Paul Lundsten Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honorable
Paul Lundsten
Office: of the
Term Start:August 1, 2017
Term End:July 31, 2019
Predecessor:JoAnne Kloppenburg
Successor:Michael Fitzpatrick
Term Start1:August 1, 2011
Term End1:July 31, 2013
Predecessor1:Margaret J. Vergeront
Successor1:Brian W. Blanchard
Term Start2:August 1, 2005
Term End2:July 31, 2007
Predecessor2:David G. Deininger
Successor2:Paul B. Higginbotham
Term Start3:October 31, 2000
Term End3:July 31, 2019
Appointer3:Tommy Thompson
Predecessor3:William Eich
Successor3:Jennifer E. Nashold
Birth Date:11 August 1955
Birth Place:La Crosse, Wisconsin, U.S.
Children:3

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.

Early life and career

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

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

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

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, April 3, 2001

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Former judges  - Paul Lundsten . Wisconsin Court System . September 12, 2020 .
  2. News: Lundsten Named New Assistant AG . . . September 21, 1983 . 36 . September 13, 2020 . .
  3. News: Lundsten gets appeals post . Segall . Cary . . . November 1, 2000 . 2 . September 13, 2020 . .
  4. News: Governor appoints Paul Lundsten to appeals court . . November 1, 2000 . April 14, 2020.
  5. Retirements - Judge Paul Lundsten Court of Appeals District IV . The Third Branch . Wisconsin Court System . 2019 . 27. 1 . April 14, 2020 .