William Pocan
William Pocan | |
|---|---|
| Judge of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court | |
| Assumed office July 14, 2006 | |
| Appointed by | Jim Doyle |
| Preceded by | Michael P. Sullivan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1961 (age 62–63) Kenosha, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Spouse | Gerald Waupoose |
| Relations | Mark Pocan (brother) |
| Education | University of Wisconsin–Parkside (BA) University of Wisconsin–Madison (JD) |
William S. Pocan Jr. (born 1961) is an American lawyer and jurist serving as deputy chief judge of the 1st district of
Early life and education
William Pocan was born and raised in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He attended Mary D. Bradford High School[1] and graduated early, entering college at age 16.[2] He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin–Parkside in 1981 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1984.[3]
Career
Pocan began his legal career at Brookhouse & Brookhouse in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he worked from 1984 to 1985. From 1985 to 2006, he was an associate at Jastroch & LaBarge.[4] In 2006, Pocan was appointed a Wisconsin circuit court judge in Milwaukee County by Governor Jim Doyle.[5][6][7] Pocan was subsequently elected to a full six-year term on the court in 2007, and was then re-elected twice without opposition. He was appointed deputy chief judge of the first district of Wisconsin circuit courts (Milwaukee County) in 2020.[7] At various times, Pocan presided over juvenile, civil, and felony division cases.[8]
Nominations to district court
In 2014, Pocan was one of three finalists recommended to President Barack Obama by the bipartisan Wisconsin Federal Nominating Commission to fill a vacancy on the federal district court bench, but Pamela Pepper received the nomination instead.[8]
On December 15, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Pocan to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.[9] Pocan was one of four finalists recommended to the president earlier in 2021 by the Wisconsin Federal Nominating Commission.[7] Biden nominated Pocan to the seat vacated by Judge William C. Griesbach, who took senior status on December 31, 2019.[9]
On February 15, 2022, U.S. Senator
Personal life
Pocan's father, William S. Pocan Sr., was an alderman on the Kenosha city council during the 1970s and 1980s.[13]
Pocan's younger brother, Mark Pocan, is a member of the United States House of Representatives for Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district.[14] Both Pocan brothers are gay.[15][16]
Electoral history
Wisconsin circuit court (2007, 2013, 2019)
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, April 3, 2007 | |||||
Nonpartisan
|
Bill Pocan | 40,917 | 50.21% | ||
Nonpartisan
|
Chris Liegel | 40,097 | 49.20% | ||
| Scattering | 483 | 0.59% | |||
| Plurality | 820 | 1.01% | |||
| Total votes | 81,497 | 100.0% | -11.97% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, April 2, 2013 | |||||
Nonpartisan
|
William S. Pocan (incumbent) | 60,343 | 98.40% | ||
| Scattering | 983 | 1.60% | |||
| Total votes | 61,326 | 100.0% | -24.75% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, April 2, 2019 | |||||
Nonpartisan
|
William Pocan (incumbent) | 87,258 | 98.61% | ||
| Scattering | 1,229 | 1.39% | |||
| Total votes | 88,487 | 100.0% | +44.29% | ||
See also
References
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Pocan wins Milwaukee race" (PDF). The Third Branch. 15 (2). Wisconsin Court System: 27. Spring 2007. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
- ^ "President Biden Names Eleventh Round of Judicial Nominees". The White House. 2021-12-15. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
- ^ Voruganti, Harsh (13 January 2022). "Judge William Pocan – Nominee to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin". The Vetting Room. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ "William Pocan". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
- ^ a b c Jeramey Jannene, Biden Appoints Milwaukee Judge William Pocan to Federal Bench, Urban Milwaukee (December 17, 2021).
- ^ a b Worland, Gayle (February 15, 2014). "Three nominees for Eastern District Court judgeship named". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
- ^ a b "Nominations Sent to the Senate" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
- ^ Glauber, Bill (February 16, 2022). "Ron Johnson moves to block William Pocan nomination to federal court". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
- ^ Alder, Madison (February 16, 2022). "GOP Senator Opposes District Pick, Setting Up Test of Norm (2)". news.bloomberglaw.com. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
- ^ "PN1483 — William S. Pocan — The Judiciary". January 3, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ Gilbert, Craig. "Baldwin and Johnson bring forward four candidates to fill federal judgeship in Green Bay". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
- ^ "Congressional Wisdom: An interview with Wisconsin Representative Mark Pocan". Metro Weekly. 2017-04-06. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
- ^ Jannene, Jeramey. "Biden Appoints Milwaukee Judge William Pocan to Federal Bench". Urban Milwaukee. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
- ^ Results of Spring General Election - 04/03/2007 (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. April 23, 2007. p. 8. Retrieved January 15, 2023 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
- ^ Canvass Results for 2013 Spring Election - 4/2/2013 (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. May 8, 2013. p. 5. Retrieved January 15, 2023 – via Wisconsin Elections Commission.
- ^ Canvass Results for 2019 Spring Election - 4/2/2019 (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. April 22, 2019. p. 4. Retrieved January 15, 2023.