After the second round of interviews in late June, Gov. Scott Walker announced the final three contenders for the Supreme Court appointment. The three finalists include: Appeals Court judges Mark Gundrum, Thomas Hruz and attorney Daniel Kelly.
Judge Mark Gundrum was appointed by Walker in 2011 to the Wisconsin District II Court of Appeals. Prior to his appointment, Gundrum served as Waukesha circuit court judge from 2010 to 2011 and was a state representative from 1998 to 2010. Daniel Kelly is an attorney at Milwaukee law firm Rogahn Kelly and served on Justice Rebecca Bradley’s campaign. Judge Thomas Hruz was appointed by Walker in 2014 to the Wisconsin District III Court of Appeals. Before his appointment, he was an attorney at Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols in Milwaukee.
The three finalists are vying to replace outgoing Justice David Prosser, who is retiring at the end of July. Gov. Walker has stated he hopes to have a replacement selected by this time. The applicant selected by Walker will hold the seat until the April 2020 election. Many consider this to be a legacy appointment by Walker considering a younger selection may sit on the state’s highest bench for over three decades.