Max Raskin

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The Honorable
Max Raskin
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Waukesha Circuit, Branch 1
Acting
In office
August 1, 1978 – December 8, 1980
Preceded byWilliam E. Gramling (Disabled)
Succeeded byHarry G. Snyder
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the 22nd Circuit, Branch 1
Acting
In office
May 1977 – July 31, 1978
Preceded byWilliam E. Gramling (Disabled)
Succeeded byCircuit abolished
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the 2nd Circuit, Branch 2
In office
October 1963 – August 1973
Appointed byJohn W. Reynolds, Jr.
Preceded byMichael T. Sullivan
Succeeded byGeorge Burns
Milwaukee City Attorney
In office
1932–1936
Preceded byJohn Niven
Succeeded byWalter Mattison
Personal details
Born(1902-11-08)November 8, 1902
Latvia
DiedAugust 22, 1984(1984-08-22) (aged 81)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US
Resting placeSpring Hill Cemetery
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Spouse(s)
  • Elaine Hilda Rosenblith
  • (died 2002)
Children
  • Bonnie Fern (Prager)
  • (b. 1935; died 2011)
EducationMarquette Law School

Max Raskin (November 8, 1902 – August 22, 1984) was a Latvian American immigrant, lawyer, and judge. Raskin served as Milwaukee City Attorney from 1932 to 1936 and later served as a Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge in Milwaukee County from 1963 to 1973.

Life and career[]

Raskin was born to Jewish parents in rural Latvia and emigrated with his family at the age of nine.[1] He graduated from the Marquette University Law School in 1926 and practiced in Milwaukee as a labor law attorney.[2] Raskin ran unsuccessfully for Milwaukee County District Attorney in 1930.[3] In 1932, he was elected Milwaukee City Attorney as a Socialist, unseating nonpartisan incumbent John M. Niven.[4] After his election, Raskin appointed former judge and Socialist politician William F. Quick as his first assistant and employed Edwin Knappe, a former Socialist state Representative, as an assistant city attorney.[5] As city attorney, Raskin collaborated closely with Mayor Daniel W. Hoan, also a Socialist, and required assistant city attorneys to relinquish any employment in private practice.[6] He was harshly criticized by the conservative Milwaukee Sentinel for "his refusal to prosecute communistic rioters".[7]

Raskin was defeated in his 1936 reelection bid and reentered private practice. In 1937, he was elected as a national committeeman of the Socialist Party of America[8] but, in 1940,[9] he left the party and joined the Wisconsin Progressive Party. In 1944, he became a Democrat.[1] Raskin ran for judicial office in 1949 and 1956 but was twice defeated; in 1963, his political ally Governor John W. Reynolds, Jr., appointed him to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court.[10] Raskin served on the court until 1973 and, following his mandatory retirement at the age of 70, continued to serve the state as a reserve judge. In that capacity, he stepped in as Acting Circuit Court Judge in Waukesha County for Judge William E. Gramling during a lengthy struggle with cancer.[1] He died in 1984 at the age of 81.[1]

Raskin's nephew,[11] Marcus Raskin, was a progressive activist and social critic.

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d "Former circuit judge, Max Raskin, dies of cancer". The Milwaukee Journal. 22 August 1984. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  2. ^ "Max Raskin, Two Others Form Law Firm". The Milwaukee Sentinel. 27 December 1958. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  3. ^ "For Circuit Judge in Branch 8". The Milwaukee Journal. 26 February 1949. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  4. ^ "Women Voters' League Reports on Candidates". The Milwaukee Sentinel. 13 March 1932. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  5. ^ "Raskin Ousts Six Niven Aids". The Milwaukee Sentinel. 20 April 1932. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  6. ^ "Rivals Batter Raskin; All 5 See Victory". The Milwaukee Sentinel. 17 March 1936. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  7. ^ "Milwaukee Rebukes Radicalism". The Milwaukee Sentinel. 9 April 1936. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  8. ^ "Hoan Leaves Party Board". The Milwaukee Journal. 29 March 1937. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  9. ^ "Raskin Seeks Judge's Post, Campaign Spending Curb". The Milwaukee Sentinel. 6 November 1955. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  10. ^ "Raskin Is Appointed Circuit Court Judge". The Milwaukee Journal. 9 October 1963. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  11. ^ "Milwaukeean Raskin Has Served Presidents". The Milwaukee Journal. 6 January 1968. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
Legal offices
Preceded by
Michael T. Sullivan
 Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the 2nd Circuit, Branch 2
1963 – 1973 		Succeeded by
George Burns
Preceded by
William E. Gramling
(Disabled)
 Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the 22nd Circuit, Branch 1
(Acting)
1977 – 1978 		Succeeded by
Circuit abolished
Preceded by
William E. Gramling
(Disabled)
 Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Waukesha Circuit, Branch 1
(Acting)
1978 – 1980 		Succeeded by
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