Milwaukee City Wire

Lori Kornblum, Democrat candidate for Wisconsin’s District II Court of Appeals, has asked Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm — who has presided over a 36% spike in violent crime during his tenure — to be one of her key references in her application for the judgeship.

According to Empower Wisconsin, Kornblum was recommended for the judicial position by Chisholm, who has been the Milwaukee County district attorney since 2006.

During Chisholm's time in the position, homicides have increased nearly 27%, rapes are up 71%, and assaults have increased 34% from their numbers in the year prior to his first election, records from the FBI show.

While violent crime under Chisholm’s watch increased by more than a third, national violent crime statistics show a marginal drop of .3% during the same timeframe, according to FBI data. This spike occurred despite the fact that the overall population of Milwaukee County rose 4.2% during this time, virtually equal to the 3.5% national increase.

Candidate Kornblum has no judicial history of her own that would show her approach to crime as she has a limited experience in criminal law. She currently sits on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals and previously was assistant district attorney, focused on human trafficking and sensitive crimes. In private practice, she represented foster families, people with disabilities and seniors.

Conservative candidate Judge Maria Lazar has been endorsed by the Milwaukee Police Association.

“The Milwaukee Police Association is honored to endorse your candidacy for Wisconsin Court of Appeals District II Seat for the 2022 April elections. During these increasingly trying times, the over 1,400 men and women of the Milwaukee Police Association appreciate leaders like you who are willing to stand and advocate for Law Enforcement Professionals,” said Andrew Wagner, vice president of the Milwaukee Police Association, according to a press release.

Lazar was first elected to the Waukesha Circuit Court in April of 2015. She is the presiding judge in the Juvenile Division and has been a presiding judge in the Criminal Division. As Drug Treatment Court judge, she served for two years in the circuit court’s Civil Division.