Judge Van Akkeren to step down in January

Sheboygan County Circuit Court Judge Timothy Van Akkeren will resign his position early next year, prompting Gov. Scott Walker on Monday to ask for applicants to replace him.

Van Akkeren, who has served as Sheboygan County Circuit Court judge since 1989, will step down from his position effective Jan. 4, 2016. Walker has asked for interested applicants to submit a resume and letter of interest by Friday, Oct. 30, to be considered for the vacancy.

Van Akkeren, when reached by phone Monday, said he was resigning because he wanted to be able to travel more with his wife, Sheboygan Ald. Mary Lynne Donohue.

"My wife and I want to travel more while we can still do it, and it’s never a guarantee that you can at a certain age," Van Akkeren said.

When asked about whether he had any concerns about who the governor might appoint, Van Akkeren said the voters will still have a say on that person in 2017, should they choose to stand for election.

"I think generally the case is the governor appoints who the governor wants," Van Akkeren said. "And if they want to run again and people think that person is OK, they'll give them a full term."

The appointee would serve until April 2017, when they would have to run for reelection to earn a full six-year term.