As Waupaca County Mourns Judge Raymond Huber, Questions Turn to What Happens Next

Waupaca County is mourning the unexpected loss of Judge Raymond S. Huber, who passed away on December 5, 2025. Judge Huber had served on the Waupaca County Circuit Court bench since 2000, dedicating nearly twenty-five years to the fair and steady administration of justice.

In these first days since his passing, the focus is honoring his life, his service, and the many people he impacted. As Waupaca County grieves, many residents have begun asking what happens next for the judicial system he helped shape for so long. Here is what is known now, based solely on confirmed Wisconsin law and established court procedures.

How Long Judge Huber’s Term Was Set to Run

According to the Waupaca County Clerk of Courts office and recent Wisconsin Blue Book listings, Judge Huber’s current term in Branch III was scheduled to run through July 31, 2030. He first took the bench in 2000 and was most recently re-elected in the April 2, 2024 spring election to this six-year term.

How Wisconsin Handles a Judicial Vacancy

When a circuit court judge passes away or leaves office mid-term, state law and court practice provide a clear structure for filling the seat:

• The Governor of Wisconsin appoints a replacement to fill the vacancy.

• The appointed judge serves until a successor is elected at a future spring judicial election.

• Circuit court judicial elections in Wisconsin are held as part of the spring nonpartisan election in early April of even-numbered years.

  
  

The next scheduled statewide spring judicial election is on April 7, 2026. Under current law, when there is a vacancy and a gubernatorial appointment, that appointee must then stand for election at the next spring judicial election. The Wisconsin Elections Commission will determine and publish the official ballot for that election in the coming weeks and months.

In practical terms, that means:

• Governor Tony Evers will appoint an interim judge for Waupaca County Circuit Court, Branch III.

• That appointee will then have to stand before voters at a future spring election, rather than serving out the remainder of the term through 2030.

What Happens to Judge Huber’s Current Cases

Many community members have asked what will happen to the cases Judge Huber was overseeing at the time of his passing.

Wisconsin’s court system has well-established procedures to ensure continuity:

• All pending Branch III cases will be reassigned by court administration.

• A reserve judge or another circuit judge in the Eighth Judicial District may temporarily take over hearings while the seat is vacant.

• Once the governor appoints an interim judge, that judge will assume responsibility for Judge Huber’s former docket.

  
  

Some hearings may need to be rescheduled, especially those set in the very near future, to allow any incoming judge time to review the case files and understand the status of each matter.

Importantly:

• Cases do not start over.

• The rights of the parties do not change.

• The successor judge, temporary or permanent, continues the case based on the existing record, filings, and orders.

  
  

The Waupaca County Clerk of Courts Office, together with the Chief Judge of Wisconsin’s Eighth Judicial Administrative District, will guide this transition and issue notifications as cases are reassigned and calendars are adjusted.

Who Can Run for Circuit Court Judge?

Under Wisconsin law, a person is eligible to serve as a circuit court judge if they:

• Are licensed to practice law in the State of Wisconsin

• Are a qualified elector of Wisconsin (state residency is required, but not specific county residency)

• Are at least 25 years old

Most candidates do live in or near the counties they serve, though it is not a legal requirement.

How a Candidate Gets on the Ballot

Anyone wishing to run for the vacant Branch III seat will need to follow the statewide rules for nonpartisan judicial elections. In brief, a candidate must:

• Register their campaign

  • File a campaign registration statement before raising or spending money.

• Circulate and file nomination papers

  • Collect the required number of valid signatures from eligible voters within the proper jurisdiction.

  • Use the official nomination paper forms.

• File all ballot access documents on time

  • Nomination papers

  • Declaration of candidacy

  • Campaign registration statement

    
    

For the Spring 2026 election cycle, the deadline to file nomination papers and related documents is 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. That date is set statewide for the 2026 spring election and applies to judicial offices as well.

Judicial candidates for circuit court file their ballot access paperwork with the Wisconsin Elections Commission, rather than with the county clerk.

Will Anyone Else Be on the Ballot?

Yes.

• Branch II, held by Judge Vicki L. Clussman, has a term that expires July 31, 2026.

• That means the Branch II seat is already scheduled to be on the ballot in the Spring 2026 election as part of its normal six-year cycle.

  
  

Branch I, held by Judge Troy L. Nielsen, has a term that runs through July 31, 2029, so that seat is not scheduled for election again until Spring 2029.

As a result, voters in Waupaca County are already expected to see at least one circuit court branch (Branch II) on their 2026 spring ballot, and they may also see the Branch III vacancy depending on how the Wisconsin Elections Commission structures the ballot in light of Judge Huber’s passing.

A Respectful Transition Ahead

While these procedural steps ensure that the court continues functioning, they take place against the backdrop of a community still grieving the loss of a long-serving and respected judge. Court leadership and state officials are expected to move carefully and respectfully as they coordinate the temporary appointment and prepare for the election ahead.

Judge Huber’s contributions to Waupaca County will be remembered for years to come, and as the county moves forward, his legacy will remain an important part of the local judicial system.

As state and local officials move to:

• Reassign Branch III cases

• Identify and appoint an interim judge

• Prepare for the next judicial election

They are doing so in the shadow of that legacy, and with a responsibility to maintain public trust in a difficult moment.

Weyauwega Fremont News & Events will continue to follow this story and provide updates as official information becomes available.

Have a story or message to share? Email us at events@weyauwegafremontnews.com.