Burton A. Scott (February 16, 1935 – April 2, 2007) was an American attorney and judge. He was Chief Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals from 1983 to 1989, near the end of a 19-year judicial career in Wisconsin.

The Honorable
Burton A. Scott
Chief Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals
In office
August 1, 1983 – July 31, 1989
Preceded byJohn A. Decker
Succeeded byWilliam Eich
Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District II
In office
August 1, 1980 – 1991
Preceded byHarold M. Bode
Succeeded byHarry G. Snyder
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Kenosha Circuit, Branch 5
In office
August 1, 1978 – July 31, 1980
Preceded byTransitioned from County Court
Succeeded byRobert V. Baker
County Judge of Kenosha County, Branch 3
In office
1972 – July 31, 1978
Appointed byPatrick Lucey
Preceded byUrban J. Zievers
Succeeded byTransitioned to Circuit Court
District Attorney of Kenosha County
In office
January 1, 1971 – August 1972
Preceded byJoseph B. Molinaro
Succeeded byBruce E. Schroeder
Personal details
Born(1935-02-16)February 16, 1935
Hazel Green, Wisconsin
DiedApril 2, 2007(2007-04-02) (aged 72)
Somers, Wisconsin
Spouses
  • Evelyn C. Magnuson
  • (m. 1957; died 2019)
Children2
Parents
  • Robert Scott (father)
  • Helen (Lampson) Scott (mother)
Alma mater
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
U.S. Army Security Agency
Years of service1953–1956

Biography edit

Scott was born in Hazel Green, Wisconsin, on February 16, 1935. He attended high school in Randolph, Wisconsin and served in the United States Army before graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Wisconsin Law School.[1][2]

After working with a private practice, in 1964 Scott became the first corporation counsel to Kenosha County, Wisconsin.[3] The next year he became City Attorney for the city of Kenosha, Wisconsin, serving from 1965 to 1970. In 1970, he was elected District Attorney of Kenosha County but served only one year, when he was appointed County Judge in Kenosha County by Governor Patrick Lucey. He served as County Judge until 1978, when the county courts were merged into the state circuit courts to create a new single level of trial courts. At that time, he became a Wisconsin Circuit Court judge for Kenosha County. In 1980, he was elected to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals in Waukesha-based District II. After 3 years on the court, he was appointed Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, serving until 1989. In 1988 he served as chair of the National Council of Chief Judges of the Courts of Appeals of the United States.

He retired in 1991 and became an associate dean of the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada.[1]

Personal life and family edit

Burton Scott married Evelyn C. Magnuson on December 31, 1957. They had two children.[1] His and his wife's passion for education led them to play an important role in the 1960s campaign to establish a University of Wisconsin branch in the Kenosha area—University of Wisconsin–Parkside. And they also campaigned for the 1978 referendum to fund construction of a new Mary D. Bradford High School building.[2]

Judge Scott died on April 2, 2007, at his home in Somers, Wisconsin.[2][3]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Burton A. Scott". Wisconsin Court System. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Judge Burton A. Scott". Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home. Archived from the original on February 16, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Burton A. Scott". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. April 4, 2007. Retrieved April 10, 2020 – via Legacy.com.
Legal offices
Preceded by
Joseph B. Molinaro
District Attorney of Kenosha County
1971 – 1972
Succeeded by
Bruce E. Schroeder
Preceded by
Urban J. Zievers
County Judge of Kenosha County, Branch 3
1972 – 1978
Succeeded by
Court abolished
Preceded by
New circuit
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Kenosha Circuit, Branch 5
1978 – 1980
Succeeded by
Robert V. Baker
Preceded by Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District II
1980 – 1991
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals
1983 – 1989
Succeeded by