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2025 ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION 4
February 10, 2025 - Introduced by Representatives VOS, MURPHY, KAUFERT,
GUSTAFSON, TUSLER, ALLEN, ARMSTRONG, BEHNKE, BORN, BRILL, DITTRICH,
DUCHOW, FRANKLIN, GOEBEN, GREEN, GUNDRUM, HURD, B. JACOBSON,
KNODL, KREIBICH, KRUG, MELOTIK, MOSES, MURSAU, NEDWESKI, NEYLON,
NOVAK, O'CONNOR, ORTIZ-VELEZ, PETERSEN, PIWOWARCZYK, PRONSCHINSKE,
RODRIGUEZ, SINICKI, SHEEHAN, SPIROS, SUBECK, SWEARINGEN, TITTL,
TRANEL, VANDERMEER, WICHGERS, WITTKE and ZIMMERMAN, cosponsored by
Senators CABRAL-GUEVARA, CARPENTER, FEYEN, MARKLEIN, NASS, QUINN,
TESTIN, WANGGAARD and WIMBERGER. Referred to Committee on Rules.
***AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
Relating to: honoring the life and public service of Justice David T. Prosser Jr.
Whereas, Justice David Prosser served the people of Wisconsin in various
capacities for more than 40 years, including 18 years in the Wisconsin Legislature
and another 18 years on the Wisconsin Supreme Court; and
Whereas, during his tenure in public service, Justice David Prosser served in
all three branches of state government and took part in the writing, enforcement,
and interpretation of the laws of Wisconsin; and
Whereas, Justice David Prosser developed an interest in politics as a young
child and chose a career in public service at an early age, first serving as an
attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice and then joining the office of U.S.
Congressman Harold Froehlich, his longtime mentor, before returning to
Wisconsin; and
Whereas, upon returning to his hometown of Appleton, Justice David Prosser
was elected Outagamie County district attorney and served in that position for two
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years before he was elected in 1978 to represent his community in the Wisconsin
Assembly; and
Whereas, while serving in the legislature, Justice David Prosser was an
instrumental member of various committees, including the Joint Committee on
Finance and the Assembly Committee on Judiciary, and was known by his peers as
a gifted orator, a meticulous researcher, and a natural-born leader; and
Whereas, Justice David Prosser served nine terms in the Wisconsin Assembly
and was elected by his colleagues to serve as assembly minority leader for six years
and assembly speaker for two years; and
Whereas, following his tenure in the legislature, Justice David Prosser was
appointed to serve on the Wisconsin Tax Appeals Commission, where he conducted
hearings and ruled on disputes related to state taxation; and
Whereas, in 1998, Justice David Prosser was appointed to the Wisconsin
Supreme Court by Governor Tommy Thompson, and was later elected to serve two
10-year terms in 2001 and 2011, before retiring in 2016; and
Whereas, Justice David Prosser was highly regarded by his colleagues for his
keen intellect, his thoughtful approach to drafting opinions, and his deep sense of
fairness while serving on the Wisconsin Supreme Court; and
Whereas, throughout his tenure in public service, Justice David Prosser
served as a valued member on numerous councils and commissions, including the
Wisconsin Judicial Council, the Wisconsin Supreme Court Planning and Policy
Advisory Committee, the Wisconsin Sentencing Commission, the Wisconsin
Council on Criminal Justice, and the Uniform Law Commission, of which he was a
Life Member; and
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Whereas, Justice David Prosser was a committed mentor who devoted his
time to building up the next generations of lawyers and policymakers, inspiring
them to set high standards and lofty goals; and
Whereas, Justice David Prosser, who passed away on December 1, 2024, at the
age of 81, credited the support of his loving family and endless stream of loyal
friends for his decades-long career in public service; and
Whereas, the extraordinary legacy of Justice David Prosser and his lifetime
dedication to the betterment of this state will long be remembered by the people of
Wisconsin; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the members of
the Wisconsin Legislature join in honoring the life and service of Justice David T.
Prosser Jr. and extend their condolences to his family and friends.
(END)
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