This afternoon, Governor Jim Doyle will announce the appointment of William Pocan, brother of State Representative Mark Pocan, to the open seat on the Circuit Court in Milwaukee County.

Here's what the Governor's office put out shortly after we broke the story: 

"… Pocan will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Michael P. Sullivan.  Pocan will begin serving July 17, 2006 for a term to end July 31, 2007.

"William Pocan has the intellect and temperament necessary for a judge," Governor Doyle said.  "His 22 years of varied trial and appellate practice make him an excellent candidate.  He is also highly regarded as a leading advocate in consumer protection law, which will add diversity to the Milwaukee bench."

"I would like to thank the Governor for giving me this opportunity to serve the people of Milwaukee County.  I am truly honored," said Pocan.  "I will be a hardworking, fair judge, treating everyone who comes before me with respect.  I will never forget what it is like to be a practicing attorney representing real people with real problems and concerns."

William Pocan is currently in private practice at Jastroch & LaBarge, S.C.  He has extensive trial and appellate experience in the area of consumer law, as well as in the areas of family and civil law.  Pocan served on the State Bar of Wisconsin's Consumer Information and Protection Committee and has been a member of the State Bar's Public Interest Section for many years.  He also serves on the Milwaukee County Bar Association's Bench/Bar Civil Committee. 

Pocan has been a frequent presenter/lecturer at Continuing Legal Education seminars for lawyers and at Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin law schools.  Pocan was a founding member of the East Side Condominium Owners Association and a founding board member of the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center Advocates.  He received his Bachelor of Science degree from UW-Parkside and his Juris Doctorate at UW-Madison.  Pocan resides in Milwaukee."