Louis B. Butler
Encyclopedia
Louis Bennett Butler, Jr. (born 1952) is a former justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
. Butler was appointed to the Supreme Court by Governor Jim Doyle
in August 2004; his term expired on July 31, 2008. He is the first African-American to serve on the Wisconsin Supreme Court
.
Louis Butler was born and raised in Chicago
, Illinois
. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Lawrence University
in 1973 and his law degree
from the University of Wisconsin Law School
in 1977.
After serving as an assistant state public defender
from 1979 to 1992, Louis Butler was appointed to the Municipal Court in Milwaukee
, Wisconsin
. He served as a municipal judge until 2002, when he was elected to Branch 9 of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court
. Butler also served as an adjunct professor at Marquette University Law School
.
Butler campaigned for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2000, but lost his election bid. After being appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2004, he was defeated by the Judge Michael Gableman
in the April 1, 2008 elections. Butler was the first sitting Wisconsin Supreme Court justice to be defeated in a reelection campaign since 1967. The Wall Street Journal argued this loss stemmed from opinions he wrote in medical malpractice, search and seizure and products liability cases. Business groups, including Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce
(WMC) paid for an unprecedented number of issue ads in this campaign cycle, although the Butler campaign outspent Gableman's by several hundred thousand dollars.
Since his defeat, Butler has agreed to serve a two-year term as Justice-in-Residence at the University of Wisconsin Law School
, where he will teach several courses and clinics.
On September 30, 2009, President Barack Obama
nominated Butler to serve as United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
. However, his nomination was returned to the President on
December 24, 2009. Obama renominated Butler on January 20, 2010 but the Senate returned the nomination to the President on August 5, 2010. Obama then renominated Butler on September 13, 2010. NPR
commented on the Senate's reticence to confirm Butler in an August 4, 2011 article, stating that "Some of the longest waiting nominees, Louis Butler of Wisconsin, Charles Bernard Day
of Maryland and Edward Dumont
of Washington happen to be black or openly gay".
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:...
. Butler was appointed to the Supreme Court by Governor Jim Doyle
Jim Doyle
James Edward "Jim" Doyle is a Wisconsin politician and member of the Democratic Party. He was the 44th Governor of Wisconsin, serving from January 6, 2003 to January 3, 2011. He defeated incumbent Governor Scott McCallum by a margin of 45 percent to 41 percent; the Libertarian Party candidate Ed...
in August 2004; his term expired on July 31, 2008. He is the first African-American to serve on the Wisconsin Supreme Court
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:...
.
Louis Butler was born and raised in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Lawrence University
Lawrence University
Lawrence University is a selective, private liberal arts college with a nationally recognized conservatory of music, in Appleton, Wisconsin. Lawrence University is known for its rigorous academic environment. Founded in 1847, the first classes were held on November 12, 1849...
in 1973 and his 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 1977.
After serving as an assistant state public defender
Public defender
The term public defender is primarily used to refer to a criminal defense lawyer appointed to represent people charged with a crime but who cannot afford to hire an attorney in the United States and Brazil. The term is also applied to some ombudsman offices, for example in Jamaica, and is one way...
from 1979 to 1992, Louis Butler was appointed to the Municipal Court in Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. He served as a municipal judge until 2002, when he was elected to Branch 9 of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court
Circuit court
Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...
. Butler also served as an adjunct professor at Marquette University Law School
Marquette University Law School
Marquette University Law School is the professional school for the study of law at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and one of only two law schools in Wisconsin. With 45 full-time professors and approximately 760 J.D. students, the law school is ranked in the top tier among American...
.
Butler campaigned for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2000, but lost his election bid. After being appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2004, he was defeated by the Judge Michael Gableman
Michael Gableman
Michael J. Gableman is a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. His term began on August 1, 2008 and ends on July 31, 2018.- Biography :Justice Gableman was born in West Allis and raised in Waukesha County. He is a graduate of New Berlin West High School and Ripon College , where he earned a...
in the April 1, 2008 elections. Butler was the first sitting Wisconsin Supreme Court justice to be defeated in a reelection campaign since 1967. The Wall Street Journal argued this loss stemmed from opinions he wrote in medical malpractice, search and seizure and products liability cases. Business groups, including Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce
Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce
Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce is an association of manufacturers, service businesses and chambers of commerce located in Madison, Wisconsin. WMC was formed from what was the Wisconsin State Chamber of Commerce, the Wisconsin Manufacturers Association and the Wisconsin Council of Safety in...
(WMC) paid for an unprecedented number of issue ads in this campaign cycle, although the Butler campaign outspent Gableman's by several hundred thousand dollars.
Since his defeat, Butler has agreed to serve a two-year term as Justice-in-Residence at 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:...
, where he will teach several courses and clinics.
On September 30, 2009, President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
nominated Butler to serve as United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin sits in Madison at the Robert W. Kastenmeier United States Courthouse. It has two district judges and one full-time magistrate judge. The clerk of the court is a part-time magistrate judge...
. However, his nomination was returned to the President on
December 24, 2009. Obama renominated Butler on January 20, 2010 but the Senate returned the nomination to the President on August 5, 2010. Obama then renominated Butler on September 13, 2010. NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
commented on the Senate's reticence to confirm Butler in an August 4, 2011 article, stating that "Some of the longest waiting nominees, Louis Butler of Wisconsin, Charles Bernard Day
Charles Bernard Day
Charles Bernard Day is a United States magistrate judge and former nominee to be a United States district judge on the United States District Court for the District of Maryland...
of Maryland and Edward Dumont
Edward C. DuMont
Edward Carroll DuMont is an American lawyer who in 2010 and 2011 had been nominated by President Barack Obama to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. In November 2011, however, DuMont sent a letter to President Obama asking him to withdraw his nomination to the...
of Washington happen to be black or openly gay".