Lundell is experienced in county jurisprudence

The Honorable Eric J. Lundell is the senior member of the bench in St. Croix County Circuit Court and a veteran of the District Attorney's office prior to that.

The 52-year-old Lundell was appointed to the bench on July 1, 1989, one month before Judge C.A. Richards was elected to the bench.

"We kid each other about seniority," Lundell said during a recent interview in his chambers.

The judge, who graduated from New Richmond High School in 1965, earned a degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 1970 and graduated from law school at the University of Minnesota in 1973.

He admitted that he had an interest in business law and the stock market with his economics major and even won a Wall Street Journal award in law school. But, with a minor in political science, criminal law was also an interest.

"I got the highest grades in classes on criminal law," he said.

"When I graduated from law school I went to work for a private practitioner in New Richmond, Ed Kaiser, where I learned the ropes," Lundell said.

But a year after he started practicing, Kaiser died in August of 1974, the judge said.

"I had the opportunity to buy the practice, but there was some big overhead," he explained. "District Attorney Owen Williams needed help, and I became the first assistant district attorney in St. Croix County in September of 1974."

He won election as district attorney in 1976 and started in the two-year post in January of 1977. "I survived seven elections," he said.

The judge pointed out that in addition to serving as district attorney he was corporation council for the county board.

"In 1989, Judge John Bartholomew resigned and I was appointed by the governor to the bench on July 1," he said. He was elected to his first six-year term in 1990.

All in all, sitting on the bench seems to agree with Lundell. "I would like to continue through two more elections," he said.

When asked what he likes best about sitting on the bench, Lundell said, "I think my strong suit is criminal law, criminal cases. It is in my background with 15 years in the DA's office, and I think I have a feel for sentencing. I tend to look out for both sides."

"That's the way it ought to be (with judges) and that's the way it is around here," he added.

The Truth in Sentencing Law will take effect in Wisconsin on Dec. 31. Generally, the statute insures that if a defendant is sentenced to five years in prison, he will serve the five years, no less.

In regard to the new law, Lundell said, "I hope the state of Wisconsin will develop additional programs to give judges alternatives to just filling up the prisons."

For example, Lundell's hope is that if a person is sentenced for crime that may have been committed as a result of drugs or alcohol addiction, a judge will have an opportunity to sentence him to a program that will address and maybe solve the chemical problem.

When asked what he likes least about the bench, the judge said post judgment in family law.

"When the divorce has been decided and apparently agreed to everything seems fine. Then a year later someone is not satisfied and the couple is back in court," he said.

The judge gave one worst-case example of a divorce that was apparently settled in 1994 but has been back for some 30 hearings and is still in court.

He said that times are changing and that with the presumption of shared custody, things may improve.

With a new century on the horizon, the judge contemplated some changes that may take place in the future.

"I am fascinated with the growth in Hudson and the county. Property values have skyrocketed. I feel the tension between developers and local residents will result in more litigation involving zoning and other civil matters," he said.

The judge also said that along with the population explosion increased problems have developed.

"The more we grow the more problems develop. But the three of us (circuit court judges) are ready to take on these challenges," he said.