Sherman applies for appeals court seat

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Eleven people are applying for an open appeals court seat — among them, a prominent long-time state legislator.

The decision to fill the vacancy is up to Gov. Jim Doyle. And State Rep. Gary Sherman, D-Port Wing, hopes he’ll be the Governor’s man. Sherman says after 11 years serving far northern Wisconsin, he’d like to sit on the state’s Fourth District Court of Appeals in Madison. The self-described country lawyer and former president of the state bar says at 60 years old, serving on the appeals court continues his legacy in the law.

“I’m not ideological,” Sherman says. “I think ideology is often an excuse not to think.”

The District Appeals Court position is open because Judge Burnie Bridges is resigning as of the first of the year. Dodge County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Bissonette and Dane County District Attorney Brian Blanchard are also among the 11 applying for the opening.

The other eight are Eric Barber of Perkins Coie in Madison, Charles Facktor of Waunakee, Eileen Hirsch with the State Public Defender’s Office in Madison, JoAnne Kloppenburg with the Wisconsin Department of Justice in Madison, Richland County Circuit Court Judge Edward Leinweber, Jennifer Nashold with the Public Service Commission in Madison, Mark Neuwer with the Department of Justice in Middleton and Katherine Stadler with Godfrey & Kahn of Middleton.

Tags: port wing, news, wisconsin, government