Weston retiring for love
JEFFERSON — Love and the law led Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Jennifer Weston to a decision to set down her gavel.
On Monday, when confirmed her intention to step down from the bench effective July 10, 2018.
Weston recently submitted a retirement letter to state and county officials announcing her intention to “retire” after 16 years of public service as both a court commissioner or judge and 29 years total in the legal profession.
First elected judge in 2009, Weston previously served as a full-time court commissioner for Jefferson County for three years before ascending to the county bench.
At the time of her election, she acknowledged that attaining a seat on the bench had been a long-term goal. She was re-elected unopposed in 2015.
“I had not ever thought about leaving the position I worked so hard to obtain, and the position that fulfilled all my aspirations, but I remarried,” Weston said.
Her husband is Grant County Circuit Court Judge Craig Day.
Per state law, circuit court judges must reside in the county in which they are elected.
“He and I would like to live together, so we discussed options and decided that I should (could) retire,” Weston said.
Looking forward, she does not anticipate a return to the practice of law; however, she left the door open to serving as a reserve judge.
“The thought of not working in the legal world is surreal,” Weston said. “I’ve done it for so long.”
As a personal highlight, she takes pride in going out on top. During 2017, Weston reportedly had the best appellate record of any other judge: 11-0 in her favor.
“While my colleagues thought that says something about how intelligent I am, I thought it said something else because 11 is a lot of appeals,” Weston said with a smile.
A Whitewater native, she graduated from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis in 1989 and returned to Wisconsin to practice law. She was an attorney in the area for 18 years and had a law firm in Fort Atkinson for a number of years before.
Weston served on the Jefferson County Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors and was an active member of the Fort Atkinson Kiwanis Club. Weston served as president of the Jefferson County Bar Association in 1997 and was a board member of Women Reaching Women (now known as People Against Domestic and Sexual Abuse (PADA).
From 2002-06, Weston served as a half-time family court commissioner and a half-time guardian ad litem.
In April 2008, she was elected as the City of Fort Atkinson’s municipal judge, succeeding longtime Judge John Lampert.
Weston defeated Watertown attorney Steven Luchsinger in the 2009 election to fill the seat vacated by retired Branch I Judge John Ullsvik. Upon being elected to the county position, she stepped down from the city post.
“The thought of not working at all is surreal, but having talked with people who have retired; I expect that I will come to enjoy it,” she said.
Most of all, Weston said, she will miss the people she has worked with at the courthouse over the years.
“We’ve had some very good times, and I appreciate the hard work that they put in every day,” she said. “I’m going to miss my Kiwanis friends, who have been most supportive of me over the years.”
While it is difficult to think about not working, she said she is looking forward to spending time in her gardens and painting, both passions of hers.
Also, Weston noted that she is looking forward to reading ... fiction.
“It seems like since becoming a judge, I’ve read thousands of pages per month, all heavy and complex,” the judge said. “A little easy reading will be well-received.”
Applications are being accepted by Gov. Scott Walker’s office for Weston’s seat.
To apply for the Branch I Jefferson County judgeship, interested persons should submit a cover letter, resume, two writing samples and the judicial application found on the governor’s website: www.walker.wi.gov. Select “Menu” at the top right of the page, “Serve WI,” “Service Applications,” “Judicial Application.”)
All application materials must be received no later than 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23. Applicants will receive an email confirming receipt of the application and explaining the next steps.
Potential applicants with questions about the process should email their questions to govjudicialappointments@wisconsin.gov. To speak with someone immediately, contact Kate Wiedel at (608) 266-1212.