Third Branch eNews

Crawford County Circuit Court

Lukas Steiner, who once stood before the Crawford County Circuit Court as the county's district attorney, will now preside over it as a judge. Governor Tony Evers announced Steiner's appointment to fill the vacancy left by Judge Lynn M. Rider's retirement. Steiner will serve until July 31, 2025.

Steiner has served as Crawford County District Attorney since January 2020, handling a wide range of cases from traffic violations to violent crimes. His prior experience includes practicing criminal defense and family law at Kopp McKichan and McNamara, Reinicke, Vogelsberg & Helmke LLP.

Steiner, who grew up in Southwestern Wisconsin, graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and Marquette University Law School. He lives in Prairie du Chien.

"I am humbled and deeply honored to accept Governor Evers' appointment as the next Crawford County Circuit Court Judge," said Steiner. "It has been a privilege to serve Crawford County as District Attorney, and I very much look forward to continuing that service from the bench. I hope to continue the traditions of fairness, equity, equality, and impartiality set forth by my predecessors, Judges Kirchman, Czajkowski, and Rider. Lastly, I sincerely thank my friends, family, and colleagues for their support and encouragement."

In conjunction with Steiner's appointment, Governor Evers announced the commencement of the application process for the Crawford County District Attorney position.

Read more about Steiner's appointment here.

Eau Claire County Circuit Court

The Eau Claire County Circuit Court is adding a judge with a wealth of experience in the county. In July, Douglas Hoffer was appointed to the bench in Branch 2, filling the vacancy left by Judge Michael A. Schumacher’s resignation. Hoffer will serve until July 31, 2025.

Hoffer, who has been the deputy city attorney for Eau Claire since 2013, brings a wealth of experience to the bench. His role involved providing legal counsel and representation to city officials and departments, and his career includes notable success in land use litigation and cases before the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Before his current role, Hoffer worked at De La Mora & De La Mora in Elm Grove, representing multiple communities and private clients.

A Marquette University Law School graduate, Hoffer has earned several accolades, including the 2017 Brad D. Bailey Assistant City/County Attorney Award and the 2020 Charles Dunn Author Award from the State Bar of Wisconsin. He is deeply involved in the community, serving as president of the Chippewa Valley Museum Foundation Board and participating in the Leadership Eau Claire Committee.

“I am deeply honored that Gov. Evers has appointed me to serve as an Eau Claire Circuit Court Judge,” said Hoffer. “I am very grateful for the support and encouragement I’ve received from family, friends, lawyers, and judges throughout this process. I look forward to continuing to serve the public in this new role. I plan to approach this role with kindness and respect for all people and will work diligently to ensure that our court system is fair and impartial.”

Read more about Hoffer’s appointment here.

Jefferson County Circuit Court

Theresa Beck has been appointed to the Jefferson County Circuit Court – Branch 2, filling the vacancy left by Judge William F. Hue’s resignation. Beck will serve until July 31, 2025.

Beck has been an assistant district attorney in Jefferson County since 2010, handling a wide range of cases from traffic offenses to homicide, as well as juvenile matters such as protection services and termination of parental rights. Previously, she practiced at the Law Offices of Monogue & Witt and was a partner at Beck & Kiewit Law Offices, focusing on family, juvenile law, probate, bankruptcy, and guardianship.

A Jefferson County resident and alumna of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Marquette University Law School, Beck has served as president of the Jefferson County Bar Association, a member of the Jefferson County Human Services Citizen Review Panel, and the former Jefferson County Juvenile Drug Court.

“I am humbled and extremely honored to accept the appointment to the Jefferson County Circuit Court,” said Beck. “I am grateful to Gov. Evers for this opportunity to serve the citizens of Jefferson County and for all the support and encouragement I received from my family, friends, and members of our legal community. My commitment to exemplifying our community values remains steadfast while ensuring an impartial, fair, and efficient judiciary.”

Read more about Beck’s appointment here.