Judge Maryann Sumi – fair and impartial under
pressure
Feb. 9, 2011 – Supreme Court Rule 60.04 includes the words
“a judge may not be swayed by partisan interests, public clamor,
or fear of criticism.” According to all of her Dane
County judicial colleagues, Circuit Court Judge Maryann Sumi exemplified that requirement last
year when a random case draw placed her in the center of a maelstrom in
the most tempestuous political climate in Wisconsin in decades.
A suit by the Dane County District Attorney alleged the leadership of
the Wisconsin Legislature had violated the Open Meetings Law when
enacting changes to Wisconsin’s public employee collective
bargaining law. In their letter of nomination, her colleagues note,
“her ensuing conduct more eloquently defended the integrity of the
courts more than any verbal response could have: she handled the case in
the way she has handled countless others.”
The Bench and Bar Committee
will recognize Sumi with the 2012 Judge of the Year Award
during the Member Recognition and Networking Celebration on Thursday,
June 14, at 6:30 p.m., at the Chula Vista in Wisconsin Dells. The award
recognizes an outstanding circuit court judge who has improved the
judicial system during the past year by his or her leadership in
advancing the quality of justice, judicial education, or innovative
programs. High ideals, personal character, judicial competence, and
community involvement are hallmarks of the award recipient.
Fair and impartial under pressure
Sumi’s judicial colleagues noted that she
held fair, thorough hearings, weighed complex and grave constitutional
and statutory arguments and treated the litigants and their counsel with
respect dignity. “She issued a reasoned, thorough decision,
impartially applying the law as she concluded it to be to the facts in
the record and clearly explaining the reasons for her decision to the
litigants and, importantly, to the public,” they said.
Lawyers and judges praise her work ethic
Five former State Bar Presidents, Michelle Behnke, Gerald W.
Mowris, John Skilton, Susan Steingass, and John Walsh, lauded Sumi as an outstanding trial judge who was very
courageous in 2011 as she entered a ruling that she felt was correct
under Wisconsin law. “[she] is the epitome of a trial judge.”
State Public Defender’s office veterans Catherine Dorl and Deborah M. Smith, commended Sumi for her continuous respect for the process
and all engaged in it – from big firm lawyers to public defenders
to corporate clients to indigent defendants she treats everyone as a
fellow professional – with courtesy, patience, and respect.
“Whether your case is one of public significance or it’s
only significant to you, Judge Sumi gives it the time
and consideration it takes to be fairly heard. This makes all the
difference,” they said.
Attorney Michael P. Crooks, who has appeared before Sumi many times, and has even lost a high
profile case in her court, said he was “not surprised to find that
Judge Sumi is one of the least reversed judges in the
state, having been sustained 72 percent of the time.”
Professional service
Sumi has served in the juvenile, civil, and
family and criminal divisions, including a stint as presiding judge in
juvenile and family divisions. Since 2007, she has served as the ad hoc
presiding judge for Dane County. Active on committees, her contributions
include DART (Day Report and Treatment, an AODA program), AIM
(Assess, Inform, Measure, a program for evidence-based sentencing), Jury
Issues, Court Appointed Counsel, and Courthouse Art committees. She also
has served on the statewide Juvenile Benchbook Committee
and the Criminal Jury Instructions and the Records Management
committees.
Before the bench
Sumi spent years in public service, as an
assistant attorney general under attorneys general of both parties and
as executive assistant in the Department on Natural Resources under
Gov. Thompson. She was first appointed to the
court by Thompson in 1998 and was re-elected to three terms. In his
appointment the governor praised her “impeccable
credentials,” “quintessential judicial temperament”
and work ethic.
Award celebration
The award will be presented on Thursday, June 14, at 6:15 p.m. at the Chula Vista in Wisconsin Dells in
conjunction with the State Bar annual meeting and two State Bar of
Wisconsin PINNACLE™ Institutes. This free event is open
to State Bar members and their friends and families who would like to
recognize the contributions of the award recipients. Registration is not
required.
The Litigation, Dispute Resolution & Appellate Practice Institute
will be held on June 11 and 12, and the Real Estate and Business Law
Institute will be held on June 14 and 15. Information about the
institutes will be available soon.
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