May 9, 2022 at 10:40 a.m.
Oneida County judge to retire this summer
Oneida County judge to retire this summer
"After serving Oneida County for 18 years as the District Attorney and then serving Oneida County for 15 years as Judge for Branch I, as well as Deputy Chief Judge of the 9th Judicial District . . . I have come to the difficult decision to resign effective August 1, 2022," O'Melia wrote in a letter addressed to friends and colleagues. "I have known many people who retired over the years. They would usually say, 'I won't miss the work, but I will miss the people who I worked with.' Like most clichés, truer words were never spoken. On the day-to-day basis, I will miss all of you, but I do intend to offer services as a Reserve Judge, so I am sure our paths will cross."
The news of O'Melia's forthcoming retirement leaves a judicial vacancy that Gov. Tony Evers will need to fill.
As of this writing, the governor's office had yet to send out a request for applications to fill the seat. O'Melia's term is due to expire in 2026.
Oneida County has long had two judgeships.
In 2007, O'Melia was appointed to succeed former Oneida County circuit judge Robert E. Kinney who had resigned the Branch I judgeship.
He was elected to the position in 2008 and has won re-election ever since.
Circuit judge Mike Bloom, who is also a former district attorney, has presided in Branch II since 2012, succeeding circuit judge Mark A. Mangerson.
The O'Melia family has been a fixture in the local legal community for over a century.
O'Melia's grandfather, A.J., founded the O'Melia, Schiek & McEldowney law firm in 1911. His father and uncle practiced at the firm and his brother, John F. O'Melia, is a partner.
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