Roland Joseph Steinle (March 21, 1896 – December 22, 1966) was an American lawyer, jurist, and Republican politician from the U.S. state of Wisconsin. He served four years on the Wisconsin Supreme Court and was the Republican nominee for United States Senator from Wisconsin in the 1958 election.[1]

The Honorable
Roland J. Steinle
Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
In office
January 1, 1954 – March 2, 1958
Appointed byWalter J. Kohler Jr.
Preceded byOscar M. Fritz
Succeeded byE. Harold Hallows
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the 2nd Circuit, Branch 3
In office
January 2, 1940 – December 31, 1953
Appointed byJulius P. Heil
Preceded byJohn J. Gregory
Succeeded byElmer W. Roller
Personal details
Born(1896-03-21)March 21, 1896
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedDecember 22, 1966(1966-12-22) (aged 70)
Resting placeCalvary Cemetery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Political partyRepublican
SpouseHelen Lucille Sharpe (died 1953)
ChildrenRoland J. Steinle Jr.
Alma materMarquette Law School
Professionlawyer, judge
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Rank 1st Lieutenant
Battles/warsWorld War I

Biography

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Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Steinle served in the United States Army during World War I. He graduated from Marquette Law School, was in private law practice, and served as special district attorney. Steinle was appointed a Wisconsin circuit court judge in 1940, and was appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 1954. In 1958, he abruptly resigned from the court to run for election to the United States Senate as a Republican. After losing the election to William Proxmire, Steinle returned to private practice and served as a circuit court commissioner.[2]

Electoral history

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Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin (1936)

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Wisconsin Lieutenant Gubernatorial Election, 1936[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 7, 1936
Progressive Henry Gunderson 465,918 41.69% +6.44%
Republican Roland J. Steinle 355,340 31.79% +9.72%
Democratic Edward Gervais 289,964 25.95% −10.33%
Socialist Labor Alfred Potter 3,882 0.35% +0.30%
Prohibition Vernon T. Groves 2,496 0.22% +0.10%
Plurality 110,578 9.89% -8.86%
Total votes 1,117,600 100.0% +25.57%
Progressive gain from Democratic

Wisconsin Circuit Court (1940)

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Wisconsin Circuit Court, 2nd Circuit, Branch 3 Election, 1940[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, April 5, 1940
Nonpartisan Roland J. Steinle (incumbent) 131,959 50.15%
Nonpartisan Leonard C. Fons 131,190 49.85%
Plurality 769 0.29%
Total votes 263,149 100.0%

Wisconsin Supreme Court (1954)

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Wisconsin Supreme Court Election, 1954[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan Primary, March 9, 1954
Nonpartisan Roland J. Steinle (incumbent) 125,530 61.74%
Nonpartisan William H. Dieterich 49,669 24.43%
Nonpartisan Perry J. Stearns 28,134 13.84%
Total votes 203,333 100.0%
General Election, April 6, 1954
Nonpartisan Roland J. Steinle (incumbent) 297,369 59.76%
Nonpartisan William H. Dieterich 200,224 40.24%
Plurality 97,145 19.52%
Total votes 497,593 100.0%

U.S. Senate (1958)

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United States Senate Election in Wisconsin, 1958[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 4, 1958
Democratic William Proxmire (incumbent) 682,440 57.13% +0.69%
Republican Roland J. Steinle 510,398 42.73% +2.22%
Socialist Workers James E. Boulton 1,226 0.10%
Socialist Labor Georgia Cozzini 537 0.04% −0.05%
Plurality 172,042 14.40% -1.53%
Total votes 1,194,601 100.0% +54.64%
Democratic hold

References

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  1. ^ 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1958,' Biographical Sketch of Justice Roland Steinle, pg. 9
  2. ^ Justice Roland Steinle, Wisconsin Supreme Court
  3. ^ Ohm, Howard F.; Bryhan, Leone G., eds. (1937). "Parties and Elections: The General Election" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1937 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 421. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  4. ^ Ohm, Howard F.; Bryhan, Leone G., eds. (1942). "Parties and Elections: The Judicial and Nonpartisan Elections" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1942 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 676. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  5. ^ Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1956). "Parties and Elections: The Judicial and Nonpartisan Elections" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1956 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 757. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  6. ^ Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1960). "Wisconsin State Parties and Elections" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1960 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 695. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
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Party political offices
Preceded by
Waldemar C. Wehe
Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
1936
Succeeded by
Preceded by Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Wisconsin
(Class 1)

1958
Succeeded by
Wilbur N. Renk
Legal offices
Preceded by
John J. Gregory
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the 2nd Circuit, Branch 3
January 2, 1940 – December 31, 1953
Succeeded by
Elmer W. Roller
Preceded by Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
January 1, 1954 – March 2, 1958
Succeeded by