WASHBURN COUNTY -- Washburn County Circuit Court Judge Eugene Harrington announced in a press release on May 28, 2019, that he would be retiring on August 2nd after serving nearly twenty-two years on the bench. In doing so, the door was left open for an appointment from Governor Evers to fill the soon-to-be vacant position as Harrington’s term was not set to expire until April of 2021.
On June 21st, DrydenWire.com filed an Open Records request with Governor Evers’ Office requesting the names of the applicants. DrydenWire.com received the names of the applicants earlier today.
The four applicants (ordered alphabetically by last name) are:
- Thomas Frost
- Andrew Harrington
- Aaron Marcoux
- Angeline Winton
Mr. Frost is the former District Attorney for Washburn County and currently has a private law practice based in Trego, Wisconsin.
Mr. Harrington has a private law practice based in Barron, Wisconsin.
Mr. Marcoux is an Assistant District Attorney in Sawyer County.
Ms. Winton is the current District Attorney for Washburn County and was the former Assistant District Attorney for both Washburn and Burnett Counties.
Regardless of whom the Governor selects for the appointment, there will still be an election next year.
Following this process of appointment of a Judge to fill the seat that is soon to be vacated, individuals interested in running for election for Judge must submit their papers by December 2019. If more than one individual enters the election for the Washburn County Judge’s seat, there will be a primary in February 2020, followed by the election in April 2020, with the new Judge taking office in August 2020.
Reid Magney, public information officer at the Wisconsin Elections Commission, stated to DrydenWire.com that although the current 6-year term for the Washburn County Judge was set to expire in 2021, the election scheduled for April 2020 will essentially “reset” the term, making the new term run from 2020 through 2026, citing Wisconsin Statute:
Wis. Stat. 17.19 - Vacancies, elective state offices; how filled. Vacancies in elective state offices shall be filled as follows: (2) Judicial. In the office of justice of the supreme court, court of appeals judge or circuit judge, by temporary appointment by the governor, which shall continue until a successor is elected, as provided in s. 8.50 (4) (f), and qualifies. When so elected the successor shall hold the office for a full term and shall take office on August 1 succeeding the election.
At this time, the Governor’s Office has not specified a timeline regarding the appointment of a new judge for Washburn County.
Last Update: Jul 09, 2019 8:23 pm CDT
