Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1925-02-26
Judge August c. Hoppmann

To the voters of the ninth judicial
circuit Dane and Sank coun-
ties):
The undersigned committee, in
behalf of August C. Hoppmann,
Senior Judge of the Superior
Court for Dane County, hereby
submit the following statement OF
information regarding the election
of circuit judge for the judgeshin
just created by the legislature;
also, the reasons why Judge Hopp-
mann is entitled to be and should
be elected, to wit:
In 1921 the court work became
so heavy that Judge Stevens and
Judge Hoppmann could not carry
the load. The Dane County Board,
the State Legislature and the
Governor realized that fact. 1t was
then agreed to create the Junior
superior court judgeship to which
Judge Stolen was later elected.
When that judgeship was created
it was understood, however, that
the Legislature would abolish thai
.judgeship as soon as the consti-
tuition was amended so that a sec
ond circuit judgeship could be
created for Dane and Sank coun-
ties. Last fall the people voted to
amend the constitution so that a
second circuit judgeship could be
provided for Dane and Sank coun-
ties. This Legislature, now in ses-.
sion, pro ceeded to create such new
judgeship. Judge Hoppmann then
wrote to the committee in charge
as follows.
81 am frank to state that, in
my judgment, the office of
Judge Stolen should be termin-
ated because it was the last one
which was created and I think
it was in the minds of all per-
sons who took part in it's crea-
ton that that was the judgeship
to be terminated when the sec
ond circuit judgeship would be
created. However, / wish to
be more than fair with Judge
Stolen and will agree that II
Judge Stolen desires to retain
his office and if he feels that
my office should be ended, then
| am willing to have that done
and give way 20 his wishes"
Judge Stolen then notified the
committee that he desired to re
tain his Office. Judge Hoppmann,
in order to carry out the agree
ment. consented to have his
judgeship abolished, although he
still has five years left of his pres
ent term to serve. This legisla-
'ture then abolished Judge Hopp-
mann's term to end on May 1st,
1925, and created the new judge
ship to begin at the same time,
May 1st, 1925.
The state commission cases
have kept Judge Stevens so busy
that he has not been able to hold
court in Sank county for the past
,12 years. The Sank county people
had to call in judges from other
parts of the state, to hold court,
when such judges had the time.
The Sank county voters had no
voice in the election or selection
of these judges. This has been a
great injustice to Sank county.
The people and the lawyers OF
Sank county complain and they
have a right to complain. But no
relief would have come to them it
Judge Hoppmann had not been
willing to give up the five years
of his pres term Of judgeship.
Judge Hoppmann, however, saw
the injustice to the people of Sank
county and the advantage to the
people and taxpayers of Dane
county and consented to give up
five years of his term and to sub
NIT his candidacy for the, new
judgeship to the voters. at
Therefore, the people Of both
Dane and Sank counties, in all
fairness and justice, owe it to
themselves and to Judge Hopp-
mann to elect him to the new
judgeship for the following rea-
sons:
% He is exceptionally well
fitted for the position. He has had
twenty years experience as a law
yer. He served two terms as city
attorney of the city Of Madison.