Sept. 18, 2019 – U.S. Senators Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) reestablished the Wisconsin Federal Nominating Commission to advance nominations for vacant federal judgeships and U.S. Attorney positions during the 116th Congress, the Senators announced in a joint press release this week.
“The bipartisan nominating commission has delivered highly qualified nominees in the past, and I am hopeful it can deliver similar results going forward,” said Senator Johnson. “I respect and trust the judgment of the commission and I look forward to working to fill the vacancy in the Eastern District.”
“The Wisconsin Federal Nominating Commission process is the right way forward. I am pleased to join Senator Johnson in moving forward in a bipartisan manner to advance the process of filling this judicial vacancy,” said Senator Baldwin. “I am confident that our commission will identify for our consideration highly qualified individuals who would serve the people of Wisconsin with fairness and impartiality,”
The commission will be comprised of six Wisconsinites who are members of the State Bar of Wisconsin, three members appointed by each senator.
Senator Johnson appointed William Curran, Richard Esenberg, and Paul Swanson. Senator Baldwin appointed Retired Judge Charles N. Clevert, Jr., Jeremy Levinson, and Barbara Quindel. The commission will be co-chaired by Attorney Paul Swanson and Judge Charles N. Clevert, Jr.
Accepting Applications, Deadline Oct. 16, 2019
The State Bar of Wisconsin, which provides administrative support to the Wisconsin Federal Nominating Commission, is accepting applications for appointment to a vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
The opening resulted in 2016 when U.S. District Judge Rudolph Randa announced in he was taking senior status and subsequently passed away.
Applications must be returned no later than Oct. 16, 2019. The commission’s application and instructions are available here.
All inquiries and correspondence regarding the Wisconsin Federal Nominating Commission should be directed to Atty. Lisa Roys, Advocacy and Access to Justice Director, State Bar of Wisconsin, P.O. Box 7158, Madison, WI 53707-7158. Roys may also be reached toll-free at (800) 444-9404, ext. 6128 or via email at lroys@wisbar.org.
More About the Commission
The Wisconsin Federal Nominating Commission has been making recommendations to Wisconsin's U.S. senators since 1979.
According to Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, the president "shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint" federal judges. The president also appoints U.S. attorneys.
In 1979, Wisconsin's two U.S. senators, William Proxmire and Gaylord Nelson, established the Wisconsin Federal Nominating Commission, a tradition that has continued to the present day. Democratic and Republican senators have used the commission for federal judicial and U.S. attorney vacancies, under both Republican and Democratic administrations.
