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Judge to retire

JANESVILLE — Judge Michael Byron has announced his retirement from the bench of Rock County Circuit Court Branch 3 effective Aug. 15.

“It’s a good time. I’m at retirement age,” the 66-year-old Byron said Friday afternoon.

Byron was appointed May 1, 1991, to fill the unexpired term of Gerald Jaeckle.

Byron was elected to the bench in his own right in 1992 and re-elected in 1998 and 2004. Byron was unopposed in his first two elections, but in 2004, James Conway ran an unsuccessful write-in campaign against Byron.

Because Conway was disbarred, he did not have a valid license to practice law in Wisconsin. Therefore, his name did not appear on the ballot, and had he been elected, he would not have been allowed to serve as a judge.

Byron’s term runs through 2010, so Gov. Jim Doyle will appoint a successor to fill out the term. Byron confirmed that he had sent his letter of resignation to the governor.

Byron plans to use his vacation time before Aug. 15, so that will be his last day on the bench.

Catching up on his reading, trying his hand at golf, traveling and spending more time with his family are what Byron sees as retirement activities.

He and his wife, Helen, have three children and four grandchildren with a grandchild on the way.

The Byrons have a vacation home in Door County, where, Byron said, he will spend more time in retirement.

But the judge said he and his wife do not plan to move from Beloit.

Byron started his legal career in 1966 as an assistant district attorney. After two years, he went into private practice with Jaeckle and Ed Grutzner, continuing the practice with Grutzner after Jaeckle became a judge.