Gruber takes Branch I Circuit Court Bench in Jefferson County

By Steve Sharp steves@wdtimes.com

JEFFERSON — In recent years, Jefferson County has seen a relatively significant turnover of its judges and Friday saw yet another addition to the historic list of law experts who have presided on the bench here as William Gruber became Branch I Circuit Court judge.

Gruber, who was most recently Watertown’s city attorney, replaces the retiring Jennifer Weston.

Friday’s investiture ceremony in Gruber’s new Branch I courtroom had an impressive list of invited dignitaries including Branch II Circuit Court Judge William Hue, Branch III Judge Robert Dehring and Branch IV Judge Bennett Brantmeier. Master of ceremonies was Judge William Hue, who presides over Branch II and is currently the county’s longest-serving judge.

Also invited to make remarks were Judge Jennifer Dorow, Branch II Circuit Court judge in Waukesha County and former Watertown District 2 alderman and attorney Fred Smith.

Watertown Police Chief Tim Roets offered his congratulations to Gruber, a colleague he considers an old friend from Gruber’s tenure as Watertown’s head city legal adviser.

“I have had the pleasure of working closely with Judge Gruber for nearly six years in his role as Watertown city attorney and I have the greatest respect for him both professionally and personally,” Roets said during his remarks. “His entry into the role of circuit court judge is the beginning of a new chapter in his diverse legal career, for which he is well-suited.”

Roets said Jefferson County has been blessed with excellent circuit court judges who preside daily over a wide variety of legal matters.

“Judges past and present are with us today to witness this important event. My respect for our judges and their critical role in our county has only grown over the years. Our judges share many qualities, including their commitment to impartiality, the judicial profession and justice,” Roets said.

The chief pointed out judges are also efficient managers, balancing what he called ever-changing court calendars, reading briefs, writing decisions and accommodating frequent interruptions.

“The role of a judge as a manager is crucial to the effective operation of the judicial system but one that is not often recognized,” Roets said. “A judge must effectively manage his or her time, a heavy caseload, and a clerical and legal staff. Judge Gruber has developed these skills over the course of his career.”

Roets said Gruber was Watertown’s first full-time city attorney.

“The role was previously completed by a local law firm with three attorneys,” Roets said. “We immediately challenged city attorney Gruber on an annual basis with more than 2,000 traffic citations, 170 arrests for operating while intoxicated, 800 ordinance arrests and hundreds of snow emergency tickets which kept his pretrial calendar perpetually filled.”

Roets said Gruber was also thrust into the middle of a pit bull dog controversy, in which a faction of the city was demanding a ban on the breed. He responded by authoring a new ordinance which shared mutual support from all parties.

Good-natured kidding and light humor is often a part of a judge’s investiture and Roets recalled that in his time as Watertown’s city attorney, Gruber was faced with some interesting animal-based legal decisions.

“The police department sought his legal expertise with uninhabitable houses filled with Guinea pigs, rabbits, cats, reptiles and even a 6-foot alligator found in a tank in the basement of a foreclosed home,” Roets recalled. “If that weren’t enough, our department added controversial alcohol licensing revocation and suspension hearings.”

In addition, Gruber was expected to handle all legal duties for city departments, committees and the council, which included conducting legal reviews of contracts, land acquisitions, labor law, risk analysis, open meetings law and public records. Roets said Gruber was comfortable with these vast responsibilities and demonstrated a personal standard of ethical conduct that stood out among all department heads.

In closing, Roets said Gruber increased the level of professionalism within all of the city’s departments.

“His accessibility, guidance and heightened standard of acceptable practices will have lasting positive effects for our city and for that we are grateful,” the chief said. “The mental and moral qualities distinctive to Mr. Gruber will carry over to his vitally important duty as a circuit court judge ... We lost a great city attorney, but Jefferson County gained a worthy judge and a good man.”

Dehring spoke with the Daily Times following the investiture, saying Gruber’s widespread experience in private practice, as an assistant corporation counsel and as Watertown’s lead attorney has exposed him to a multitude of legal subject matters, disputes, parties and attorneys, similar to those he will face as a trial judge.

“His volunteerism has given him a valuable perspective into the pressing issues facing our community,” Dehring added. “He has a respect for the rule of law and an appreciation for his role therein. I expect a smooth transition to the bench.”

In his own response near the end of the ceremony, Gruber thanked everyone for their votes of confidence.

After showing his appreciation for the many participants and organizers involved in the investiture — in particular his parents, wife and legal assistant — the new judge spoke regarding what type of judge and courtroom the public can expect.

“I must, and I will, apply the law as established by the Legislature and the Wisconsin and United States Constitution to the facts, or, ensure that our juries do so,” he said. “As Chief Justice John Roberts has analogized, I intend only to call balls and strikes — nothing more, nothing less. In (Roberts’) other words, judges ought remind themselves that no one goes to the game to watch the umpire.”

In similar baseball analogy, Gruber he said retired Jefferson County Judge John Ullsvik once told him, “It is much easier to call balls and strikes than it is to pitch or hit.”

Patience, active listening and civility will be a priority in Gruber’s courtroom.

“I can assure you I will enforce this expectation most forcefully on myself,” he said. “Despite trends in and out of government, the louder, more hyperbolic or obnoxious voice will not be afforded any additional consideration for such qualities. I will be conscious of the public, impression-making reality of my role and of the courts. I will be mindful it is incumbent upon myself to ensure that all who come to court feel their positions were thoughtfully and fairly considered regardless of outcome. This judge will call them ‘down the middle.’”

Gruber said he will be aware of other lives and of the effect the courts have on them.

“There will be those who lead hard lives and those with relatively easy lives, those alleged to have perpetrated wrong and those who are victims of wrong. But, regardless, any person or interest that accesses the court or is subjected to the courts needs to have guaranteed process under the law before an impartial decider,” he said. “I will recognize that, very often, some life will probably be changed as a result of a court’s decision, and, if that is so, we as judges had better apply every fiber of our mind and energy to get it right ”

Gruber closed by promising he will be a steward of the rule of law and will exercise his responsibilities to the people of Jefferson County and the state of Wisconsin to the best of his abilities.