After 24 years on job, court commissioner stepping down

By Diane Graff of the Daily Times staff
Tuesday, July 29, 2008 1:00 PM CDT

JUNEAU - Another long-term employee of the Dodge County court system left the bench this week.

Court Commissioner James Olson of Beaver Dam hung up his robe for the last time Monday afternoon at the Dodge County Justice Facility. His departure comes on the heels of Judge Daniel Klossner, who retired in February after serving on the bench for 24 years.

Olson is leaving the position he has also served for the past 24 years.

“It has been a wonderful time,” Olson said Monday afternoon from his barren office in the justice facility. “I got to meet a lot of great people. Police officers are wonderful folks. They are always straightforward,” he said.

Olson served one day a week behind the bench. He handled everything from intake court to traffic offenses to juvenile cases. He also had the authority to marry people, he added.

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“Traffic court is like the Supreme Court to most people,” he said, noting many citizens do not have a reason to go to court except to argue a traffic violation.

“It has been a wonderful experience,” Olson said. The commissioner said he has seen them all, from unemployed youths to college professors. “Every walk of life has been through here,” he said referring to the courtroom. “It has been a good gig.”

Olson is stepping down as the court system is reorganized in Dodge County. Former district attorney Steve Bauer will take the oath of office Friday to serve in the newly created fourth judicial seat. Part-time court commissioner Steve Seim will assume some of Olson's duties along with clerk duties. “Someone will do the job,” Olson said. “It has been a great run and I look forward to semi-employment,” he said.

In December, Olson closed his attorney office in Beaver Dam after nearly 40 years, but still handles cases with wills, trusts and power of attorney from his home.

Olson began his law career in Dodge County right after law school. On Aug. 1, 1969, he was appointed Dodge County district attorney by former Gov. Warren Knowles. He served as the county's prosecutor for 5 1/2 years, until Jan. 1, 1975. “I had decided I had seen enough,” Olson said about that part of his career.

Olson went into private practice in Beaver Dam and in 1984 assumed the role of court commissioner in the county. He replaced John Kaiser, who was the county's first commissioner. He received Kaiser's robe which is now about 40 years old, he said.

“The biggest change has been in gender,” Olson said. “When I first started it was like a young adult male court,” the commissioner said. “But now more women are coming in,” he said.

Olson also commented on the drinking culture in the community. “Today there are about a dozen underage drinking cases a week,” he said. The commissioner recalled having an 18-year-old young woman in his court on her third offense of underage drinking.

“I don't know what the answer is,” Olson said. The underage drinking cases were his least favorite part of the job, he added.

The commissioner said he tried to make an impact on younger people over the years. He recalled one case of a young man with a truancy ticket. The man informed the commissioner he had planned to join the Army.

Olson explained to the young man how he had to go back to school and graduate before he could join the armed services. He adjourned the case to allow the young man to return to court with a recruiter.

The man brought in the recruiter and “I dismissed the case when he graduated,” Olson said. “Twelve years later the young person was full-time in the Army,” he said.

“In this one situation, I know I had success,” the commissioner said.

Over the years, Olson has set many bail requirements and talked to several individuals explaining the judicial system and to make sure people understand their rights. “Some people you can be formal with and others you have to explain thoroughly. And I use humor once in awhile,” he said.

He recalled one situation where he ordered a man not to drink. The man begged the commissioner to allow him to drink in his home. Olson said he changed the order to allow the man to drink only in his home and not to leave after drinking. The man's wife agreed to the stipulation. “You have to tailor what you say to who is listening,” he said.