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Voters have the opportunity to elect at least two new Circuit Court judges in three contested judicial races on election day April 3.
Candidates for Branch 2 are Loralee Clark and Elliott Levine; Branch 3 are Todd Bjerke and Roger LeGrand; and Branch 4 are Kara Burgos and Scott Horne.
In Branch 1, Circuit Judge Ramona Gonzalez is running unopposed.
All county voters can vote for one candidate in all judicial races. Judges represent all districts and sections of the county.
Below are Q&As with each candidate.
CIRCUIT COURT BRANCH 2
Loralee Clark
Age: 50
Family: Daughter, 10
Education: Bachelor’s degree in environmental biology from St. Mary’s College of Minnesota; law degree from Uni-versity of Wisconsin-Madison
Occupation: La Crosse County deputy district attorney
Community involvement: Oktoberfest board of directors, “Nutcracker Ballet,” host family for World Services and La Crosse sister city Dubna, Russia
Hobbies and interests: Gardening, due to having grown up in my grandparents’ and uncle’s greenhouses; dance, including La Crosse Dance Center’s annual “Nutcracker Ballet,” thanks to my daughter; piano; music (jazz and classical); wildlife observation; I love going to sea on sailing vessels; pets; ice skating with my daughter; and I do like to ride my unicycle
Web site: http://www.loraleeclarkforjudge.com
What personal and professional qualities make you most qualified to be judge?
I have nearly 20 years of experience advocating on behalf of victims while observing the defendants’ rights and balancing the defendants’ interests. I understand too well the risks that every criminal case involves, from charging decisions, settlement choices and sentencing options. I have spent my career solving practical problems — consulting with police officers 24/7 on constitutional and statutory law to protect the integrity of their investigations and our prosecutions. I have more courtroom and trial experience than my opponent, having tried hundreds of jury trials ranging from homicides, arsons, sexual assaults of children and adults, physical child abuse, white-collar crime, domestic violence cases to less serious misdemeanor cases.
When someone questions whether you will impose a lenient or harsh sentence on offenders, what you do tell them?
I will do my best to suit every sentence to the nature of the crime, the character of the offender and the need to protect the community, while heavily weighing the input of the victim(s). I do believe in holding offenders accountable. In some cases that will involve a sentence more focused on rehabilitation. In others, it will involve a sentence geared to protect the community. In every case, if an offender is offered and rejects rehabilitation, I will hold them accountable.
What role do you envision yourself playing in the advancement of the county’s treatment courts?
I intend to work with the community and the treatment court teams to continue to improve our existing treatment courts and am very interested in being involved in the development of new specialized courts.
Say something positive and negative about your opponent’s ability to serve as judge.
My opponent is very knowledgeable about drug treatment courts. He has also been an exceptional public defender. My opponent’s experience has been focused on representing the interests of offenders. He does not have my experience in balancing victim’s and defendant’s rights and interests. He views treatment courts and electronic monitoring as the solutions to too many problems while not acknowledging the risks that each entail and the “wrinkles” in our present systems.
Elliott Levine
Age: 45
Family: Wife, Jill Billings; two children, Josh Levine, 13, and Zoe Levine, 10
Education: Bachelor’s degree in political science and French from Macalester College; law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Occupation: First assistant state public defender (La Crosse Region manager)
Community involvement: Family members of English Lutheran Church; member of local musical groups; volunteer performances for various nonprofit organizations, such as Big Brother Big Sister, Peer Court Program, Boys and Girls Club, New Horizons, Coulee Region Mediation Services; volunteered for La Crosse Area Youth Symphony Orchestras; member of the La Crosse YMCA
Hobbies and interests: Violin and guitar, running, bike touring, theater
Web site: http://www.levineforjudge.com
What personal and professional qualities make you most qualified to be judge?
The past 10 years I have worked with judges and others in developing many of the court programs that have made La Crosse County a leader in the state. My goal has been to implement solutions to enhance public safety and efficiently use resources. To understand the law, apply the law and communicate the effects of the law are essential skills required for a judge. I have taught and lectured at many universities and law schools. I have trained law enforcement, social workers, treatment providers and attorneys across the state. My experience ensures all who come before me will be heard and treated fairly.
When someone questions whether you will impose a lenient or harsh sentence on offenders, what you do tell them?
I want La Crosse to be a safe community for my family and everyone. There are people who commit crimes who are simply too dangerous for us to have on our streets. For our safety, these people need to go to prison. Many people in the criminal justice system will return to our county. We have to supervise them as they re-enter the community and make them change their behavior to become productive members of our community. It is their responsibility to follow the rules. Judges have to learn about and use the best sentencing practices to keep our community safe.
What role do you envision yourself playing in the advancement of the county’s treatment courts?
I hope to play a leading role in the continued operation and development of the Drug Treatment Court and the OWI Treatment Court. I was part of the original planning teams for both courts and have been involved with the review of the domestic violence court process and an evaluation of the mental health court process. As the founding president of the Wisconsin Association of Treatment Court Professionals, I deeply understand the fundamental principles that are required to implement, operate and evaluate safe and effective treatment courts. I am uniquely prepared to be involved as a judge in treatment courts.
Say something positive and negative about your opponent’s ability to serve as judge.
I think that, like me, attorney Clark believes in a just and safe community. I don’t have anything negative to say about attorney Clark.
CIRCUIT COURT BRANCH 3
Todd Bjerke
Age: 49
Family: Wife, Karen Kroll; son, Benjamin, 26; daughters, Emily, 24, and Amanda Bjerke-Kroll, 21.
Education: Associate’s degree in business from University of Wisconsin Center, Waukesha; bachelor’s degree in political science and psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison; law degree from Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul
Occupation: La Crosse County assistant district attorney, U.S. Army Reserve, colonel
Community involvement: Founding member of the La Crosse County Drug Court; legal adviser for the West Central Metropolitan Enforcement Group; Asian Gang Investigators Association board member; member of and trainer for Wisconsin Narcotics Officers Association; member of the Hmong Mutual Assistance Association cultural diversity group advisory boards; member of Juvenile Incentive Block Grant advisory board; judge for mock-court competitions; legal adviser to the Medication and Prescription Safety Task Force; member of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals; Wisconsin Association of Treatment Court Professionals board member; presenter for the Onalaska Citizens Police Academy; member and judge advocate of the American Legion
Hobbies and interests: Astronomy, experiencing foreign countries, hiking and back-packing, speaking with veterans about their military experiences, running, home remodeling and light construction, gardening and attending Shakespeare plays.
Web site: http://bjerkeforjudge.com
What personal and professional qualities make you most qualified to be judge?
I was raised in a family that promoted good values. My father was a police officer, and I daily saw him positively affecting citizens and fellow officers. I went through all levels of scouting and adhered to the Scout law. I follow the law and have always applied it fairly and impartially to each defendant I have prosecuted. I always seek to make positive changes in peoples’ lives, to assure that victims have their needs met and to protect the safety of the public. I always seek the truth in each matter to assure the end result is just.
When someone questions whether you will impose a lenient or harsh sentence on offenders, what you do tell them?
The terms “lenient” and “harsh” are inconsistent with the concept of justice, as they connote unjust results. I believe that a properly formulated sentence in any given case would be just for that particular defendant and would meet the needs of the community. Such a sentence therefore should not be deemed “lenient” or “harsh” when the facts of the case, the history of the defendant, the seriousness of the crime or crimes committed, the impact on the victim and/or the public and the appropriateness of supervising the defendant in the community have been carefully considered by the sentencing judge.
What role do you envision yourself playing in the advancement of the county’s treatment courts?
I am a co-founder and member of the La Crosse County Drug Court. I have worked hard to guide each drug court participant toward a sober, productive lifestyle. I have seen people whose lives have been ruined by their addictions transformed into self-assured, sober, employed citizens. Specialty courts can make positive changes in people’s lives, but only if they are run in a manner in which accountability of the parti-cipants is a primary focus. Without proper accountability, the participants will fail. I will utilize specialty courts wherever possible to strive for positive change in each participant, while securing public safety.
Say something positive and negative about your opponent’s ability to serve as judge.
Positive: My opponent has a likable personality.
Negative: My opponent does not have the broad and relevant legal background that is necessary to allow him to make sound decisions from the bench.
Roger LeGrand
Age: 61
Family: Wife, Sondra; daughters, Julia Lynn, 26, and Erica Jo, 24
Education: Our Lady of Benburb Priory, Benburb, Northern Ireland; bachelor’s degree from St. Louis University; law degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison; Wisconsin Judicial College 2006
Occupation: Branch 3 La Crosse County Circuit judge
Community Involvement: La Crosse Community Foundation vice president; La Crosse Rotary Club board of directors; City of La Crosse International Committee; Family and Children’s Center community board; Western Technical College paralegal advisory board; La Crosse County Family Policy Governing Council; director emeritus Domestic Violence Intervention Project; American Judges Association; Wisconsin Trial Judges Association; National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
Hobbies and interests: Fan of Loggers, Badgers, Packers, Brewers, Bucks and other local teams; travel and international exchanges; reading history, biographies and religious study books
Web site: http://www.judgerogerlegrand.com
What personal and professional qualities make you most qualified to be a judge?
I have served as circuit judge of Branch 3 for more than a year now. As circuit judge, I have handled every type of criminal and civil case, from homicides to family and children’s cases. I have more than 30 years of experience in the courts as a prosecutor, criminal defense attorney, civil attorney, family court commissioner and now circuit judge. I have decided thousands of cases. I have developed a good judicial temperament — listening to all sides, treating people with respect and making decisions fairly, impartially and under the law. I genuinely love our community and want to continue to provide justice for all.
When someone questions whether you will impose a lenient or harsh sentence on offenders, what do you tell them?
I tell them I will impose a fair sentence on offenders. A fair sentence takes into consideration: protection of the community, the rehabilitative needs of the offender, the victim’s right to restitution and restorative justice, and imposes a punishment, which fits the crime and has a deterrent effect on others. For dangerous offenders who commit serious crimes, confinement in prison is necessary. I give probation, address the offender’s treatment needs and order community service or justice sanctions in less serious cases.
What role do you envision yourself playing in the advancement of the county’s treatment courts?
I will continue to participate and support the drug court, DUI court and domestic violence court. As a judicial member of the Domestic Violence Court, I have applied drug court principles to domestic violence judicial reviews. We now use teams to give input on how to make domestic offenders accountable. Numbers in the DUI court are increasing so rapidly that a morning session may be necessary. I have volunteered to be the judge for that session. At the recent national drug court conference, I learned about civil Family Dependency Drug Courts. They provide judicial oversight to addicted parents, particularly mothers, to help the families reunite. I hope to establish such a court in La Crosse, which can be done with little cost as part of our unified family court.
Say something positive and negative about your opponent’s ability to serve as judge.
Positive: Mr. Bjerke is honest. He is very good at obtaining search warrants in drug cases.
Negative: Mr. Bjerke has a very narrow base of experience in the courts. He has a prosecutor’s mindset, viewing all legal matters through the narrow lens of a drug prosecutor. He has no judicial experience, which requires a different set of skills than a prosecutor. Prosecutors advocate for convictions; judges must be open-minded and listen to all sides before making a judgment. He has no civil experience in Wisconsin courts. Civil cases comprise a considerable part of our judicial caseload.
CIRCUIT COURT BRANCH 4
Kara Burgos
Age: 35
Family: Husband, Fabio; children, Emmett, 7, and Isabel, 4
Education: Bachelor’s degree in history, magna cum laude, from St. Bonaventure University; law degree, cum laude, from Marquette University
Employment: Partner, Moen Sheehan Meyer, Ltd.; La Crosse County Circuit Court Commissioner; Unified Family Court Mediator; University of Wisconsin-La Crosse student legal adviser
Community involvement: Family Resource Center board member; chairwoman of the Special Preliminary Review Panel-Office of Lawyer Regulation; Paralegal Advisory Board of Western Technical College; Rotary East member, American Business Women’s Association; Women’s Fund Committee member; Holy Trinity parishioner
Hobbies/interests: Running; spending time outdoors with my family; River City Running Club member; completed nine marathons, including two Boston Marathons; travel and reading
Web site: http://karaburgosforjudge.com
What personal and professional qualities make you most qualified to be judge?
I have a wide range of experience that lends itself to reasoned, impartial decision-making, which will benefit La Crosse County citizens. My career has been spent advocating for our community’s children, adults, families, businesses and organizations. Citizens expect a judge versed in all laws. The goal of a judge is to analyze the facts and render a decision, doing justice to all. As a judge, three skills are necessary: listening, scholarship and discretion. Listening is learned through advocacy. Once facts are heard, scholarship begins. It is only with full knowledge that one can judge fairly. Last is discretion. Impartial, well-reasoned decisions arise from a combination of these skills, which I have acquired through years of advocacy.
When someone questions whether you will impose a lenient or harsh sentence on offenders, what do you tell them?
Each sentence imposed must be based on the facts of the crime and the statutory range of penalties set by the legislature. A judge must take into account the severity of the offense, impact on the victim, need for public safety and the likelihood of the offender making amends for his or her crimes, as well as the possibility of rehabilitation. A judge has discretion in imposing a sentence and uses input of the prosecutor, defense attorney and the department of corrections. Each case must stand on its own in order to do justice to the system and the public.
What role do you envision yourself playing in the advancement of the county’s treatment courts?
What distinguishes treatment courts is their uniquely collaborative approach to treatment, which involves a dramatic intervention process. A key role is played by the judge, which requires that I become a motivator, confessor, taskmaster, cheerleader and mentor. Ongoing judicial interaction with each treatment-court participant is essential. I have undertaken all of these roles as an attorney and counselor in private practice, working with children, families, students and defendants. These skills will serve me well as an integral part of the treatment courts. Our treatment courts are beneficial to our community because they reserve jail and prison space for violent offenders without having to spend taxpayer funds to house nonviolent offenders who profess and demonstrate desire for rehabilitation.
Say something positive and negative about your opponent’s ability to serve as judge.
Positive: Mr. Horne will be able to effectively administer the criminal docket, which is 30 percent of case filings because of his experience as district attorney. Negative: Mr. Horne has no current experience in civil, family, juvenile, probate, guardianship or the many other myriad matters that comprise 70 percent of the filings in the justice system. In my opinion, it would be difficult to administer fair, impartial and well-reasoned
decisions without a broad range of experience in these areas of the law, which is gained from actual advocacy for parties on these issues.
Scott Horne
Age: 54
Family: Wife, Sue; sons, Jonathon, 23, Devin, 20; and stepson, Rudy, 12
Education: Bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Cornell College; law degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School
Occupation: La Crosse County district attorney
Community involvement: Downtown Rotary; Greater La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce; vice president of Stepping Stones Child Advocacy Center (on leave); Pump House Board; guest lecturer for high schools and colleges; speaker for the Hmong Mutual Assistance Association-Family Strengthening Program; president of Family Playhouse; Shelby Youth Baseball coach; Three Rivers Golf Association
Hobbies and interests: Golf, skiing, fishing, appreciating music and the performing arts, Loggers baseball fan
Web site: http://horneforjudge.com
What personal and professional qualities make you most qualified to be judge?
As district attorney for 22 years, I have proven to be a fair-minded student of the law who will strive to achieve justice for all participants. I have demonstrated a commitment to improve the system through legislative change and training. I have the experience of trying over 200 cases amid 26 years of practice in the criminal courts — the area in which trial judges devote up to 75 percent of their time, according to one retiring judge. Each day, I work with participants who struggle with abuse, drug and alcohol issues, mental health issues and the loss of loved ones to criminal acts. And I have the breadth of perspective that comes with consistent community involvement.
When someone questions whether you will impose a lenient or harsh sentence on offenders, what do you tell them?
I will balance the interests of victims, the community and offenders. I served on the Crime Victim Council when Wisconsin passed the Victim Rights Amendment, and the interests of victims and the public will always be enforced. At the same time, not all crimes and offenders require incarceration. Many can benefit from the efforts of probation, parole and the treatment courts. We depend on our judges to know the difference — to provide those who can benefit with the opportunity to take advantage of lesser sentences and alternative programming and to incarcerate those who pose a continued serious threat to victims and the public.
What role do you envision yourself playing in the advancement of the county’s treatment courts?
I have been involved in the development of each of the treatment courts and other innovations. I expect to continue this involvement as we look at alternative ways of dealing with those who commit crimes in which mental health issues are a significant factor and as we evaluate the success and structure of the treatment courts. I have committed to serving as lead judge for one of the courts if elected. As we evaluate the courts and revise procedures, I will ensure respect for the rights of victims and protection for the public along with effective rehabilitation of offenders.
Say something positive and negative about your opponent’s ability to serve as judge.
My opponent is a smart, hard-working young attorney whom I respect. I am seeking election, however, on the basis of my own skills, accomplishments and qualifications developed over 26 years and would decline the opportunity to comment on my opponent other than to note our significant differences in overall legal experience, criminal experience and long-term involvement in the community.
Anne Jungen can be reached at (608) 791-8224. Dan Springer can be reached at (608) 791-8269.
fair and experienced candidates wrote on Mar 31, 2007 7:21 PM: