2004 Spring Endorsements

Judicial Races

Court of Appeals -
Dual Endorsement of Joan Kessler and Charles Schudson
This is one race where the HRL-PAC wishes the two candidates were competing in two different races. The race for Court of Appeals has two candidates with very strong philosophies in support of progressive LGBT issues. From the LGBT civil rights perspective, Kessler and Schudson are indistinguishable. Both have long-time connections to the LGBT community at-large through their immediate families.

Schudson attributes his pro-LGBT viewpoints to growing up in "a family of activists, actors, musicians, and writers" and being "surrounded by proud LGBT people." Kessler has advocated for LGBT rights in her work on the Individual Rights and Responsibilities (IRR) section of the American Bar Association. She has worked on IRR resolutions, such as non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation; sexual orientation and adoption; and needle exchange, which ultimately were adopted in the ABAs Policy/Procedures Handbook.

Municipal Court, City of Milwaukee - David Halbrooks
Halbrooks articulated that "LGBT people deserve the same right to privacy as anyone else" and views sexual orientation as immaterial on matters regarding child custody or adoption.

Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Branch 34 -
Glenn Yamahiro
Yamahiro gets HRL-PACs endorsement because of his strong opposition to "restrictions on the privacy rights of all citizens, including women and LGBT people."

Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Branch 45 -
Thomas Donegan
Judge Donegan was a strong supporter of many progressive issues including those for the LGBT community when he was a City of Milwaukee alderman in the 1990s. His general philosophies on sexual orientation and right-to-privacy matters demonstrate his sensitivity to issues important to the LGBT community.

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