State Supreme Court Justice David Prosser announced Wednesday that he will retire this year, effective July 31.
Prosser said in a letter that he was stepping down to “begin a new chapter” in his life.
“It has been a tremendous honor to serve the people of Wisconsin in various capacities for more than 40 years. During this time, I have had the exceptional privilege of working in all three branches of state government, including 18 years as a representative in the State Assembly and 18 years as a justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court,” Prosser wrote in the letter delivered to Gov. Scott Walker today.
Officials across the state praised Prosser as a dedicated jurist, who spent almost 18 years on the state’s highest court.
"Justice Prosser has faithfully served the state of Wisconsin for decades,” Walker said in a statement. “Throughout his almost 18 years of service on the state Supreme Court, he demonstrated his love for the law and commitment to Wisconsin's citizens."
Prosser was appointed to the Supreme Court by Gov. Tommy Thompson in 1998. He was elected to a 10-year term and re-elected in 2011. His current term expires July 31, 2021.
Before joining the Court, Prosser had an 17-year career representing the Appleton area in the Assembly from 1979 through 1996. During his tenure, he served six years as Assembly minority leader and two years as Assembly speaker. He was appointed to the Tax Appeals Commission where he conducted hearings and issued decisions on disputes related to Wisconsin taxation from 1997 to 1998.
After Prosser's retirement, Walker will have the power to appoint a replacement, but that justice must then stand for election in the first year in which no other justice's term expires.
