LOCAL

Two Fond du Lac Circuit Court judges announce plans to step down from bench

Sharon Roznik
Fond du Lac Reporter
Fond du Lac County Circuit Court Judge Peter Grimm announced Monday he will not seek another term. He was first appointed to the judgeship in March 1991 by former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson.

FOND DU LAC - Two circuit court judges who preside over Fond du Lac County intend to step down from their seats at the bench.

Judge Peter Grimm announced his departure on Monday, stating he will serve out his term that expires July 31, 2022, and then head into retirement.  

Judge Paul Czisny, who was appointed by Gov. Tony Evers in March to fill a vacancy created by Judge Robert Wirtz’s retirement, also announced he will not seek re-election.  

Prior to his appointment, Czisny was a criminal defense attorney with his own firm and a public defender for more than 20 years.

Grimm has served Branch 2 of circuit court for three decades after transitioning to the judgeship from his role as Fond du Lac County district attorney. He was also an assistant state public defender.

In his statement, Grimm said he was honored to serve the public, litigants, jurors and attorneys in his courtroom.

He writes: "I have strived to handle each case fairly and respectfully no matter how big or small the case, and to ensure that Constitutional rights are protected while imposing sentences that provide services or placements consistent with public safety. I have enjoyed immensely my relationship with all the judges, clerks and court reporters."

Fond du Lac County Circuit Court Judge Paul Czisny

Grimm said some high profile cases that came before him during his tenure include the 2002 Chad Maertz case as his attempted abduction of a 16-year-old Campbellsport girl while she was riding her bike; a 1994 first-degree reckless homicide case involving Gregory Miller and the beating death of death of Alan Ericksen; a 2003 illegal chemical dumping civil case involving William Schweda and multiple violations by ECI Special Waste Services; and the sentencing of Wayne Hudgins to 113 years in prison in 1993 for bludgeoning to death a 13-year-old boy and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl. 

Czisny said he is committed to retiring at age 65. He has recently presided over the high profile case of Gerald Turner, who was convicted in the murder of 9-year-old Lisa Ann French while she was trick-or-treating on Oct. 31, 1973, and is currently petitioning for release from a mental health facility. He also handed down a 32-year prison sentence to Jesse Schultz for the 2017 shooting death of Logan Foster.

"Should I run and be elected to a six year term next spring, I would be asking the people of this county to grant me a term in office that I frankly would have no intention of serving out," Czisny wrote in his announcement. "I feel that running a campaign under those circumstances would be disingenuous and unfair to those intending to support me."

He added that at this critical time, he feels compelled to engage in public affairs in a manner which is constrained by his office. Czisny's term also expires July 31. 

Judge Peter Grimm speaks at his swearing in ceremony. The photo appeared in the March 10, 1991 edition of The Reporter.

The two judges are following in the footsteps of a string of recent retirements from circuit court seats in the county. Judge Gary Sharpe resigned from the bench in December 2020 after ten years in the role and was replaced by Evers's appointment of Judge Tricia Walker. She is the first female to serve as a judge in the county.

Judge Richard Nuss ended his six-year term on July 31 after almost 20 years. Voters this past April chose former Green Lake County District Attorney Andrew Christenson as his replacement.

Judge Dale English remains as one of the county's longer serving judges, having first been elected to the position in 1996. He is up for re-election in April 2026.

Grimm said he looks forward to spending more time with family, traveling, and landscaping. He plans to stay active with Noon Kiwanis and to try new service opportunities with nonprofits or local elected offices. 

Contact Sharon Roznik at 920-907-7936 or sroznik@gannett.com. Follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/reporterroz/

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