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McCrory wins judicial race

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Barbara W. McCrory

JANESVILLE — Barbara McCrory was running through the dark parking lot in front of the Rock County Courthouse on Tuesday night trying to double check the result totals in her win against Janesville attorney Jack Hoag.

Breathlessly, she reread the numbers over the phone to a reporter. Then she looked up. Her clear, professional voice choked up a tiny bit.

"I will tell you right now, I am standing outside the courthouse, staring at the mural remembering the history and vision of women … and I'm humbled," McCrory said.

She was referring to the mural on the side of the courthouse that commemorates the contribution of local women to the womens suffrage movement.

McCrory on Tuesday was elected the first female judge in Rock County history. Her term will start Aug. 1.

McCrory, 51, of 507 Apache Drive, Janesville, beat attorney Jack Hoag, 4155 Eastridge Drive, Janesville, in the race to replace retiring Judge James Welker.

"Standing here and looking at that reminds me I'm walking in the footsteps of some women who worked very hard," McCrory said. "I'm grateful and overwhelmed and happy."

McCrory has worked as an appointed Rock County family court commissioner since 1999 and as a court commissioner in Jefferson County since 2010. This will be her first elected office.

As a court commissioner, she has heard entry-level hearings in divorce and other family cases. In Jefferson County, she has spent some time hearing initial appearances in some criminal cases.

McCrory graduated from UW-Madison in 1983 with a degree in agricultural journalism and from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1992. Before 1999, McCrory was a private practice attorney with Brennan Steil in Janesville. She has worked as a legislative policy analyst and as an analyst for the Wisconsin attorney general.

Hoag is a Janesville attorney with a busy law practice. The race also was Hoag's first for a publicly elected position. He has served on advisory boards of several local nonprofits and has been a long-time volunteer basketball coach in the city.

McCrory and Hoag won a six-way primary in February.

Welker's position in Branch 7 has been and will continue to be a civil branch through at least June 2014, presiding Judge James Daley has said. Judges can request changes on a rotational basis. No one this spring requested to be moved to the civil branch.

Welker will work through July, he has said. He was elected in 1988.

McCrory said voters should expect to see her bring the thoughtful approach she uses as a court commissioner to the judge's bench as well as her strong work ethic.

"They should expect to see that I continue to have the temperament to be able to deal with people in a difficult situation and get them through the system," she said.