November 17, 2022 at 12:10 p.m.
History is made as Burns is formally installed as circuit judge
History is made as Burns is formally installed as circuit judge
District 9 Chief Judge Ann Knox-Bauer of Taylor County, who administered the oath of office, noted the significance of the event.
"This is truly an historic occasion as Judge Burns will be the first woman to preside as a judge in Oneida County Circuit Court," she said to cheers and applause from those in attendance.
Burns was appointed to the bench by Gov. Tony Evers after former Oneida County circuit judge Patrick O'Melia announced his retirement.
Her appointment is to fill the remainder of O'Melia's term, which ends in July 2023, however she has already announced she will run for the position in the spring election in April.
The winner of the April election will begin their term in August.
The investiture ceremony, which was attended by a number of judges from across the Northwoods, included speeches by friends and family as well as the county's other circuit court judge, Mike Bloom.
The ceremony culminated with the oath of office after which the new judge's daughters helped her into her judicial robe.
In her remarks, Burns recognized O'Melia's 35 years of service to the county as both district attorney and judge.
"His tremendous work ethic and commitment to the law set a wonderful example for me to follow," she said. "He presided over cases with both common sense, a sense of humor, humanity, and a commitment to the law. He has left huge shoes to fill and I'm working hard to be worthy of this position," she added.
Burns noted that it was Veterans Day and spoke of her father's service as well as her desire to include his Bible in the ceremony.
"That little Bible isn't flashy, but it's like gold to our family," she said, noting that her father's example led to her to continue the family tradition of public service.
"I hereby commit to continuing my career of public service to the Oneida County community from this bench by working tirelessly to keep my court fair and balanced," she said. "I commit to being a tough but fair judge representing everyone in Oneida County. I commit to listening. I want people in my court to educate me about their perspectives and I will listen, not passing judgement until I have heard all the facts. And then I commit to applying the law to the facts that are at hand."
She finished her speech by noting that just 10 years ago, in 2012, in the very same courtroom where she will now preside, a court officer chided her for speaking to a prisoner, not realizing that she was an attorney and the man was her client.
"Now, times have changed but I don't think that even that officer or myself ever dreamed that I would be up here, instead of back there, 10 years later and here we are," she concluded.
A native of Wausau and a 1973 graduate of UW-Madison, Burns went to law school after raising her two daughters, both of whom graduated from Rhinelander public schools. Her life experience also includes work as a reporter at the Rhinelander Daily News (the predecessor to the River News) and as a small business owner. She has experience both as a public defender and in private practice.
Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].
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