The Honorable
John C. Shabaz
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
In office
January 20, 2009 – August 31, 2012
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
In office
1996–2001
Preceded byBarbara Brandriff Crabb
Succeeded byBarbara Brandriff Crabb
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
In office
December 10, 1981 – January 20, 2009
Appointed byRonald Reagan
Preceded byJames Edward Doyle
Succeeded byJames D. Peterson
Minority Leader of the Wisconsin Assembly
In office
January 1, 1973 – December 17, 1981
Preceded byHarold Vernon Froehlich
Succeeded byTommy Thompson
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
In office
January 1, 1973 – December 17, 1981
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byJohn C. Schober
Constituency83rd district
In office
January 1, 1965 – January 1, 1973
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byPosition abolished
ConstituencyWaukesha 4th district
Personal details
Born(1931-06-25)June 25, 1931
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
DiedAugust 31, 2012(2012-08-31) (aged 81)
Waunakee, Wisconsin
Resting placeSaint Joan of Arc Cemetery, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
Political partyRepublican
Education
Professionlawyer, judge
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Rank Captain

John C. Shabaz (June 25, 1931 – August 31, 2012) was an American lawyer, politician, and judge. He served 30 years as a United States district judge for the Western District of Wisconsin, and was Chief Judge between 1996 and 2001. Earlier in his career, he represented Waukesha County in the Wisconsin State Assembly for 16 years as a Republican, serving as minority leader from 1973 to 1981.[1]

Education and early career

Shabaz was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison as an undergraduate. He received a Bachelor of Laws from Marquette University Law School in 1957. He served in the United States Army from 1954 to 1956. He was in private practice in West Allis, Wisconsin from 1957 to 1981.[2][3]

Legislative career

From 1964 to 1981, Shabaz served as a Republican state representative in the Wisconsin State Assembly, from the 83rd Assembly District, representing the Waukesha and New Berlin areas. He was the minority leader from 1973 to 1979 and served as Assistant Majority Leader in 1969.[4][3]

Federal judicial service

On November 4, 1981, Shabaz was nominated by President Ronald Reagan to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin vacated by Judge James Edward Doyle. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 9, 1981, and received his commission on December 10, 1981. He served as Chief Judge from 1996 to 2001. He took senior status on January 20, 2009,[5] serving in that status until his death on August 31, 2012.[3][6][7] As of 2020, Shabaz is the last judge appointed by a Republican president to the Western District of Wisconsin.

References

  1. ^ Associated Press (December 18, 1981). "Shabaz leaves Assembly". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Madison, Wisconsin. p. 6. Retrieved February 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (ed.). The State of Wisconsin 1979-1980 Blue Book. Madison, Wisconsin: Author. p. 77.
  3. ^ a b c "Shabaz, John C. – Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
  4. ^ Wisconsin Historical Society, Dictionary of Wisconsin History, "John Shabaz."
  5. ^ Marquette University Law School, Judge Shabaz Retires Archived 2011-03-03 at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ^ "Former US District Judge John Shabaz Dies At 81". Wisconsin State Journal. August 31, 2012.
  7. ^ Inc., Midwest Communications. "Judge John Shabaz Dies". 1440 WNFL. ((cite web)): |last= has generic name (help)

Sources

Wisconsin State Assembly New constituency Member of the Wisconsin State Assemblyfrom the 4th Waukesha district January 1, 1965–January 1, 1973 Constituency abolished New constituency Member of the Wisconsin State Assemblyfrom the 83rd district January 1, 1973–December 17, 1981 Succeeded byJohn C. Schober Preceded byHarold Vernon Froehlich Minority Leader of the Wisconsin State Assembly January 1, 1973–December 17, 1981 Succeeded byTommy Thompson Legal offices Preceded byJames Edward Doyle Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin 1981–2009 Succeeded byJames D. Peterson Preceded byBarbara Brandriff Crabb Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin 1996–2001 Succeeded byBarbara Brandriff Crabb
Categories