Gov. Tony Evers makes third judicial appointment in conservative Washington County
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A general practice lawyer from West Bend has been appointed by Gov. Tony Evers to replace a retiring judge on the Washington County circuit court.
Ryan Hetzel, 50, grew up in West Bend and returned there to open a law office in 2002 after graduating from Marquette Law School in 1997. He also worked five years with other private law firms. He will complete the term of James Pouros, who is retiring effective June 3, and will face election in Spring 2023.
The current term ends in August 2023.
Retired Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew T. Gonring said Hetzel's "private practice background gives him the kind of broad experience that a judge needs.
"His courtroom experience and demeanor will also be great assets. I know he will be able to hit the ground running.”
Evers, a Democrat, has now appointed three of the four judges in the traditionally very conservative county.
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In March, Evers appointed Michael Kenitz, another Marquette Law grad with his own practice, in Hartford, to the court. In 2020, the governor appointed Sandra Giernoth, then the county's Deputy District Attorney, to the bench.
Kenitz will join Hetzel on the Spring 2023 ballot. Giernoth won election to her own six-year term in April 2021.
Circuit judges earn $154,912 annually.
Contact Bruce Vielmetti at (414) 224-2187 or bvielmetti@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ProofHearsay.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Evers appoints Ryan Hetzel to circuit court bench in Washington County
