Glenn Yamahiro

Milwaukee Takes Ownership of Northridge Mall

Judge grants city property via tax foreclosure.

Police Like GOP’s John Doe Bill, Victims’ Advocates Don’t

Proposal seeks to end investigations into officers who claim to have killed someone in self defense.

Judicial Rotation Explained By An Insider

Judges face an annual court house shuffle on August 1.

Ana Berrios-Schroeder Announces First Round of Judicial Endorsements

After UWM Lawsuit Loss, City Could Rewrite Historic Preservation Ordinance

Change would be a safeguard on state-owned buildings.

City Loses Again In Bid To Prevent Columbia Hospital Demolition

All of the windows now gone from the building while city seeks appeals court ruling.

Fight Over Former Columbia Hospital Heads Back To Court

City appeals ruling, seeks to block UWM's further demolition of hospital.

Sheriff Has a Busy Drone Unit

While county faces massive budget deficit, sheriff has 8-man unit doing surveillance of peaceful protests.

State Supreme Court Rules in Milwaukee ShotSpotter Case

Court says gunfire detection met standard for reasonable suspicion in man's arrest.

Special Prosecutors Won’t File Charges in Jay Anderson Killing

Prosecutors said they could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt a crime was committed.

Three Tosa Police Given Immunity in Jay Anderson Probe

"Unorthodox" decision in John Doe probe of Anderson’s killing by officer is questioned.

Special Prosecutors Appointed in Case Against Joseph Mensah

Judge ruled there is probable cause former Tosa cop committed homicide with a dangerous weapon.

Supervisor Clancy Applauds Probable Cause Decision in Death of Jay Anderson, Jr.

Rep. Bowen Statement on John Doe Charging Decision Against Joseph Mensah

Judge Yamahiro Decision A Win for Justice; Highlights Need for Meaningful Reform We've Championed.

Judge Finds Probable Cause Officer Mensah Committed Homicide

Ex-Wauwatosa cop Joseph Mensah fatally shot Jay Anderson Jr. In 2016.

Milwaukee National Lawyers Guild Applauds Charging Decision in the Murder of Jay Anderson

Closing Arguments Delivered On Jay Anderson’s Killing

Attorney says former Tosa police officer should be charged with second degree reckless homicide.

Tosa Police Chief Testifies About Mensah

In John Doe hearing Weber defends former officer's killing of Jay Anderson, Jr.

Tosa Police Chief Will Testify in New Mensah Case

Jay Anderson's family asks judge to independently file charges.

Judges Letter for Immediate Publication

Letter from thirty six sitting and retired Milwaukee area judges regarding the upcoming Supreme Court election on April 2nd.

Campaign to Retain Judge Andrew Jones Earns Broad Support From Judiciary

"It is an honor to have the support of so many members of the Milwaukee County judiciary.

Most Reversed Judge Of The Year

Judge William Gabler had four cases overturned by higher courts in 2016.

Legislature Resists Background Checks for Guns

18 states require them, 85% of state residents support them, but Walker, GOP resist.

Judge Paul Rifelj launches campaign with support of majority of fellow judges

Public safety organizations also support Rifelj at launch of campaign to win a full term on Milwaukee County Circuit Court

Judges rally behind Gwen Connolly in race for Circuit Court Judge

“The campaign has been energizing, and it’s a privilege to have the support of these distinguished leaders,” said Connolly.

A Criminal Walks Free

The Jewish Judge Who’s a Quarter Irish

Governor James E. Doyle told about 75 people at Mo’s Irish Pub last Friday that “there are a number of good things I can do as governor. … I get to appoint people to the bench. As a lawyer and the son of a judge, I take this seriously.” What does the governor look for in a judge? – He’s appointed about 6 of them so far –“I get a list of very – incredibly good people. I could pick them out of a hat. But I look for intelligence, fairness, and understanding of people. Also, frankly, some much needed diversity.” Doyle got diversity all right when he appointed Glenn Yamahiro as a Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge last year. Yamahiro, a former public defender, lawyer in private practice, and teacher of disturbed students, is also the first Asian-American to sit on the bar in Wisconsin. He is that, and more, the crowd, gathered for a fundraiser, was to learn. Yamahiro told the crowd that he was proud to be “the first [judicial] appointee by a democratic governor in almost 20 years.” Yamahiro is running for a full term against former Judge Robert Crawford, whose antics on the bench in the past cost him his seat to Judge Louis Butler, who was present, as were such other judges as Jean DiMotto, Ted Wedemeyer, Tom Donegan, Paul Wall and judge wannabees like Audrey Skwierawski. Attorneys including the venerable Dominic Frinzi and Mark Thomsen popped in for the gig. Yamahiro has already proven himself to be one of the more amusing speakers on the bench, and among politicians generally. “I told the governor at the time of my appointment that any opponent I would get would be buried at the election. “Now we have to come through on that promise,” he said, to the general assent of the assembled, not eager for a return of the goofy Crawford. Yamahiro rubbed it in: “If it was an election of the informed, we wouldn’t need this gathering,” he said. Do not think that Yamahiro tried to coast by solely on the merits of his wit and the novelty of his Asian background. “I am the first Asian-American judge in Wisconsin, but I did have a grandma in Iowa, born about 100 years ago. Her name was Morrissey. So I have 25 percent Irish blood, and I am happy to be in Mo’s Irish Pub with the Guinness flowing.” The crowd really liked this intercultural news, and I talked to Deja Vishny, a public defender with a really cool name – and yet another story. “I’m Glenn’s wife,” she said. The couple has one child, who attends a Jewish elementary school. “I’m Jewish,” she explained. “So is Glenn,” she added. Observations From the Governor On the Legislature You get the feeling from Governor Jim Doyle that the legislature is acting like a pesky housefly that he has to keep swatting at. The recent meetings of the august representatives of the people were characterized in this […]

Lautenschlager’s Mess

Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager’s drunk driving arrest last week removes her from behind the wheel of her state-owned vehicle for a year, and puts Governor Jim Doyle in the driver’s seat. The two had squabbled, privately, over terms of the Governor’s jobs bill, with Lautenschlager threatening to use her authority to see that the law comply with the state’s environmental regulations, which she intimated it did not. This sort of independent action by an attorney general is not new in Wisconsin. Doyle was the chief practitioner of it, but then again, he was a Democrat, and the Governor at the time was a Republican. The press has made note that Doyle suggests Lautenschlager forgo some of her pay as a sort of penance for her indiscretion, a matter that remains unresolved at this time. Doyle also suggested that Lautenschlager consider entering a program to treat problem drinkers. He said that he had a number of friends who had been in a similar situation and that the treatment had helped them. In fact, the public admission of guilt and responsibility (which Lautenschlager made) is usually accompanied these days with a prompt acknowledgement that a problem exists. The subject then usually promptly enters a treatment program and completes it, after which the matter is forgotten. Lautenschlager has not made that admission thus far, which leaves her in the position of either not having a “problem” or being “in denial” of it. It does leave Doyle high and dry, however, and much less likely to face interference in his plans from that peskiest of all politicians – an ambitious Attorney General. Walker at the War Memorial County Executive Scott Walker welcomed about 100 well-clad guests to a fundraiser February 26th at the War Memorial Center. The strictly upper-crust affair was a Republican-type fundraiser, which meant that hard liquor was consumed (in moderation) and beer, for the most part, was ignored. For those fans of the frothy stuff, Walker offered Miller products and Heineken. Food was by Ellen’s Prestige Catering, and included strolling waiters, another classy touch. Menu items included spinach somethings, meat and melted cheese on sandwich rounds, wrapped up little salmon tidbits, an entirely unsuccessful raspberry-brie tart, platters of some kind of 21st century sandwich product along with perfectly delicious fruit. The event was unmarred by public oratory, but was enhanced by an A-list of locals practicing up for the next time Bush is in town. Among the exalted: George Dalton, Dennis Kuester (on crutches), Michael Cudahy, mourning the recent death of Daniel Urban Kiley, creator of the $4 million Cudahy garden outside the adjacent Milwaukee Art Museum, Fred Luber, Tim Hoeksma, Carol Skornicka, John Finerty, Jim Weichmann, Joe Rice, Mary Buestrin, Corey Hoze and developer Mark Irgens. Hoze has secured speaker Dennis Hastert to appear at a $2000 fundraiser on his hopeless behalf in his upcoming congressional campaign. That’s rich. Marvin Pratt popped in and worked the crowd for about 20 minutes before his cop told him it was time to […]