Bice: Sen. Lena Taylor appointed Milwaukee County judge by Gov. Tony Evers

If at first — and second and third — you don't succeed in getting a six-figure job on the public dime, then just follow state Sen. Lena Taylor's lead.

And land an appointment from the governor.

As first reported by the Journal Sentinel, Gov. Tony Evers named Taylor, 57, on Friday to a seat on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court bench. She will take the position on Tuesday and has been assigned to hear misdemeanor cases.

Both Evers and Taylor are Democrats — though the position is nonpartisan.

The announcement puts to an end to Taylor's extended quest for a high-paying post outside the Legislature. First elected to the Assembly in 2003, the sometimes-controversial senator has run unsuccessfully for Milwaukee mayor, Milwaukee County executive and Milwaukee Municipal Court in the past.

Taylor did not return calls or text messages on Thursday. Circuit court judges make $164,487 a year, nearly three times the $57,408 annual salary for a state lawmaker.

"Wow," exclaimed one prominent Democrat at the City of Milwaukee's 177th Birthday Party at the Grain Exchange, where news of the appointment pinged about the room. "I didn't have this on my 2024 bingo card."

In his statement announcing the appointment, Evers said, "Sen. Taylor is a committed public servant who has dedicated her life to pursuing justice for her community and the people of Wisconsin. I am confident that she will serve the people of Milwaukee County well as a circuit court judge."

Taylor will replace former Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Audrey Skwierawski, who was appointed interim director of state courts in August by a new liberal majority on the state Supreme Court, a job that pays $174,366 annually. Skwierawski's job was made permanent last month, and Evers announced Dec. 26 that he was seeking applicants to replace her on the Milwaukee County judicial bench.

It is not known how many others Taylor beat out for the judicial job.

Throughout her public career, Taylor has been dogged by minor controversies.

Most notably, in 2018, she was given $195 ticket for disorderly conduct for using a racial slur during a dustup with a bank teller at the the Wells Fargo branch on Wisconsin Ave. She said she believed she could speak as she did because she and those she was addressing were African American.

Taylor's appointment opens a seat for the state Senate. She officially resigned her Senate seat effective Friday.

Sources said former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who ran and lost to Taylor in 2016, has no interest in the post. Several political insiders said they wouldn't be surprised if Rep. LaKeshia Myers, a Milwaukee Democrat, runs to try to replace Taylor. Rep. Darrin Madison Jr., another Milwaukee Dem, is also making calls about the opening.

The field of candidates will depend, in the end, on the shape of the district under the new maps.

Taylor thanked the governor for the appointment.

"It is with great honor that I both thank the people of the 4th Senate District for the opportunity to serve them since 2005 and Gov. Evers for the opportunity to take my life experiences, constant quest for the truth and unwavering commitment to equity and justice for all to the Circuit Court of Milwaukee County," Taylor said in the news release from Evers' office.

Contact Daniel Bice at (414) 313-6684 or dbice@jrn.com. Follow him on X at @DanielBice or on Facebook at fb.me/daniel.bice.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Sen. Lena Taylor appointed Milwaukee County judge by Gov. Tony Evers