What do lawyers ask other lawyers who are campaigning to be judge?

Apparently they didn’t want to interrogate the judicial candidates with anything too provocative during the Kenosha Bar Association’s forum for the four attorneys hoping to be elected to preside over the new, eighth branch of Kenosha Circuit Court.

But candidate Gregg Guttormsen probably expressed what many of the attorneys in the audience were thinking.

“There will be no B.S. answers tonight, because you will be able to see right through that,” he told the audience.

Of attorneys Guttormsen, Chad Kerkman, David Wilk and Fred Zievers, two will survive the Feb. 17 primary election to battle in the April 7 general election for the judge’s post. The winner will be sworn in for a six-year term beginning Aug. 1.

The candidates gave opening statements before answering submitted prompts: Why are you running? What is your case management philosophy? Give an example of resolving staff conflict at your law practice. Discuss trial and litigation experience. What do you hope to accomplish as judge?

Guttormsen said a good judge must have legal as well as life experience. His experience is more with civil and business cases, areas he thought might be better for a judge rather than criminal work. He said judges must guarantee all participants receive their day in court, be polite and respectful, and prove the system can work. He said judges should be active in the community.

Kerkman said he was the only candidate with management experience, as he’s overseen factory construction. He said he’d be fair and make well-reasoned decisions as judge. He’s had experience as prosecutor and with the defense. He wants domestic violence programs, restorative justice — perpetrators and victims meeting — and drug courts considered.

Wilk said residents are concerned about safety and crime, needless lawsuits, cost and treatment of victims. He said he would treat all offenders firmly as judge to show violent behavior wouldn’t be tolerated. He advocated for a drug court, out-of-court resolutions and using the county building at highways 45 and 50 for some cases to offer easier access for west county residents.

Zievers argued that as veteran of the group with 33 years of legal experience, he had the right amount of experience to qualify him as judge.

“I’m not going to have to learn on the job,” he said, citing criminal, civil, juvenile and other legal experience.

All the candidates said judges and attorneys being prompt and prepared in court were necessary to run a courtroom efficiency.