Harry G. Snyder, a judge on the state court of appeals in Waukesha since 1991, announced this week he will not seek re-election in 2010.
"It is gratifying to know that there are several people who have expressed an interest in seeking the District II position should I retire," Snyder said in a statement released by the state courts system.
Snyder said Friday he's had three or four people inquire whether he might be retiring, but he wouldn't name names.
Asked what he'd tell whoever replaces him about the job, Snyder said they would find it has a discipline specific to the appellate bench, a more cloistered - but comfortable - environment than being a trial judge. He served 11 years on the Waukesha County Circuit Court before joining the court of appeals 18 years ago.
He characterized the Court of Appeals as a "high volume clearinghouse," a place where court users can get a second look at what circuit courts do, and not "a junior Supreme Court." The District II court hears appeals from 12 counties in southeast Wisconsin, excluding Milwaukee County.
Snyder said he'll be 72 at the end of his 6-year term, on July 31, 2010. He's not sure what he'll do next, except spend more time in Ireland, where his wife was born and raised and still has family.