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U.S. courthouse tries to stay on top of things as Shabaz remains on leave

Kevin Murphy
Correspondent for The Capital Times  —  7/18/2008 9:59 am

A part-time federal magistrate here has recently resigned and a federal judge from Illinois has been designated to handle some of the caseload while District Judge John Shabaz continues on medical leave.

District Judge Barbara Crabb said Judge Philip Reinhard, of the Northern District of Illinois, will preside over settlement conferences in some civil lawsuits beginning today through the end of the year.

Reinhard's assistance was requested not because of Shabaz's continued absence but because Theresa M. Owens resigned effective July 7 as clerk of court and part-time magistrate judge for District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin. Owens became chief deputy clerk in July 2003 and was appointed a part-time magistrate in March 2004. She was recently reappointed to another four-year term as magistrate.

Joel Turner has become the interim clerk of court until Owens' replacement can be hired. No plans have been made regarding the part-time magistrate vacancy, said Turner, who said he didn't know what is Owens' next position after leaving office here.

Crabb said she had no information regarding Shabaz's health status or when he would return to work. Shabaz took a two-month medical leave in February to recover from impending shoulder surgery, but Crabb said she didn't know why Shabaz hasn't yet returned to the bench.

"I've talked to him a couple of times. He's feeling a lot less pain now than before," she said.

Crabb said she thinks Shabaz, 76, wants to return to work but declined comment on why he hasn't worked from home while on leave. Asked if Shabaz can just return to work or needs to first submit to some review process, Crabb said to ask Shabaz.

A message left for Shabaz about his plans to return to work wasn't immediately returned.

Shabaz announced last fall that he would seek senior or semi-retired status if the U.S. Senate could confirm President Bush's nomination for his successor before Bush leaves office in January.

A call to U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, regarding the status of the selection process wasn't immediately returned.

Judge Reinhard will be "a great help," said Crabb, who wouldn't rule out a larger role for the Rockford judge if Shabaz continues on leave. However, Reinhard won't be hearing any criminal cases, as his son, David Reinhard, has been an assistant U.S. attorney here for several years.

Reinhard also is on senior status and may not be available to work some winter months, Crabb said.

In Shabaz's absence, half of the district's civil caseload has been assigned to Magistrate Stephen Crocker. Other accommodations include arranging for District Judge William Griesbach from Green Bay to hear two weeks of trials while Crabb was on vacation last month. Griesbach wasn't needed as all the cases settled before trial.

Crabb spent more time working while on vacation but said cases continue to move through court at a satisfactory pace.

"We're not closing (cases) as fast as we can with two judges, but we're holding our own, but we won't be on top of the list (of cases disposed) this year," she said.

Kevin Murphy
Correspondent for The Capital Times  —  7/18/2008 9:59 am