobberpuhl 760 12.84%
Total votes '5,918' '100.0%'
General Election, April 5, 1988
Nonpartisan Edward R. Brunner 6,139 53.69%
Nonpartisan Edward J. Coe 5,295 46.31%
Total votes '11,434' '100.0%'
Wisconsin Circuit Court, Barron Circuit, Branch 2 Election, 1994[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 5, 1994
Nonpartisan Edward R. Brunner (incumbent) 5,527 100.0%
Total votes '5,527' '100.0%'
Wisconsin Circuit Court, Barron Circuit, Branch 2 Election, 2000[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 4, 2000
Nonpartisan Edward R. Brunner (incumbent) 5,541 100.0%
Total votes '5,541' '100.0%'

Wisconsin Supreme Court (2003)

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Wisconsin Supreme Court Election, 2003[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election, February 18, 2003
Nonpartisan Patience D. Roggensack 109,501 39.36%
Nonpartisan Edward R. Brunner 89,494 32.17%
Nonpartisan Paul B. Higginbotham 77,584 27.89%
Scattering 1,604 0.58%
Total votes '278,183' '100.0%'
General Election, April 1, 2003
Nonpartisan Patience D. Roggensack 409,422 51.13%
Nonpartisan Edward R. Brunner 390,215 48.73%
Scattering 1,148 0.14%
Total votes '800,785' '100.0%'

Wisconsin Circuit Court (2006)

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Wisconsin Circuit Court, Barron Circuit, Branch 2 Election, 2006[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 4, 2006
Nonpartisan Edward R. Brunner (incumbent) 4,383 100.0%
Total votes '4,383' '100.0%'

Wisconsin Appeals Court (2007)

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Wisconsin Court of Appeals District III Election, 2007[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 3, 2007
Nonpartisan Edward R. Brunner 172,834 99.69%
Scattering 538 0.31%
Total votes '173,372' '100.0%'

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Judge Edward R. Brunner". Wisconsin Court System. Retrieved 2011-11-22.
  2. ^ "Supreme choice". Isthmus. March 12, 2009. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  3. ^ Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert, eds. (1989). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1989-1990 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. pp. 883, 885. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  4. ^ Barish, Lawrence S., ed. (1995). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1995-1996 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 880. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  5. ^ Barish, Lawrence S.; Meloy, Patricia E., eds. (2001). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 2001-2002 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 902. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  6. ^ Barish, Lawrence S., ed. (2003). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 2003-2004 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. pp. 890–891. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Elections". State of Wisconsin 2007-2008 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. 2007. pp. 893, 895. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
Legal offices
Preceded by
New branch
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Barron Circuit, Branch 2
1988 – 2007
Succeeded by
Timothy M. Doyle
Preceded by Chief Judge of the 10th District of Wisconsin Circuit Courts
1999 – 2005
Succeeded by
Benjamin Proctor
Preceded by Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District III
2007 – 2011
Succeeded by