SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (WHBL) -- After nearly half a year without a sitting judge, Sheboygan County Branch 2's new judge was officially invested yesterday.
Around 100 people turned out yesterday to watch Judge Kent Hoffmann take the oath of office from State Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler. He is originally from the Sheboygan area but comes from Marinette County where he was previously an assistant district attorney.
Hoffman says he's actually been working for a few weeks already. "Things got a little backed up, and my goal was to get down here and get working as quickly as I could. I actually had Judge Stengel swear me in in Mid June so I could get to work, and today was the formal ceremony." Branch 2 had been run by reserve judges for a number of months, and Hoffman says getting to work full time again will help get cases moving in a timely manner.
Before becoming the ADA in Marinette County Hoffman spent many years as a public defender. He says that experience will help him decides cases fairly. "I've learned how to deal with varying personalities, and I think that background is really going to make me a well balanced and well qualified judge."
Hoffman is replacing long time Judge Timothy Van Akkeren who retired back in January.