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Lorri Montgomery
Director of Communications
National Center for State Courts
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lmontgomery@ncsc.dni.us

Wisconsin Judge Chosen for 2006 Rehnquist Award

Williamsburg, VA (July 18, 2006) – Judge Edward R. Brunner of Barron County, Wisconsin, has been named recipient of the 2006 William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC).  One of the most prestigious judicial honors in the country, the Rehnquist Award is presented annually to a state court judge who exemplifies the highest level of judicial excellence, integrity, fairness, and professional ethics. Brunner will accept the award at a ceremony November 16 in the Great Hall of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.

NCSC President Mary Campbell McQueen said the award recognizes Brunner’s strong leadership on initiatives designed to instill public trust and confidence in the Wisconsin courts and his success in building programs that have become models for the nation. "Judge Brunner's innovative initiatives such as promoting restorative justice and improving relations between state and tribal courts are recognized as national models,” she said. “His dedication to community collaboration and outreach is recognized not only by his colleagues within the courts but by the many community and public agency leaders who wrote letters in support of his nomination. Judge Brunner exemplifies the qualities that embody the Rehnquist Award - integrity, fairness, and judicial excellence."

Brunner said he is grateful to have been selected for this national honor. “I share this award with the judges, attorneys, educators, law enforcement officers, social workers and many others whose creativity and commitment to improving the quality of justice are a constant source of inspiration. Together, we have demonstrated that hard work, cooperation, and a willingness to try something new can overcome any obstacle.” 

Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson lauded Brunner’s “remarkable skill and dedication in building partnerships with the legal community, the Indian nations and the public.” Abrahamson said that Brunner’s willingness to tackle tough issues with creative approaches “has made him an outstanding leader in the law, and has established the Wisconsin court system as a leader in justice innovations and a model for the nation.” 

In addition to his work on tribal court relations, Brunner is noted for establishing restorative justice practices in the Barron County courts. Restorative justice is an umbrella term for programs such as victim-offender mediation that center on healing victims, holding offenders accountable, and involving the community in the process of rehabilitation. 

Polly Wolner, executive director of Barron County Restorative Justice Programs Inc., called Brunner’s contributions immeasurably important. “He had the imagination to see the possibilities, the determination to see that it would happen, and the persuasiveness to convince all of us to be part of it,” Wolner said. Since the program was established in 2000, the community has seen a significant drop in juvenile crime, she said; in 1999, before the program began, 117 youths were adjudicated delinquent in the county. Last year, only 29 were so adjudicated.

Brunner has devoted his judicial career to improving access to, and satisfaction with, the court system.  In May 2005, he was presented with the State Bar of Wisconsin’s 2005 Lifetime Jurist Achievement Award.  This honor is awarded to judges with long-time service on the bench and who have made a profound difference through their service.  

A graduate of Marquette University and the University of Akron School of Law, Brunner has served on the bench in Barron County since his election in 1988. He was re-elected in 1994, 2000, and 2006.  In 2001, the Supreme Court selected him as chief judge for District 10, a judicial district that encompasses northwest Wisconsin. In 2004, he was elected by his fellow chief judges to serve as chair of the Committee of Chief Judges, a position informally known as ‘Chief of Chiefs.’  

Brunner is married and has two adult children. 

The National Center for State Courts is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the administration of justice by providing leadership and service to the state courts. The National Center, founded in 1971 with the encouragement of Chief Justice of the United States Warren E. Burger, provides leadership, research, technology, education, and training to the state courts. The National Center headquarters are in Williamsburg, Va., and has offices in Arlington, Va., Denver, and Washington, D.C. 

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National Center for State Courts, 300 Newport Avenue, Williamsburg, VA  23185-4147