Sloma appointed circuit court judge

Shawano City Attorney Katherine Sloma has been appointed circuit court judge for Shawano and Menominee counties, filling the vacancy that will be left when Judge James Habeck retires at the end of the month.

Gov. Tony Evers announced the appointment Monday.

“Katie Sloma will be an excellent judge for the people of Shawano and Menominee counties,” Evers said. “As an experienced civil litigator and city attorney, she will apply the law fairly and protect our constitutional rights.”

Sloma thanked Evers for what she called an exciting opportunity and said she looks forward to serving the community.

“I am grateful and honored that Gov. Evers has appointed me to the Shawano-Menominee county branch 1 bench,” she said. “In my position as judge, I promise to apply the principles of the law knowledgeably, thoughtfully, and fairly to all individuals that appear before me.”

Since 2004, Sloma has maintained a general practice in Shawano, including handling family law cases, divorces, guardianships, wills and estates, real estate transactions, juvenile matters, and guardian ad litem appointments.

She was first elected city of Shawano attorney in 2018 and was reelected in April.

City officials will be discussing their options for filling the city attorney vacancy at their personnel and Common Council meetings later this month.

Greg Parker, district attorney for Shawano and Menominee counties, said Evers had made an excellent choice.

“I have worked with Attorney Sloma on Children’s Court cases for over 10 years,” Parker said. “She has a reputation of being hardworking, demonstrates a high level of competence, professionalism and integrity in performing her duties. She has a calm and deliberate demeanor in and out of the courtroom. Based on my experience in working with Attorney Sloma, I know she truly believes in fairness as it relates to court matters, and I am confident that she will do a fine job as our next circuit court judge.”

Sloma earned her undergraduate degree from UW-Green Bay and her law degree from Ohio University. Sloma served on the boards of the Shawano Redevelopment Authority, and the Shawano Area Community Foundation.

Habeck has been circuit court judge since 2002. His latest six-year term expires on July 31.

Circuit Court Branch I generally conducts probate of estates, guardianships of minors and incompetents, juvenile hearings, adoptions, mental hearings, alcoholic commitments, traffic cases and one half of superior civil cases, and some criminal cases.

Branch I also handles small claims of $5,000 or less and marriage ceremonies.

Shawano Corporation Counsel Tony Kordus ran for Habeck’s office in the April election but dropped out of the race.

There were two registered write-ins for the Branch 1 circuit court seat, Elisabeth Stockbridge and Jeffery Hasse.

Kordus won 7,205 votes to 207 for Haase and 97 for Stockbridge.