Domina named Waukesha County Circuit Court judge

Jan. 11, 2010
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By Laurel Walker of the Journal Sentinel

Jan. 11, 2010 0

Waukesha - William Domina, a former assistant corporation counsel in Waukesha County who moved to Milwaukee County to become that county's chief legal counsel in 2003, has been appointed a Waukesha County circuit judge by Gov. Jim Doyle.

He will fill the vacancy created with the December retirement of Judge Robert Mawdsley, Doyle's office announced Monday. Domina will start in February after he moves back to the county. His term will end July 31, 2011, requiring him to stand for election in April 2011.

Domina ran unsuccessfully for Waukesha County judge in 1996 and again in 1999 and was a finalist for the Waukesha-based District 2 Court of Appeals in 2008. Previously, he'd been elected four times to the Waukesha School Board.

As Waukesha County's senior assistant corporation counsel, he was perhaps best known for his work in the "cocaine mom" case, in which he forced a pregnant, cocaine-abusing Waukesha mother into treatment when she was eight months pregnant and continuing to abuse drugs.

Domina's actions, although upheld by trial and appeals judges, were ruled illegal by a 4-3 vote of the state Supreme Court, which said state child protection laws did not extend to fetuses.

Domina then worked with lawmakers to get a bill passed that now gives judges power to detain pregnant, drug-abusing women so that they can receive treatment while the fetuses are protected.

As Milwaukee County corporation counsel, Domina was at the legal helm for the near-record $45 million settlement last year in the county's pension lawsuit against Mercer Inc., a consulting firm, alleging it failed to warn the county of the potentially high costs of pension changes approved in 2000.

Walker praises Domina

In a statement issued by his office, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker called Domina "one of the best attorneys I know.

"Even more important, he is one of the most decent, fair and objective people I have ever worked with in public office," Walker said. "We are sad that he will be leaving as our corporation counsel, but so proud that a person of his character will serve the public as a judge."

Milwaukee County Board Chairman Lee Holloway released a statement saying, "The departure of Mr. Domina is a huge loss for Milwaukee County government and its people. He has demonstrated the ability to work with both the executive and legislative branches of county government in an extremely effective manner."

Domina said Monday: "It's obviously a great opportunity and challenge, and something I've wanted to do for a long time. My time in Waukesha and Milwaukee were important. I feel I'm a better lawyer for all the opportunities I've had."

He remembers his first week on the job as Milwaukee County corporation counsel, when the county was embroiled in the "Blue Shirt" controversy in which Walker terminated a contract for a controversial piece of public art at Mitchell International Airport. He's faced many other high-profile challenges since then.

"It's been a real ride, and I have enjoyed it and at times been overwhelmed by it, but I do think it will make me a better judge," he said.

Domina, 49, also served on the Wisconsin Tobacco Control Board. His wife, Julie Gay, is a part-time city attorney for Waukesha.

Journal Sentinel reporter Bruce Vielmetti contributed to this report.

About Laurel Walker
Laurel Walker covered local, school and county government for 20 years -- the last half of that at the Milwaukee Journal and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel -- before she was named Waukesha County columnist in 1997. Today she writes about the people, places and events around metropolitan Milwaukee with a broad suburban focus. She was the youngest of nine children raised on a central Wisconsin farm before leaving the nest for journalism studies at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and a masters degree at the University of Oregon. She has spent the last half of her life in Waukesha County, where she and her husband raised two sons. Though she has a fondness for life in Waukesha, she eagerly partakes in the culture of the big city to the east and the recreation of the forests to the west. With sons in the arts, she has a special fondness for symphonic music concerts and art museums. She finds peace in a good book at a Northwoods getaway weekend, adventure in family visits to the east and west coasts, and satisfaction in a column well-written that reaches readers.
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