David G. Deininger (born July 9, 1947) is a retired Republican politician and jurist from Wisconsin. He served as a judge on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals for eleven years, from 1996 to 2007, and now serves as a reserve judge. He was the first chairman of the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, appointed by Democratic Governor Jim Doyle. Earlier in his career, he served three and a half terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing parts of Green and Rock counties, and was a Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge in Green County.

The Honorable
David G. Deininger
Chairman of the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board
In office
January 10, 2008 – April 2008
Appointed byJim Doyle
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byMichael W. Brennan
Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District IV
In office
August 1996 – January 31, 2007
Appointed byTommy Thompson
Preceded byRobert D. Sundby
Succeeded byBurnie Bridge
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Green Circuit
In office
August 1, 1994 – August 1996
Preceded byJohn Callaghan
Succeeded byJames R. Beer
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
In office
January 1, 1993 – August 1, 1994
Preceded byEugene Hahn
Succeeded byMike Powers
Constituency80th district
In office
January 1, 1987 – January 1, 1993
Preceded byJohn T. Manske
Succeeded byEugene Hahn
Constituency47th district
Personal details
Born (1947-07-09) July 9, 1947 (age 77)
Monroe, Wisconsin
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMary Deininger
Children
  • Emilie Deininger
  • (died 2006)
  • 2 others
ResidenceMonroe, Wisconsin
Alma materUnited States Naval Academy, University of Chicago, University of Wisconsin Law School
ProfessionPolitician, Jurist
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
Years of service1969-1975

Early life and career

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Born in Monroe, Wisconsin, Deininger graduated from Monroe High School and went to the United States Naval Academy. He graduated in 1969 and was a nuclear submarine officer in the United States Navy until 1975.[1] He attended the University of Chicago before graduating from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1978.[2] He began practicing law after graduation.

Public offices

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In 1986, Deininger launched a primary challenge against three-term incumbent Republican John T. Manske for his seat in the Wisconsin State Assembly. The district at the time was composed of parts of Green County, of which Deininger was a resident, and Rock County, where Manske resided. In the 1984 election, Deininger had worked for Manske's re-election campaign, but declared in 1986 that it was "Green County's turn to be represented in the Assembly." Deininger won a surprising upset in the September primary and was then unopposed in the general election.[3] He was re-elected in 1988, and 1990, and after redistricting in 1991, was elected to another term in 1992.

In 1994, he ran unopposed for election to the Wisconsin Circuit Court in Green County, and resigned from the Wisconsin Assembly.[1] Only two years later, in 1996, he was appointed to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals by Governor Tommy Thompson to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Robert D. Sundby. He was elected to two six-year terms on the Court of Appeals, in 1997 and 2003, but retired in 2007.[1][4][5]

Government Accountability Board

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In 2008, Deininger was appointed to the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board (GAB), by Governor Jim Doyle, and served as the GAB's first chairman. The Attorney General found that even though Deininger had retired from the Court of Appeals, he was ineligible to serve on the GAB because the term he was elected to had not expired. Following the Attorney General's finding, Deininer resigned from the Board.[2]

Governor Doyle reappointed Deininger to the GAB in 2010. Governor Scott Walker reappointed him to the GAB to serve until 2016, but withdrew his appointment in November 2013, citing concerns that the Wisconsin Senate would not approve the appointment.[6][7][8]

After retirement

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Deininger now serves as a reserve judge. He and his wife Mary reside in Monroe, and are raising their grandson Emerson following the death of their daughter.[9]

Electoral history

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Wisconsin Assembly (1986, 1988, 1990, 1992)

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Wisconsin Assembly, 47th District Election, 1986[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Primary, September 9, 1986
Republican David G. Deininger 2,602 50.42%
Republican John T. Manske (incumbent) 1,708 33.09%
Republican Paul M. Flater 781 15.13%
Republican Theresa M. Bregenzer 70 1.36%
Plurality 894 17.32%
Total votes 5,161 100.0%
General Election, November 4, 1986
Republican David G. Deininger 9,174 100.0%
Total votes 9,174 100.0% -53.01%
Republican hold

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Former judges - Judge David G. Deininger". Wisconsin Court System. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Judge David G. Deininger". Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2013 – via Wayback Machine.
  3. ^ "Deininger upsets Manske in 47th District race". The Capital Times. Madison, Wisconsin. September 10, 1986. p. 7. Retrieved December 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Deininger, David G. 1947". Wisconsin Historical Society. 8 August 2017. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  5. ^ "Judge Deininger to retire". Wisconsin Law Journal. December 6, 2006. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  6. ^ Stein, Jason; Marley, Patrick (November 4, 2013). "Scott Walker withdraws nomination to Government Accountability Board". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  7. ^ Walters, Steven (November 11, 2013). "Steven Walters: Dumped Deininger wonders why, who did it?". The Gazette. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2013 – via Wayback Machine.
  8. ^ Bauer, Scott (November 4, 2013). "Walker withdraws nomination of elections board member who was chair during recall". Star Tribune. Madison, Wisconsin. Archived from the original on November 16, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013 – via archive.today.
  9. ^ Stein, Jason (December 3, 2006). "For Retiring Judge, A New Challenge". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  10. ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1987). "Elections" (PDF). In Theobald, H. Rupert; Barish, Lawrence S. (eds.). The state of Wisconsin 1987-1988 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. pp. 889, 908. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
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Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 47th district
January 1, 1987 – January 1, 1993
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 80th district
January 1, 1993 – August 1, 1994
Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by
John Callaghan
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Green Circuit
1994 – 1996
Succeeded by
James R. Beer
Preceded by Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District IV
1996 – 2007
Succeeded by
New board Chairman of the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board
January 10, 2008 – April 2008
Succeeded by
Michael W. Brennan