Paul Lundsten is an American lawyer and retired judge. He served as a state Assistant Attorney General and as a judge on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals for the Madison-based District IV court serving 24 counties.

The Honorable
Paul Lundsten
Presiding Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District IV
In office
August 1, 2017 – July 31, 2019
Preceded byJoAnne Kloppenburg
Succeeded byMichael Fitzpatrick
In office
August 1, 2011 – July 31, 2013
Preceded byMargaret J. Vergeront
Succeeded byBrian W. Blanchard
In office
August 1, 2005 – July 31, 2007
Preceded byDavid G. Deininger
Succeeded byPaul B. Higginbotham
Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District IV
In office
October 31, 2000 – July 31, 2019
Appointed byTommy Thompson
Preceded byWilliam Eich
Succeeded byJennifer E. Nashold
Personal details
Born (1955-08-11) August 11, 1955 (age 69)
La Crosse, Wisconsin, U.S.
Children3
EducationUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison (B.A., J.D.)

Early life and career

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Lundsten was born on August 11, 1955, in La Crosse, Wisconsin.[1] He earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1980, and went on to obtain his J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School graduating with honors in 1983.

The same year he graduated from law school, Lundsten was hired by Bronson La Follette, then Wisconsin's Attorney General, to serve as an Assistant Attorney General in the Wisconsin Department of Justice. Lundsten would continue to work as an assistant attorney general until his appointment to the Court of Appeals in 2000, serving under two more attorneys general: Don Hanaway and Jim Doyle. At the Department of Justice, he was initially assigned to the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.[2] Over his 17 years at the department, he worked on various fraud investigations and consumer protection cases, becoming a specialist in handling criminal cases before state and federal appellate courts, including 25 cases he argued before the State Supreme Court.[3]

Judicial career

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On October 31, 2000, Governor Tommy Thompson appointed Lundsten to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals to replace retiring Judge William Eich.[4] Judge Lundsten was elected to a full term in 2001, defeating attorney Charlie Schutze, and was subsequently re-elected without opposition in 2007 and 2013.

In his contested 2001 race, he was endorsed by a broad coalition of Republicans and Democrats, including then Republican Governor Tommy Thompson and then Democratic State Attorney General Jim Doyle.

In 2019 he announced he would not seek a fourth term. He retired from the court July 31, 2019.[5]

Personal life and family

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Lundsten is married with three children.[1] Lundsten has completed several marathons and has qualified for the Boston Marathon, running that race in 1996.

Electoral history

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Wisconsin Court of Appeals District IV Election, 2001[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 3, 2001
Nonpartisan Paul Lundsten (incumbent) 112,009 60.53%
Nonpartisan Charlie Schutze 72,637 39.26%
Scattering 392 0.21%
Plurality 39,372 21.28%
Total votes 185,038 100.0% +13.43%

References

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  1. ^ a b "Former judges – Paul Lundsten". Wisconsin Court System. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  2. ^ "Lundsten Named New Assistant AG". The Sheboygan Press. Madison, Wisconsin. September 21, 1983. p. 36. Retrieved September 13, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Segall, Cary (November 1, 2000). "Lundsten gets appeals post". Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wisconsin. p. 2. Retrieved September 13, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Governor appoints Paul Lundsten to appeals court". Racine Journal Times. November 1, 2000. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  5. ^ "Retirements - Judge Paul Lundsten Court of Appeals District IV" (PDF). The Third Branch. Vol. 27, no. 1. Wisconsin Court System. 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  6. ^ Results of Spring General Election - 04/03/2001 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. May 3, 2001. p. 2. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
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Legal offices
Preceded by Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District IV
October 31, 2000 – July 31, 2019
Succeeded by