WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/05/2009) - Governor Jim Doyle (D-WI) has appointed State Assembly Representative Gary Sherman to the District IV Court of Appeals, following the retirement of Judge Bridge. The state Republican Party director suggests the Sherman appointment was payback for past vote switching, and the Republican running for his seat alleges Sherman accepted the judgeship because he would have a hard time defeating his opponent.

“I am pleased to appoint Gary Sherman to the District IV Court of Appeals,” Governor Doyle said. “Gary is a great legal mind who will bring his broad experience to the bench. I am confident he will be an excellent judge.”

“The law has dominated my entire adult life, from private practice to public service,” Sherman said.

“I have been involved in many divergent aspects of the profession for more than 36 years and all of that experience has helped prepare me for this new challenge," Sherman pointed out.

"I am grateful to Governor Doyle, and all of the many people who supported me, for this opportunity. I will never forget that the business of courts is trying to solve the real problems of real people,” Sherman said.

Sherman has served as a Representative to the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 74th Assembly District since 1999. He currently sits on the Assembly Committee on Finance and the Joint Committee on Finance, co-chairs the Joint Committee on Information Policy and Technology, and chairs the Assembly Committee on Forestry. He is also a member of the Special Committee on State-Tribal Relations, and currently serves on the Employee Trust Funds Board and the Group Insurance Board.

Sherman received his undergraduate degree from UW-Madison, and graduated cum laude from the University of Wisconsin Law School. He served as legal counsel in the U.S. Air Force before entering private practice. Sherman has operated Fairview Law Office in Port Wing, Wisconsin since 1974. He is the author of Wisconsin Practice: Methods of Practice, a three-volume legal practice guide. A past president of the Wisconsin Bar Association, Sherman has also been a longtime member of the American Law Institute. Sherman has residences in both Port Wing and Madison.

Meanwhile, Republican Party of Wisconsin Executive Director Mark Jefferson issued the following statement on Governor Doyle's appointment of Representative Gary Sherman to the District IV Court of Appeals:

"Several years ago, Representative Gary Sherman turned his back on his constituents by voting down his own concealed carry bill, despite the fact it was overwhelmingly supported by those who voted him into office," Republican Party of Wisconsin executive director Mark Jefferson said.

"At the time there was great speculation to what the payback would be in exchange for switching his vote on the very people who sent him to Madison, and now we know the answer," Jefferson suggests.

"The voters in the 74th assembly district will remember which party turned its back on them in the coming special election," Jefferson added.

Following the appointment of Representative Gary Sherman to the District IV Court of Appeals, 74th Assembly District Candidate Shirl LaBarre issued the following statement:

“Gary Sherman applied for this judgeship because he knew he’d be facing a tough election after voting for nearly $5 billion in tax increases in 2009 alone," LeBarre said.

"We need a leader who will stand up to the Democrats in Madison and demand more jobs, not more taxes. I am prepared to do just that in the upcoming special election,” candidate Shirl LaBarre said.

Sherman will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Burnie Bridge in January 2010.