Ted E. Wedemeyer, Jr.

Ted E. Wedemeyer, Jr. (August 30, 1932 – July 23, 2008) was an American jurist and a judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. Wedemeyer served twice on the court's Milwaukee-based District I; he was the district's presiding judge from 1983 to 1985 and from 1992 until 2007.

Early life and career

Wedemeyer was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[1] His father, Ted, Sr., was an attorney and politician who served as a Milwaukee alderman, as a civil court judge, and as a Milwaukee County supervisor.[2] Wedemeyer, Jr. graduated from Marquette University Law School and worked as a private practice attorney in Milwaukee from 1957 to 1974.[3][4] Wedemeyer was active in Democratic politics; he served on the executive board of the Milwaukee County Democratic Party and chaired Milwaukee Mayor Henry Maier's campaign committee.[5][6] In the early 1970s, Wedemeyer was appointed by Maier to chair the Milwaukee Board of Zoning Appeals.[5]

Judicial career

In 1974, Wedemeyer assisted in the development and organization of the Milwaukee Municipal Court, a limited-jurisdiction court hearing city ordinance violations. In November 1974, Maier appointed Wedemeyer as one of the court's first two judges.[5] He served as a municipal judge until 1977, when he was appointed to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court by Acting Governor Marty Schreiber.[3] In 1982, he challenged Wisconsin Court of Appeals Judge Rudolph T. Randa for his seat on the court's Milwaukee-based District I.[7] Wedemeyer unseated Randa in the April general election;[7] from 1983-85, he served as District I's presiding judge.[3]

In the leadup to the 1988 Milwaukee mayoral election, Wedemeyer was suggested as a possible successor to the retiring Maier, but ultimately did not run.[8] Instead, he was challenged for reelection to the Court of Appeals by Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Ralph Adam Fine, who touted his opposition to plea bargaining and defeated Wedemeyer after a contentious campaign.[9] Governor Tommy G. Thompson, a Republican, appointed Wedemeyer to replace Fine on the circuit court.[10]

In 1992, Wedemeyer was returned to the Court of Appeals; he was elected without opposition to a newly created seat on District I.[11] He became the district's presiding judge in the same year, occupying that office until 2007.[3] He sought election to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 1995 and received support from the Milwaukee press,[12] but failed to survive the February primary election.[13]

Wedemeyer was noted for his involvement in community service activities. Active in promoting soccer in Wisconsin through the Milwaukee Kickers organization,[14] he was inducted into the Wisconsin Soccer Association Hall of Fame in 1992.[15]

Death

Wedemeyer died of lung cancer, while still in office, on July 23, 2008.

References

  1. ↑ "Ted E Wedemeyer, Jr". Find a Grave. Retrieved 2011-11-23.
  2. ↑ "Ex-official stricken after wife dies". The Milwaukee Journal. March 5, 1983. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Ted E. Wedemeyer, Jr.". Wisconsin Court System. Retrieved 2011-11-23.
  4. ↑ Rabideau Silvers, Amy (July 25, 2008). "Wedemeyer helped outside the courtroom". The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 "Wedemeyer Thought Twice Before Judgeship Verdict". The Milwaukee Sentinel. November 19, 1974. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  6. ↑ Knoche, Eldon; Walters, Steven (April 5, 1988). "Maier not endorsing Fine in ad, Wedemeyer says". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  7. 1 2 Wilson, Sandy (April 7, 1982). "Wedemeyer wins Appeals Court race". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  8. ↑ Hendrickson, Dave (March 1, 1987). "Many friends, few enemies". The Milwaukee Journal. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  9. ↑ Ward, Mark (November 27, 1988). "Fine heading back to campaign trail". The Milwaukee Journal. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  10. ↑ Christopulos, Mike (November 15, 1991). "Wedemeyer to run for new seat". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  11. ↑ Lamke, Kenneth R. (January 5, 1995). "Wedemeyer cites bench experience". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Judicial resume: Wedemeyer qualified for Supreme Court". The Milwaukee Sentinel. February 13, 1995. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Judges Bradley, Crooks advance in high court race". The Milwaukee Sentinel. February 22, 1995. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Soccer boom reflected in entries for Journal tournament". The Milwaukee Journal. July 3, 1981. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Ted E. Wedemeyer, Jr.". Wisconsin Soccer Association. Retrieved 2011-11-23.
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