William Robert Moser (October 14, 1927 – April 11, 2003) was an American lawyer and judge, he was Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals for 13 years. Earlier, he was a Wisconsin Circuit Court judge in Milwaukee County, and represented Milwaukee County in the Wisconsin State Senate as a Democrat.
The Honorable
William R. Moser
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|---|---|
| Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District I | |
| In office August 1, 1978 – July 31, 1992 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Charles B. Schudson |
| Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the 2nd Circuit, Branch 16 | |
| In office January 1, 1967 – August 1, 1978 | |
| Preceded by | Branch established |
| Succeeded by | Branch abolished |
| Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 6th district | |
| In office January 1, 1957 – February 1, 1962 | |
| Preceded by | William A. Schmidt |
| Succeeded by | Martin J. Schreiber |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Robert Moser (1927-10-14)October 14, 1927 Chicago, Illinois |
| Died | April 11, 2003(2003-04-11) (aged 75) |
| Resting place | Wood National Cemetery Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Mary Bernadette |
| Children |
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| Education |
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| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1945–1947 |
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Moser was born October 14, 1927, in Chicago. He was educated in Milwaukee parochial schools (St. Michael's Elementary and St. John's Cathedral High School. From 1945-1947 he served in the United States Army as a paratrooper and a criminal investigator; then earned his Bachelor of Science degree at St. Norbert College, and LL.B. from Marquette University Law School, and went into practice as an attorney. He became a member of the Advisory Council to Mayor of Milwaukee Frank P. Zeidler, and a director or active member of various civic, veterans and fraternal organizations.
In 1956 he was elected to the 6th Senatorial District (the 7th, 10th, & 13th Wards of the City of Milwaukee) to succeed fellow Democrat William A. Schmidt, who was not running for re-election. Moser obtained a plurality in a four-way Democratic primary election against State Representative Cecil B. Brown Jr., former State Representative John Schaller, and Brown Deer village trustee Fred W. Voigt; and was unopposed in the general election.[1] He served as the floor leader for Senate Democrats in the 1960 session, and was elected a Kennedy delegate to the 1960 Democratic National Convention. He easily turned aside challenges from Schaller in the 1960 primary, and from Republican Delbert Fowler in the general election; and served again as the Democratic floor leader in the 1961 session, leading the fight against the adoption of a sales tax in Wisconsin;[2] but resigned effective Feb. 1, 1962 to become a Milwaukee County judge. He was succeeded by fellow Democrat Martin J. Schreiber.[3]
In 1971, he was elected without opposition as a Wisconsin Circuit Court judge.[4] He was re-elected in 1977, and in April 1978 was elected to the newly created Court of Appeals District 1.[5] In 1980, he fended off a re-election challenge from Christ T. Seraphim, winning by 195,256 to 137,262.[6] He was unopposed in 1986, and became Presiding Judge of the District 1 Court of Appeals. He did not run for re-election in 1992, and was succeeded on the Court by Charles B. Schudson.
Moser died April 11, 2003, leaving behind a wife, Mary Bernadette, a son, William, and a daughter, Mary Magdalen.
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by New branch |
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the 2nd Circuit, Branch 16 1967 – 1978 |
Succeeded by Branch abolished |
| Preceded by New court |
Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District I 1978 – 1992 |
Succeeded by |