John Cyrus Shabaz[1][2] (June 25, 1931 – August 31, 2012) was an American lawyer, politician, and judge. He served 30 years as a United States district judge for the Western District of Wisconsin, and was Chief Judge between 1996 and 2001. Earlier in his career, he represented Waukesha County in the Wisconsin State Assembly for 16 years as a Republican, serving as minority leader from 1973 to 1981.[3]
The Honorable
John C. Shabaz
| |
|---|---|
| Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin | |
| In office January 20, 2009 – August 31, 2012 | |
| Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin | |
| In office 1996–2001 | |
| Preceded by | Barbara Brandriff Crabb |
| Succeeded by | Barbara Brandriff Crabb |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin | |
| In office December 10, 1981 – January 20, 2009 | |
| Appointed by | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | James Edward Doyle |
| Succeeded by | James D. Peterson |
| Minority Leader of the Wisconsin Assembly | |
| In office January 1, 1973 – December 17, 1981 | |
| Preceded by | Harold Vernon Froehlich |
| Succeeded by | Tommy Thompson |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly | |
| In office January 1, 1973 – December 17, 1981 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | John C. Schober |
| Constituency | 83rd district |
| In office January 1, 1965 – January 1, 1973 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Constituency | Waukesha 4th district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1931-06-25)June 25, 1931 Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Died | August 31, 2012(2012-08-31) (aged 81) Waunakee, Wisconsin |
| Resting place | Saint Joan of Arc Cemetery, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education |
|
| Profession | lawyer, judge |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Rank |  Captain |
| |
Shabaz was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison as an undergraduate. He received a Bachelor of Laws from Marquette University Law School in 1957. He served in the United States Army from 1954 to 1956. He was in private practice in West Allis, Wisconsin from 1957 to 1981.[4][5]
From 1964 to 1981, Shabaz served as a Republican state representative in the Wisconsin State Assembly, from the 83rd Assembly District, representing the Waukesha and New Berlin areas. He was the minority leader from 1973 to 1979 and served as Assistant Majority Leader in 1969.[6][5]
On November 4, 1981, Shabaz was nominated by President Ronald Reagan to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin vacated by Judge James Edward Doyle. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 9, 1981, and received his commission on December 10, 1981. He served as Chief Judge from 1996 to 2001. He took senior status on January 20, 2009,[7] serving in that status until his death on August 31, 2012.[5][8][9] As of 2020, Shabaz is the last judge appointed by a Republican president to the Western District of Wisconsin.
| Wisconsin State Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| New constituency | Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 4th Waukesha district January 1, 1965–January 1, 1973 |
Constituency abolished |
| New constituency | Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 83rd district January 1, 1973–December 17, 1981 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minority Leader of the Wisconsin State Assembly January 1, 1973–December 17, 1981 |
Succeeded by |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by | Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin 1981–2009 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin 1996–2001 |
Succeeded by |