2016
Justice David T. Prosser, Jr. to retire from Supreme Court July 31
Madison, Wisconsin - April 27, 2016
Justice David T. Prosser, Jr. today announced that he will retire from the Wisconsin Supreme Court on July 31, after nearly 18 years on the Court and four decades in public service to the state.
“It has been a tremendous honor to serve the people of Wisconsin in various capacities for more than 40 years. During this time, I have had the exceptional privilege of working in all three branches of state government, including 18 years as a representative in the State Assembly and 18 years as a justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court,” Prosser wrote in a letter delivered to Gov. Scott Walker today.
Justice Prosser’s contributions to the Supreme Court and state government are unlikely to be matched by anyone, said Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Patience Drake Roggensack.
“Justice David T. Prosser is an exceptionally bright and thoughtful jurist whose presence on the Court will be greatly missed. David has brought unique perspectives to Court discussions, thereby increasing the Court's ability to understand difficult problems presented to us for resolution,” Roggensack said.
“Justice Prosser also is a man of courage. As Winston Churchill said, ‘Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.’ David has always been willing to listen, and he has never been afraid to speak up for those who could not speak up for themselves. His dedication to the people of Wisconsin has been a continuing gift that he gave without reservation,” Roggensack added.
Prosser was first appointed to the Supreme Court by former Gov. Tommy G. Thompson in 1998 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of former Justice Janine P. Geske; he was elected to a 10-year term in 2001 and re-elected in 2011.
Prior to joining the Court, Prosser served as a commissioner on the Wisconsin Tax Appeals Commission from 1997 to 1998 and as a representative in the State Assembly from 1978 through 1996, including two years as Speaker and five years as Minority Leader. Before that, he served as a district attorney in Outagamie County, administrative assistant to then-U.S. Rep. Harold V. Froehlich, and as an attorney-advisor for the U.S. Department of Justice.
Additional biographical information about Justice Prosser can be found on the Wisconsin court system’s website.
Contact:
Tom Sheehan
Court Information Officer
(608) 261-6640