J. Mac Davis

J. Mac Davis (born April 5, 1952) is an American lawyer, politician, and retired judge. He is currently serving as a commissioner on the Wisconsin Ethics Commission, appointed to a five year term in 2016. He was a Wisconsin Circuit Court judge in Waukesha County for 24 years, retiring in 2015. Earlier in his career he represented Waukesha County in the Wisconsin State Senate as a Republican.

The Honorable J. Mac Davis
Chief Judge of the 3rd District of Wisconsin Circuit Courts
In office August 1, 2007 – July 31, 2013
Preceded by	Kathryn W. Foster
Succeeded by	Randy R. Koschnick
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Waukesha Circuit, Branch 7
In office August 1, 1997 – July 31, 2015
Preceded by	Clair H. Voss
Succeeded by	Maria S. Lazar
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Waukesha Circuit, Branch 6
In office August 1, 1990 – July 31, 1996
Preceded by	Robert T. McGraw
Succeeded by	Patrick C. Haughney
Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 11th district
In office January 3, 1983 – August 1, 1990
Preceded by	Warren D. Braun
Succeeded by	Joanne B. Huelsman
Personal details
Born	April 5, 1952
Political party	Republican
Children	2
Residence	Waukesha, Wisconsin
Education	University of Wisconsin–Madison (B.A.) University of Michigan (J.D.)

Biography

Davis graduated from University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1973, with honors, in economics. He then received his J.D. degree, cum laude, from University of Michigan Law School. Davis was admitted to the bar in Wisconsin in 1976.

Davis was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 1982, as a Republican, and was re-elected in 1986. In the senate, he served as ranking senate minority member on the Joint Finance Committee.[1]

In 1990, Davis was elected a Wisconsin Circuit Court judge for Waukesha County.[2] He did not seek re-election in 1996, but unsuccessfully ran for congress. He was elected judge again in 1997, and re-elected in 2003 and 2009.[3] He served as chief judge of the 3rd Judicial District, by appointment of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, from 2007 to 2013. He retired from his judgeship on July 31, 2015.[4]

In September 2008, Judge Davis was nominated by U.S. President George W. Bush to the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, to replace Judge John C. Shabaz, who had stated his intention to retire.[5] The United States Senate did not take up his confirmation and the nomination expired four months later at the end of Bush's presidency.[6][7]

He was appointed by Governor Scott Walker to the newly created Wisconsin Ethics Commission, to a five year term commencing July 1, 2016.[8]

References

1. "Davis, J. Mac 1952". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
2. "Circuit Court Judge J. Mac Davis". Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Archived from the original on April 14, 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2020 – via Wayback Machine.
3. 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1991-1992,' Elections-Wisconsin Circuit Court judges, pg. 879
4. Vielmetti, Bruce (August 14, 2014). "Judge Mac Davis announces retirement from Waukesha County circuit court". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
5. "Judge J. Mac Davis gets the nod from President Bush". Wisconsin Law Journal. September 15, 2008. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
6. Rohde, Marie (March 20, 2009). "Madison federal judge to take senior status, says district needs third judge". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
7. Walker, Laurel (December 25, 2009). "Judicial selections not quite non-partisan". Archived from the original on December 30, 2009. Retrieved April 12, 2020 – via Wayback Machine.
8. "Governor Walker Appoints Judge Mac Davis and Judge Robert Kinney to Ethics Commission" (Press release). Office of the Governor of Wisconsin. June 9, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2020 – via Urban Milwaukee.

External links

• Wisconsin Ethics Commission
• Mac Davis at Ballotpedia