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Thomas P. Corbett

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The Honorable
Thomas P. Corbett
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Racine Circuit, Branch 2
In office
August 1, 1978 – July 31, 1979
Preceded byTransitioned from 21st Circ.
Succeeded byStephen A. Simanek
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the 21st Circuit, Branch 2
In office
July 1969 – July 31, 1978
Preceded byPosition Established
Succeeded byTransitioned to Racine Circ.
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Racine 1st district
In office
January 6, 1941 – January 4, 1943
Preceded byJohn L. Sieb
Succeeded byCarl C. Christensen
Personal details
Born
Thomas Patrick Corbett

(1914-09-13)September 13, 1914
Marinette, Wisconsin
DiedMay 10, 1995(1995-05-10) (aged 80)
King, Wisconsin
Resting placeCalvary Catholic Cemetery
Racine, Wisconsin
Political partyRepublican
Spouses
  • Lucille K. Tarro
  • (m. 1942; died 1996)
Children2
Education
ProfessionLawyer, judge
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
Years of service1943–1945
Rank Lieutenant
Battles/warsWorld War II

Thomas Patrick Corbett (September 15, 1914 – May 10, 1995) was an American lawyer, politician, and judge. He was a Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for ten years in Racine County. He also served one term in the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Biography

[edit]

Born in Marinette, Wisconsin, Corbett and his family moved to Racine, Wisconsin, in 1918.[1] Corbett graduated from St. Catherine's High School and then received his bachelor's degree from Marquette University and his law degree from Marquette University Law School. He briefly practiced law, but was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in his first year out of law school, representing the city of Racine, Wisconsin, as a Republican.[1] He served in the legislature for two years, then, in 1943, enlisted with the United States Navy for service in World War II.[2]

He returned from the war in 1945 and resumed his law practice. In 1949, the Racine city council appointed him City Attorney, where he remained for the next thirteen years. In 1961, he was elected to one of the newly created branches of the Racine County court and was instrumental in establishing the court in Burlington, Wisconsin, in the far western part of the county. He served there until his election as a judge of the Racine-based 21st circuit in 1969. His service bridged the 1978 reorganization of Wisconsin trial courts, which saw the circuit and county courts merged, and finished his judicial service in 1979 as a judge of the Racine circuit.[2]

After his retirement, Corbett served as a reserve judge in Racine and Waushara counties.[2]

Corbett died at the Veteran's Home in King, Wisconsin.[2]

Family

[edit]

Corbett married Lucille K. "Terry" Tarro in 1942. They had two children.

Electoral history

[edit]
Wisconsin Assembly, Racine 1st District Election, 1940[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election, September 1940
Republican Thomas P. Corbett 2,681 46.96%
Democratic Adolphe L. Pezanoski 1,747 30.60%
Progressive John L. Sieb (incumbent) 1,281 22.44%
Total votes '5,709' '100.0%'
General Election, November 1940
Republican Thomas P. Corbett 5,314 43.27%
Progressive John L. Sieb (incumbent) 4,102 33.40%
Democratic Adolphe L. Pezanoski 2,864 23.32%
Total votes '12,280' '100.0%'
Republican gain from Progressive

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Ohm, Howard F.; Bryhan, Leone G., eds. (1942). "Members of the legislature". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1942 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 62.
  2. ^ a b c d Transcript of Memorial Service, Racine County, Wisconsin Circuit Court, March 22, 1996 Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Ohm, Howard F.; Bryhan, Leone G., eds. (1942). "Parties and elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1942 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 596, 670.
Legal offices
Preceded by
New branch
Judge for the Racine County Court, Branch 3
1961 – 1969
Succeeded by
Richard G. Harvey, Jr.
Preceded by
New branch
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the 21st Circuit, Branch 2
1969 – 1978
Succeeded by
Circuit abolished
Preceded by
New circuit
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Racine Circuit, Branch 2
1978 – 1979
Succeeded by
Stephen A. Simanek