(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA, Wis. — Just as Kenosha County Eye readers expected — not because we “predicted” it as much as because our sources understand exactly how Kenosha’s insider system operates — liberal activist Supplemental Court Commissioner David “One-Dollar” Hughes is officially ascending to the Kenosha County Circuit Court bench without a single taxpayer casting a vote. Gov. Tony Evers (D) has now formally appointed Hughes to fill the Branch 4 vacancy created by Judge Anthony Milisauskas’ resignation, according to the governor’s press release, and Hughes will serve until July 31, 2027 — meaning taxpayers are stuck with him until voters remove him in the 2027 election.
The appointment was achieved not because Hughes was universally regarded as the best candidate, but largely through political influence and heavy insider pressure within the Kenosha County judiciary. Judges and powerful courthouse players have been lobbying for Hughes, ensuring he was repeatedly placed in intake court to build visibility and normalize him behind the bench — what many insiders openly describe as a grooming process designed to position him for exactly this outcome.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
The governor’s press release even included a glowing endorsement from Judge Heather Iverson, who praised Hughes’ “integrity, temperament, and work ethic” and proclaimed that Kenosha County will be “well served by his appointment.” What the press release doesn’t mention is that Judge Iverson is close friends with Roberta Puntillo — a high-dollar Democratic donor and Hughes’ longtime law partner. Puntillo has poured significant money into Democratic campaigns, including support for Gov. Evers. Insiders say those relationships and political loyalties mattered far more than merit in this appointment.
Hughes’ judicial philosophy, particularly on bail, has already alarmed law-and-order supporters county-wide. As documented extensively by Kenosha County Eye, Hughes has repeatedly issued dangerously low bails in serious, violent, and repeat-offense cases — including gun crimes, domestic abuse, felony child abuse, burglaries, and violent assaults — often handing out shockingly small bail amounts that fall far below what prosecutors requested. Now, with a full circuit judge’s authority, many insiders fear that record will define his courtroom.
The only partial comfort for tough-on-crime residents is that Hughes is expected to land in the civil rotation, which would limit the immediate harm many believe his activist tendencies could pose. Still, insiders warn a year and a half is a long time, and he can do significant institutional damage before voters get their say.
Meanwhile, there is widespread agreement that the best candidate did not get the appointment. One local attorney bluntly stated the decision was “political, not merit-based.” Assistant Public Defender Francesco Balistrieri — widely respected, knowledgeable, and supported by both conservatives and Democrats — wasn’t chosen, despite being viewed as the most capable and fair option.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Perhaps the most satisfying consolation for many insiders is what this appointment means for former prosecutor Smathers. She applied fully expecting to be appointed and had been quietly groomed by several of her allies for years. Instead, she didn’t even receive an interview. Now, Hughes’ appointment effectively locks her out of the judiciary for the foreseeable future. Her political friends will not allow her to challenge Hughes — they simply prefer him slightly more. That reality has insiders bluntly stating that this judgeship likely ends any realistic path Smathers had to the bench for at least the next decade.
Finally, conservatives and taxpayers should remember one critical fact: ALL of Gov. Tony Evers’ judicial appointments in Kenosha have gone on to lose their elections. Insiders believe Hughes’ appointment will almost certainly follow that same pattern. For now, however, Kenosha County is stuck with David “One-Dollar” Hughes until July 31, 2027 — and many fear the courtroom may now become yet another place where political loyalty matters more than justice.
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25 Responses
We need to vote RED!
That’s working out in the DAs office, right? It’s a mess.
Rizzo for Judge – 2027 I can see the signs now……
***Tony Evers President 2028***
Less than zero chance.,good grief.
🤢🤮🤢🤮🤢🤮🤢🤮
Democrats love incompetence
Soft-on-crime judges are detrimental to a safe community.
Soft-on-crime judges need to be held accountable when
criminals get a slap on the wrist just to go back into the
county and re-offend. Something needs to be done.
What do you suggest? Lock everyone up forever? Deny everyone bail? Build more prisons? Expand the jail? If so, how do we pay for all of that? Where do we get all the new correctional officer’s that are willing to do the job? Kenosha County cannot retain the officers they have now when everywhere else pays alot more with better benefits. State C.O.’s start at almost 35 and hour, Kenosha is at 27. I understand the frustration regarding recidivism and low bail amounts. I’d like to hear some suggestions about solutions that people have to combat this.
Those are all great suggestions, and in the long run they are cheaper than supporting their various welfare grifts and chasing them with law enforcement, and what it costs to society for the robbing and stealing and raping they do.
That’s how it’s done genius
Maybe the retiring judge should have looked in the mirror and asked himself if he should not run for reelection back when he did? He was given the opportunity to plant a piece of poop in our courts when we were deprived the chance for a scheduled election. I really like the old judge, but he stayed too long.
Hughes was a horrible attorney, a horrible court commissioner, and will be an even worse judge. Evers picked a loser like himself and i pity anyone who wants justice to be in Hughes courtroom
All these teachers across the state that voted for Evers also voted for this. “If you want soft on crime judges and policies, thank a teacher”.
Public schools are part of the legal system-courts-prison supply chain. Poor educational outcome results in a lack of skilled workers and high tax burden which drive away business.
Racine Unified represents 40% of the Racine County 2025 property tax bill.
Generally agree – but RUSD is basically East of I-94, not the entire county
Yes, and teachers always have something to bitch about. And they want everything for nothing!
ac·tiv·ist
/ˈaktəvəst/
noun
a person who campaigns to bring about political or social change.
“activists have been calling for change”
Maybe Mr. Hughes is liberal but he’s a pretty boring guy and doesn’t seem to be an activist. I agree that he could have been more vigilant as a commissioner. And it seems like the “fix” may have been in if they change his assignment from criminal to civil cases.
Stacking the deck , one card at a time.
So much for NO KINGS.
Yet, Democrats have ZERO PROBLEM when THEY want to act like KINGS.
How long is the term for judges?
When was Milisaukas (sp?) last elected?
Is there a mandatory retirement age for judges- if not, maybe there should be? If you would reach that age during your term, you’re ineligible to run?
Six years if they are elected. Judge Milisauskas retired half way through at three years. And there is no mandatory retirement age for judges
Megamind!
How is it that the court may impose a greater sentence for assault which does not occasioning actual bodily harm, than for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, or indeed greater than for a capital crime?
How is it that the court may impose a greater sentence for assault, not occasioning actual bodily harm, than is (commonly) imposed for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, or indeed greater than for a capital crime.