Jon P. Wilcox
Encyclopedia
Justice Jon P. Wilcox is a former justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
. He was appointed to the Court by Governor Tommy G. Thompson in 1992 and elected to the court in 1997. His term expired July 31, 2007. Justice Wilcox did not seek re-election, and Washington County Circuit Court Judge Annette K. Ziegler
won the April 3, 2007 statewide election to succeed Justice Wilcox to this seat.
Justice Wilcox was born in Berlin, Wisconsin
, and grew up in nearby Wild Rose
. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Ripon College
in 1958 and a law degree
from the University of Wisconsin Law School
in 1965. From 1959 to 1961, he served as an officer in the United States Army
. Justice Wilcox began in private law practice by starting his own law firm. He served three terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly
, representing the 72nd Assembly District from 1969 to 1975. He was elected to the Wisconsin Conservation Congress from 1975 to 1980. Justice Wilcox then served as a circuit court judge in Waushara County for 13 years, as chief judge of the Sixth Judicial Administrative District from 1985 to 1992, and as chairman of the Wisconsin Committee of Chief Judges. He also served as chair of the Wisconsin Sentencing Commission
from 1987 to 1992.
The Board eventually reached a settlement with Wilcox's campaign, wherein Justice Wilcox personally paid a $10,000 fine. Although Wilcox denied knowing about the illegal coordination, he agreed to pay the fine, acknowledging that he bore the ultimate responsibility for the actions of his campaign staff. Wilcox's campaign manager, Mark Block
, also paid a $15,000 fine and promised not to work as a consultant or volunteer on any campaign until 2004. The coalition's co-founder, former Assembly
Republican
staffer Brent Pickens, paid a $35,000 fine and promised not to work on any campaigns for the next five years.
Wisconsin Supreme Court
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is the highest appellate court in the state of Wisconsin. The Supreme Court has jurisdiction over original actions, appeals from lower courts, and regulation or administration of the practice of law in Wisconsin.-Location:...
. He was appointed to the Court by Governor Tommy G. Thompson in 1992 and elected to the court in 1997. His term expired July 31, 2007. Justice Wilcox did not seek re-election, and Washington County Circuit Court Judge Annette K. Ziegler
Annette Ziegler
Annette K. Ziegler is an American attorney and judge. She is currently a justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.Ziegler received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and Psychology from Hope College, and a law degree from Marquette University Law School...
won the April 3, 2007 statewide election to succeed Justice Wilcox to this seat.
Justice Wilcox was born in Berlin, Wisconsin
Berlin, Wisconsin
Berlin is a city in Green Lake and Waushara Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 5,305 at the 2000 census. The city is located mostly within the Town of Berlin in Green Lake County; only a small portion of the city extends into the Town of Aurora in Waushara...
, and grew up in nearby Wild Rose
Wild Rose, Wisconsin
Wild Rose is a village in Waushara County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 765 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Wild Rose is located at ....
. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Ripon College
Ripon College (Wisconsin)
Ripon College is a liberal arts college in Ripon, Wisconsin, USA. It offers small class sizes and intensive mentoring to students. Ripon has a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa--one of the nation's most prestigious honor societies. Alumni have high rates of success in the workforce as well as acceptance...
in 1958 and a law degree
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Wisconsin Law School
University of Wisconsin Law School
The University of Wisconsin Law School is the professional school for the study of law at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in Madison, Wisconsin. The law school was founded in 1868.-Facilities:...
in 1965. From 1959 to 1961, he served as an officer in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. Justice Wilcox began in private law practice by starting his own law firm. He served three terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
, representing the 72nd Assembly District from 1969 to 1975. He was elected to the Wisconsin Conservation Congress from 1975 to 1980. Justice Wilcox then served as a circuit court judge in Waushara County for 13 years, as chief judge of the Sixth Judicial Administrative District from 1985 to 1992, and as chairman of the Wisconsin Committee of Chief Judges. He also served as chair of the Wisconsin Sentencing Commission
Wisconsin Sentencing Commission
The Wisconsin Sentencing Commission was established to maintain an effective, fair, and efficient sentencing system for the state of Wisconsin.-History:...
from 1987 to 1992.
1997 election campaign controversy
Justice Wilcox attracted some controversy in 2001 when his 1997 re-election campaign was accused of an illegally coordinated get-out-the-vote effort with the group Wisconsin Citizens for Voter Participation. The group, which supported school choice, apparently put more than $200,000 into last-minute mailings and phone calls supporting Wilcox's candidacy. The Wisconsin State Elections Board alleged that Wilcox's campaign violated state election law, which bans any cooperation between independent groups and a candidate or a candidate's campaign organization.The Board eventually reached a settlement with Wilcox's campaign, wherein Justice Wilcox personally paid a $10,000 fine. Although Wilcox denied knowing about the illegal coordination, he agreed to pay the fine, acknowledging that he bore the ultimate responsibility for the actions of his campaign staff. Wilcox's campaign manager, Mark Block
Mark Block
Mark Block is an American political strategist who, as of 2011, is serving as chief of staff for the 2012 Republican presidential campaign for Herman Cain. Block has previously worked for Americans for Prosperity.-Background:...
, also paid a $15,000 fine and promised not to work as a consultant or volunteer on any campaign until 2004. The coalition's co-founder, former Assembly
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
staffer Brent Pickens, paid a $35,000 fine and promised not to work on any campaigns for the next five years.