Robert M. Curley (November 23, 1922 – February 12, 2001) was an American politician and jurist. He was a Wisconsin circuit court judge for 23 years in Milwaukee County, and served one term in the Wisconsin State Assembly. His daughter, Patricia S. Curley, is a retired judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.

The Honorable
Robert M. Curley
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Milwaukee Circuit, Branch 9
In office
August 1, 1978 – 1983
Preceded byTransitioned from 2nd Circuit
Succeeded byRussell W. Stamper, Sr.
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the 2nd Circuit, Branch 9
In office
May 2, 1960 – July 31, 1978
Appointed byGaylord Nelson
Preceded byWilliam F. Shaughnessy
Succeeded byTransitioned to Milwaukee Circuit
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Milwaukee 18th district
In office
January 1, 1959 – April 23, 1960
Preceded byJohn R. Meyer
Succeeded byMichael J. Barron
Personal details
Born(1922-11-23)November 23, 1922
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
DiedFebruary 12, 2001(2001-02-12) (aged 78)
Indian Harbour Beach, Florida
Resting placeResurrection Cemetery
Mequon, Wisconsin
SpouseMary Irene O'Rourke
Children
Education
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service
Years of service
  • 1942–1946 (USN)
  • 1946-1960 (USNR)
Battles/warsWorld War II

Biography

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Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Curley served in the United States Navy from 1942 through 1946, and remained in the United States Navy Reserve until 1960. He attended the University of Notre Dame and received his law degree from Marquette Law School, practicing law from 1948 in Wisconsin.

He was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1958 as a Democrat. He resigned from the Assembly in 1960 to accept appointment to the Wisconsin Circuit Court in Milwaukee County (then the 2nd Circuit).[1] He retired from the court in 1983, but was able to serve for five years alongside his daughter, Patricia S. Curley, who had become a circuit court judge in Milwaukee in 1978.

Judge Curley married Mary Irene O'Rourke. In addition to their daughter, they had three sons.

Judge Curley died at Indian Harbour Beach, Florida.[2][3][4]

Electoral history

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Wisconsin Assembly (1958)

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Wisconsin Assembly, Milwaukee 18th District Election, 1958[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election, September 9, 1958
Republican John R. Meyer (incumbent) 1,401 25.96%
Democratic Robert M. Curley 1,257 23.30%
Democratic Robert J. Brady 910 16.86%
Republican Ida Mae Zimmermann 629 11.66%
Democratic Alfred J. Marcell 477 8.84%
Democratic Rebecca B. Cohnstaedt 317 5.87%
Democratic Joseph F. Lindner 287 5.32%
Democratic Leon C. Alberty 118 2.19%
Total votes '3,304' '100.0%'
General Election, November 4, 1958
Democratic Robert M. Curley 6,846 56.28%
Republican John R. Meyer (incumbent) 5,318 43.72%
Total votes '12,164' '100.0%'

Wisconsin Circuit Court (1963, 1969, 1975, 1981)

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Wisconsin Circuit Court, 2nd Circuit, Branch 9 Election, 1963[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 2, 1963
Nonpartisan Robert M. Curley (incumbent) 77,774 100.0%
Total votes '77,774' '100.0%'
Wisconsin Circuit Court, 2nd Circuit, Branch 9 Election, 1969[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 1, 1969
Nonpartisan Robert M. Curley (incumbent) 108,116 100.0%
Total votes '108,116' '100.0%' +39.01%
Wisconsin Circuit Court, 2nd Circuit, Branch 9 Election, 1975[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 1, 1975
Nonpartisan Robert M. Curley (incumbent) 87,042 100.0%
Total votes '87,042' '100.0%' -19.49%
Wisconsin Circuit Court, Milwaukee Circuit, Branch 9 Election, 1981[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 7, 1981
Nonpartisan Robert M. Curley (incumbent) 68,776 100.0%
Total votes '68,776' '100.0%' -20.99%

Notes

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  1. ^ "Assemblyman Curley Resigns for Judgeship". Wisconsin State Journal. April 25, 1960. p. 9. Retrieved October 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Judge Robert Curley is Retiring". Milwaukee Journal. January 6, 1983. p. 2.
  3. ^ "Curley Served as Chief Judge". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. February 14, 2001.
  4. ^ Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1960). "Biographies and pictures of constitutional officers, supreme court justices, members of Congress, members of legislature". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1960 (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 52. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  5. ^ Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1960). "Wisconsin state party platforms and elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1960 (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. pp. 662, 699. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  6. ^ Theobald, H. Rupert, ed. (1964). "Elections in Wisconsin". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1964 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 770. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  7. ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1970). "Elections in Wisconsin". In Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V. (eds.). The state of Wisconsin Blue Book, 1970 (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 838. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  8. ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1975). "Elections in Wisconsin". In Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V. (eds.). The state of Wisconsin 1975 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 786. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  9. ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1981). "Elections in Wisconsin". In Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V. (eds.). The state of Wisconsin 1981-1982 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 868. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
Legal offices
Preceded by
William F. Shaughnessy
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the 2nd Circuit, Branch 9
1960 – 1978
Succeeded by
Circuit abolished
Preceded by
New circuit
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Milwaukee Circuit, Branch 9
1978 – 1983
Succeeded by
Russell W. Stamper, Sr.