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William A. Bablitch
William A. Bablitch
Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
	In office; August 1, 1983 – July 31, 2003
Preceded by	Bruce F. Beilfuss
Succeeded by	Patience D. Roggensack
President pro tempore of the Wisconsin Senate
	In office; January 3, 1983 – July 31, 1983
Preceded by	Vacant since 1979; Fred Risser (1979)
Succeeded by	Vacant until 1993; Alan Lasee (1993)
Majority Leader of the Wisconsin Senate
	In office; May 17, 1976 – May 26, 1982
Preceded by	Wayne F. Whittow
Succeeded by	Timothy Cullen
Member of the Wisconsin Senate; from the 24th district
	In office; January 1, 1973 – July 31, 1983
Preceded by	Raymond F. Heinzen
Succeeded by	David Helbach
District Attorney of Portage County, Wisconsin
	In office; January 1, 1969 – January 1, 1973
Preceded by	Wendel W. Crosby
Succeeded by	Maris Rushevies
Personal details
Born	William Albert Bablitch; March 1, 1941; Stevens Point, Wisconsin, U.S.
Died	February 16, 2011 (aged 69); Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, U.S.
Resting place	Forest Hill Cemetery, Madison, Wisconsin
Political party	Democratic
Spouses	Martha Jean Virtue (m. 1968; div. 1978); Ann Milne (m. 1986⁠–⁠2011);
Children	1
Education	University of Wisconsin–Madison; University of Virginia
Profession	Lawyer

William Albert Bablitch (March 1, 1941 – February 16, 2011) was an American lawyer, politician, and jurist from Stevens Point, Wisconsin. He served as a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court for 20 years, from 1983 to 2003. Earlier, he served nine years in the Wisconsin Senate, and was the Democratic majority leader from 1976 to 1982.^[1]

Biography

Bablitch was born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and graduated from Pacelli High School in 1959. He studied at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point and received a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1963. He served in the Peace Corps for two years before earning a law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1968.

Bablitch served as Portage County district attorney from 1969 to 1972 and served in the Wisconsin State Senate from 1972 to 1983 and was a Democrat.^[2]^[3] He was elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 1983 and reelected in 1993.^[4] While serving his first term on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Bablitch earned a master of laws degree in the appellate process from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1987.

Bablitch retired at the end of his second ten-year term on July 31, 2003. He subsequently worked as a part-time advising partner at the law firm of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP in Madison, Wisconsin. In retirement, he spent his winters in Hawaii, and died there on February 16, 2011, after a long battle with cancer.^[5]

Personal life and family

William Bablitch was one of four children born to Albert and Marguerite (née Mann) Bablitch. William's brother, Stephen E. Bablitch, was also a prominent Wisconsin attorney and became the first secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.^[6]

William Bablitch married Martha Jean Virtue on January 27, 1968, in Ypsilanti, Michigan. They met while both were attending the University of Wisconsin Law School.^[7] Martha, afterwards known as Martha Bablitch, went on to become a judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. They had one daughter before divorcing in 1978.^[8] Bablitch subsequently remarried, and was survived by his second wife, Ann Milne.^[3]^[9]

References

^ "Bablitch, William A. 1941". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
^ Theobald, Rupert H.; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1981). "Biographies". The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1981–1982 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 68. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Rabideau Silvers, Amy (February 17, 2011). "Bablitch a longtime public servant". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
^ "Former Justices - Justice William A. Bablitch". Wisconsin Court System. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
^ Rabideau Silvers, Amy (February 17, 2011). "Bablitch, former state Supreme Court justice, dies". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
^ "Bablitch quits state prison post". The Post-Crescent. December 7, 1990. p. 17. Retrieved December 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Mr. Bablitch Claims Bride in Michigan". Stevens Point Journal. February 8, 1968. p. 10. Retrieved October 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Martha Bablitch". Stevens Point News. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2011.
^ "Justice Bablitch to marry Feb. 15". Wisconsin State Journal. January 8, 1986. p. 5. Retrieved October 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.

External links

Wisconsin Senate
Preceded by Raymond F. Heinzen	Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 24th district January 1, 1973 – July 31, 1983	Succeeded by David Helbach
Preceded by Wayne F. Whittow	Majority Leader of the Wisconsin Senate May 17, 1976 – May 26, 1982	Succeeded by Timothy Cullen
Preceded by Fred Risser (1979)	President pro tempore of the Wisconsin Senate January 4, 1983 – July 31, 1983	Succeeded by Alan Lasee (1993)
Legal offices
Preceded by Wendel W. Crosby	District Attorney of Portage County, Wisconsin January 1, 1969 – January 1, 1973	Succeeded by Maris Rushevies
Preceded by Bruce F. Beilfuss	Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court August 1, 1983 – July 31, 2003	Succeeded by Patience D. Roggensack