Jump to content

Ted E. Wedemeyer Jr.

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Honorable
Ted E. Wedemeyer Jr.
Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District I
In office
August 1, 1992 – July 23, 2008
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byKitty K. Brennan
In office
August 1, 1982 – July 31, 1988
Preceded byRudolph T. Randa
Succeeded byRalph Adam Fine
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Milwaukee Circuit, Branch 34
In office
August 1, 1988 – July 31, 1992
Appointed byTommy Thompson
Preceded byRalph Adam Fine
Succeeded byJacqueline D. Schellinger
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Milwaukee Circuit, Branch 10
In office
August 1, 1978 – July 31, 1982
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byRudolph T. Randa
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the 2nd Circuit, Branch 10
In office
August 1977 – July 31, 1978
Appointed byMartin J. Schreiber
Preceded byHarvey L. Neelen
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Personal details
Born(1932-08-30)August 30, 1932
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US
DiedJuly 23, 2008(2008-07-23) (aged 75)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US
Resting placeHoly Trinity Cemetery
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Spouses
  • Susan Wedemeyer
  • (died 2012)
Parents
  • Theodore E. Wedemeyer (father)
  • Catharine Wedemeyer (mother)
Alma materMarquette University Law School
Professionlawyer, judge

Ted E. Wedemeyer Jr. (August 30, 1932 – July 23, 2008) was an American lawyer 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

[edit]

Wedemeyer's 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.[1] Wedemeyer Jr. graduated from Marquette University Law School and worked as a private practice attorney in Milwaukee from 1957 to 1974.[2][3] 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.[4][5] In the early 1970s, Wedemeyer was appointed by Maier to chair the Milwaukee Board of Zoning Appeals.[4]

Judicial career

[edit]

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.[4] He served as a municipal judge until 1977, when he was appointed to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court by Acting Governor Marty Schreiber.[2] In 1982, he challenged Wisconsin Court of Appeals Judge Rudolph T. Randa for his seat on the court's Milwaukee-based District I.[6] Wedemeyer unseated Randa in the April general election;[6] from 1983 to 1985, he served as District I's presiding judge.[2]

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.[7] 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.[8] Governor Tommy Thompson, a Republican, appointed Wedemeyer to replace Fine on the circuit court.[9]

In 1992, Wedemeyer was returned to the Court of Appeals; he was elected without opposition to a newly created seat in District I.[10] He became the district's presiding judge in the same year, occupying that office until 2007.[2] He sought election to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 1995 and received support from the Milwaukee press,[11] but failed to survive the February primary election.[12]

Wedemeyer was noted for his involvement in community service activities. Active in promoting soccer in Wisconsin through the Milwaukee Kickers organization,[13] he was inducted into the Wisconsin Soccer Association Hall of Fame in 1992.[14]

Death

[edit]

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

Electoral history

[edit]

Wisconsin Circuit Court (1978)

[edit]
Wisconsin Circuit Court, 2nd Circuit, Branch 10 Election, 1978[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 4, 1978
Nonpartisan Ted E. Wedemeyer Jr. 53,091 100.0%
Total votes '53,091' '100.0%'

Wisconsin Court of Appeals (1982, 1988, 1992)

[edit]
Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District I Election, 1982[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 6, 1982
Nonpartisan Ted E. Wedemeyer Jr. 36,724 59.59%
Nonpartisan Rudolph T. Randa (incumbent) 24,903 40.41%
Total votes '61,627' '100.0%'
Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District I Election, 1988[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 5, 1988
Nonpartisan Ralph Adam Fine 187,375 62.04%
Nonpartisan Ted E. Wedemeyer Jr. (incumbent) 114,634 37.96% −21.63%
Total votes '302,009' '100.0%' +390.06%
Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District I Election, 1992[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 7, 1992
Nonpartisan Ted E. Wedemeyer Jr. 183,855 100.0%
Total votes '183,855' '100.0%'

Wisconsin Supreme Court (1995)

[edit]
Wisconsin Supreme Court Election, 1995[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election, February 21, 1995
Nonpartisan Ann Walsh Bradley 131,889 38.85%
Nonpartisan N. Patrick Crooks 88,913 26.19%
Nonpartisan Ted E. Wedemeyer Jr. 64,668 19.05%
Nonpartisan Patience D. Roggensack 41,303 12.16%
Nonpartisan William A. Pangman 12,753 3.76%
Total votes '339,526' '100.0%'
General Election, April 4, 1995
Nonpartisan Ann Walsh Bradley 514,588 54.82%
Nonpartisan N. Patrick Crooks 424,110 45.18%
Total votes '938,698' '100.0%'

Wisconsin Court of Appeals (1997, 2003)

[edit]
Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District I Election, 1997[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 1, 1997
Nonpartisan Ted E. Wedemeyer Jr. (incumbent) 72,254 100.0%
Total votes '72,254' '100.0%' -60.70%
Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District I Election, 2003[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 1, 2003
Nonpartisan Ted E. Wedemeyer Jr. (incumbent) 67,116 100.0%
Total votes '67,116' '100.0%' -7.11%

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Ex-official stricken after wife dies". The Milwaukee Journal. March 5, 1983. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d "Ted E. Wedemeyer Jr". Wisconsin Court System. Retrieved 2011-11-23.
  3. ^ Rabideau Silvers, Amy (July 25, 2008). "Wedemeyer helped outside the courtroom". The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c "Wedemeyer Thought Twice Before Judgeship Verdict". The Milwaukee Sentinel. November 19, 1974. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  5. ^ Knoche, Eldon; Walters, Steven (April 5, 1988). "Maier not endorsing Fine in ad, Wedemeyer says". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  6. ^ a b Wilson, Sandy (April 7, 1982). "Wedemeyer wins Appeals Court race". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  7. ^ Hendrickson, Dave (March 1, 1987). "Many friends, few enemies". The Milwaukee Journal. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  8. ^ Ward, Mark (November 27, 1988). "Fine heading back to campaign trail". The Milwaukee Journal. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  9. ^ Christopulos, Mike (November 15, 1991). "Wedemeyer to run for new seat". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  10. ^ Lamke, Kenneth R. (January 5, 1995). "Wedemeyer cites bench experience". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  11. ^ "Judicial resume: Wedemeyer qualified for Supreme Court". The Milwaukee Sentinel. February 13, 1995. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  12. ^ "Judges Bradley, Crooks advance in high court race". The Milwaukee Sentinel. February 22, 1995. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  13. ^ "Soccer boom reflected in entries for Journal tournament". The Milwaukee Journal. July 3, 1981. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  14. ^ "Ted E. Wedemeyer, Jr". Wisconsin Soccer Association. Retrieved 2011-11-23.
  15. ^ Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1979). "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1979-1980 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 886. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  16. ^ Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1983). "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1983-1984 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 886. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  17. ^ Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert, eds. (1989). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1989-1990 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 886. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  18. ^ Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert, eds. (1993). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1993-1994 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 876. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  19. ^ Barish, Lawrence S., ed. (1995). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1995-1996 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 893. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  20. ^ Barish, Lawrence S., ed. (1997). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1999-2000 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 872. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  21. ^ Barish, Lawrence S., ed. (2003). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 2003-2004 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 892. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
Legal offices
Preceded by
Harvey L. Neelen
 Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the 2nd Circuit, Branch 10
1977 – 1978 		Succeeded by
Circuit abolished
Preceded by
New circuit
 Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Milwaukee Circuit, Branch 10
1978 – 1982 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Milwaukee Circuit, Branch 34
1988 – 1992 		Succeeded by
Jacqueline D. Schellinger
Preceded by Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District I
1982 – 1988 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
New seat
 Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District I
1992 – 2008 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ted_E._Wedemeyer_Jr.&oldid=1225662832"