9-15-15 state supreme court candidate campaigns in fdl

Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Joe Donald says he is running for the state Supreme Court to bring unity to the court.  Donald announced his candidacy earlier this summer and brought his campaign to the Fond du Lac Labor Hall Monday night.  “I think what’s important is that the voice of the little person be heard,”  Donald told WFDL news.  “…that the true citizen has their day in court.”  Donald was appointed to the bench in Milwaukee County in 1996 by former Republican governor Tommy Thompson.  Before that he was an assistant city attorney in Milwaukee.  The 56 year old Donald says he is concerned about the divisiveness and partisanship that has developed on the Supreme Court.   “I think its important for all citizens to feel that it is their court and its not the court of any particular group or club or party.  Its the people’s court.”  Donald says the millions of dollars spent by outside special interest groups in recent Wisconsin Supreme Court races shows how important the election is.   Donald and State Court of Appeals judge JoAnne Kloppenburg are the only announced candidates for the seat currently held by Justice N. Patrick Crooks. The seat is up for election in 2016.  Crooks has not announced whether he will be seeking re-election.