Committee
Elizabeth Gebert for Judge
Campaign Phone
6085098724
Education
American University - B.A. 2003; Harvard University - MDiv, 2006; University of Wisconsin Law School - J.D. 2009.
Personal Pronouns
she/her/hers
I have dedicated my life to serving the public, starting in 2009 when I graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School and began working as a prosecutor with my first permanent position in the Wood County District Attorney’s Office. In the intervening years, I have worked as a prosecutor in counties in Central & Northern Wisconsin. As a prosecutor, I am responsible for exercising discretion, doing justice daily. Part of prosecution is deciding the appropriate charges. This process includes identifying constitutional rights violations, ensuring that the suspect’s rights are protected. I also consider the nature of the case, the prior criminal history of the suspect, the victim’s input. I use judgment and administer justice every day. In my personal time, I have served others, through volunteer work, since my childhood. My upbringing has taught me to see each person as a human being with dignity which I have carried with me into my career, even while judging about their actions.
My career and life experience will ensure that every person who appears in my court receive respect and the opportunity to be heard. As a prosecutor, I have worked with victims and unrepresented defendants from every walk of life. I have also received professional training on working with individuals from backgrounds that differ from my own. Personally, I have lived and traveled throughout the United States and abroad, including in low- and middle-income countries such as India and Thailand. These experiences have enriched my understanding of humanity and shown me that, in the end, every person, regardless of background or life circumstances, wants to be treated fairly and considerately. In court, I will do my utmost to ensure that every person feels like they were heard and that court was professional, efficient, and fair.
Impartiality, to which I have been dedicated throughout my career, is one of the cornerstones of the judicial system. As a prosecutor, I have been dedicated to treating people the same regardless of their backgrounds, while also being sensitive to each individual’s personal circumstances. I will give that same consideration to each case that comes before me on the bench. To maintain my impartiality on the bench, I will be diligent in preparing for proceedings, which ensures that when I step on the bench, I will be fully present and able to conduct hearings in a measured and temperate approach. During proceedings, I will be vigilant in ensuring that parties are focused on the issues and respectful toward everyone in the courtroom, give the parties the adequate time to present their cases, and make my decisions by applying the law to the facts of the case.
Preparation and professionalism are essential to ensure fairness in civil and criminal decisions. Prior to court, I will review all court filings, research the issues, and identify potential challenges. In court, I will be respectful and courteous to all parties, setting that standard for court decorum. Many people go their entire lives without going to court. For those who do, court is serious and stressful, regardless of the type of case. A professional and respectful courtroom is important in ensuring people feel they were treated fairly.
As prosecutor, it has been my responsibility to determine the appropriate outcome, on behalf of the people of Wisconsin, in thousands of cases. In my career, I have had individuals ask me to disregard the law in their case. My response to them is that I am bound by the law, I didn’t write it but must follow it. Similarly, judges do not create law from the bench. It is not the role of the judge to create law, but rather to interpret and apply it.
Justice Robert H. Jackson is a former US Supreme Court Justice I admire, for many reasons. I can relate to his life, personally, as he rose from humble beginnings and was “self-made.” His success was from his abilities, not political connections. I grew up in the country and am the first lawyer in my family. An achievement of his that I particularly admire is his role as a prosecutor in the Nuremberg Trials. I am confident every dedicated prosecutor has imagined what that experience would be like, I am no exception.
The theme that runs through his decisions is the practical application of the law to the circumstances of the case, whether the subject is patent law, governmental powers, or constitutional rights. He defended the US Constitution, even when doing so put him in the minority on a decision, including dissenting in the decision that allowed the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. Justice Jackson is the ethical, rational role-model I will emulate.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Committee
Committee to Elect Judge Nolan-Plutchak
Campaign Phone
715-575-3584
Education
JD, Marquette University Law School; BA, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Personal Pronouns
she/her
It is an honor to be a Judge and serve the people of Wood County. I am the only candidate in this race with judicial experience and that, combined with my work as an attorney and my community service, demonstrate my commitment to make Wood County stronger and safer. Every day in the Courtroom, I apply the law impartially, ensure legal proceedings are fair, and treat every person who comes before me with respect. As an attorney, I ensured that adults and children who were unable to afford an attorney, had meaningful access to the criminal justice system. I worked with Law Enforcement, prosecutors, and nonprofits to expand and improve Wood County’s Adult Treatment Court which holds offenders accountable, saves tax dollars, and stops the revolving door of crime. Wood County is home for my twin boys and me. I have volunteered as a Board member for Three Bridges Recovery and The Wisconsin Raptors Youth Football League, and was a member of the Grove Elementary School Parent Group.
Every day as a Judge, I make certain that every individual before me understands court proceedings and can fully participate in the legal process. That helps ensure equal access to justice. I base my decisions on the law and the facts in each case. I clearly explain courtroom procedures in layperson’s terms, especially to the many individuals who are in court without an attorney (pro se). If a schedule change or teleconference is needed to accommodate a disability, my staff and I do so if possible. I treat everyone before me with respect and provide explanations for my decisions. My goal is that all parties to a case leave the courtroom knowing they were heard and got a fair shake. As an attorney, I handled thousands of cases. I worked closely with individuals from all walks of life. Those experiences taught me the importance of empathy and clear communication as well as what works in creating greater trust and confidence in our judicial system.
As a Judge, I ensure impartiality by basing every decision in the law and the facts. I treat all parties with equal respect and courtesy, provide a fair opportunity to be heard, and explain rulings clearly. By maintaining professionalism, consistency, and openness in the courtroom, I uphold public confidence in the fairness and integrity of the judiciary. I scrupulously follow Wisconsin’s Judicial Code of Ethics and Wisconsin’s rules on when I must step off a case (recusal). I avoid situations that could create conflicts of interest or the appearance of bias. To stay current on evidence-based decision making, trauma-based care and other emerging issues, I participate in judicial colleges and trainings. As the presiding Judge for Wood County’s Adult Drug Treatment Court, I work collaboratively with stakeholders in our criminal justice system including my judicial colleagues, law enforcement, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and non profits to exchange ideas and hear their feedback.
As a Judge, in both civil and criminal matters, I ensure fairness by applying the law consistently and impartially. I carefully review the facts, listen attentively to all sides, and make decisions based solely on the evidence and the law. I ensure that every party understands the process and has a meaningful opportunity to be heard, while maintaining courtroom procedures that are respectful and efficient. I remain attentive to due process rights, the need for fairness in all court procedures, and the real-world impact of court decisions. In each case, one party is going to prevail and all parties should know they were heard, the proceedings were fair, and the Judge acted as an independent decision maker. I am honored that I am publicly endorsed for election by over 75 supporters from both sides of the aisle whose trust and confidence I have earned as a fair, impartial Judge.
I admire the late Justice Sandra Day O’Connor for her dedication to fairness, her independence, and commitment to public service. As the first woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court, she brought a pragmatic and thoughtful approach to the law, rejecting rigid ideology and partisan politics and focusing on the real-world impact of the Supreme Court’s decisions. Her commitment to precedent, respect for differing viewpoints, and emphasis on careful rulings helped foster public confidence in the Court. Justice O’Connor’s career reflects the values of fairness, balance, and service that are essential to the fair administration of justice.
Candidate has not yet responded.
