Branch 1 judicial candidates lay out philosophies at League of Women Voters forum in Oshkosh

Margie Davy, president of the League of Women Voters of Winnebago County, moderated a candidates forum in Oshkosh in which Lakeisha Hayes and Michael Rust — the two contenders for Winnebago County Circuit Court Branch 1 — gave opening statements and answered public-submitted questions about judicial philosophy, recusal rules and criminal-justice approaches.

Hayes, a litigation attorney who also serves on the City of Oshkosh Common Council, said she has more than 18 years of courtroom experience, including work as a court assistant and judicial assistant, service as a public defender and later private practice. "I did that without ever being overturned," she said of her prior judicial service experience. Hayes cited volunteer work with local organizations including SAPO, Hope Fridge, the Pain Art Center and the Winnebago Area Free Legal Clinic and said she would continue community engagement within the ethical limits required of judges.

Rust, who currently serves as a Winnebago County Circuit Court Commissioner and previously ran the Winnebago Conflict Resolution Center, emphasized neutrality. "Judges are there to apply the law to the facts," he said, arguing that judges should not "make changes to the law from the bench." Rust described a caseload that includes family court, guardianships, restraining orders and small-claims trials and said his experience as a professional neutral and commissioner prepares him to serve on the bench.

On accountability, both candidates said judges should be held to ethical standards. Hayes said judges should be accountable to commissions and colleagues and that the appearance of conflicts should be avoided. Rust noted his appointment to an oversight role for the Office of Lawyer Regulation and said the Office of Lawyer Regulation and statutes set recusal and ethics standards.

When asked when legal precedents should be revisited, both candidates said higher courts, not circuit judges, are the appropriate venues for changing law. Hayes warned against revisiting precedent for political reasons and said the judiciary should remain nonpartisan.

Addressing major issues they expect to face, Hayes identified substance-abuse and mental-health problems as persistent drivers of court caseloads and advocated for alternatives to incarceration such as treatment courts. Rust said that each case should be treated as the most important case to the parties involved and cautioned against judicial bias.

On the question of being "just right" on crime, Rust said a balanced approach is required: "holding people accountable for the crimes that they commit is extremely important. I also think that treatment is extremely important," he said, and noted his role in founding the Restorative Justice Initiative and victim-offender mediation programs.

The forum concluded with reminders about voting: the candidates are Michael Rust and Lakeisha Hayes for Branch 1, the election is Tuesday, April 2, polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and voters must present photo ID. The League thanked panelists, candidates and volunteers.