March 25, 2009 –  Chief Judge Barbara B. Crabb of the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin announced last Thursday that she intends to retire from her full-time post. The move to senior status will allow her to continue hearing some cases, but at a much reduced level, while opening a full-time position for another federal judge. Judge Crabb, appointed in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter, has written President Obama to report her intention to take senior status as soon as her successor can be appointed.  

According to a statement Judge Crabb released to the media, her move is in part due to the court’s ever-expanding and increasingly complex caseload.

Judge Crabb’s announcement means that two judicial vacancies will exist in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin this year. When United States District Judge John Shabaz announced his retirement in January the state’s two United States Senators, Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold, activated the Wisconsin Federal Nominating Commission to make recommendations to fill that vacancy. The process for filling the vacancy left by Judge Crabb will be determined by the Senators.

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© 2009, State Bar of Wisconsin