MILWAUKEE — Molly Gena will be the next Milwaukee Municipal Judge for its Branch 2 court, TMJ4 News projects.
Gena received 51 percent of the vote, compared to Lena Taylor's 49 percent, according to TMJ4 News election results.
The seat opened up when former Branch 2 Judge Derek Mosley resigned to become the director of Marquette University Law School’s Lubar Center. It's the first vacancy on the court since 2007.
The Branch 2 judge oversees ordinance violations such as speeding tickets, parking citations, first OWI offenses and other issues, as Urban Milwaukee pointed out. Reckless driving is a top issue for Milwaukee voters, and this court plays a role in the city's response.
The winner of this Branch 2 election serves a four-year term on the court.
Gena issued the following statement in part:
"I am deeply humbled by the trust and support of the people of Milwaukee. This victory is not just about me; it's about all of us working together to create a more accessible and fair judicial system. I want to thank my family, our incredible volunteers, and each and every person who voted for me for making this possible."
Watch TMJ4 News live election results for races across Wisconsin on April 4 here.
Who are the candidates?
Lena Taylor currently represents Milwaukee's 4th district in the Wisconsin State Senate. She previously represented Milwaukee's 18th district in the state Assembly.
Taylor is a Milwaukee native and Rufus King graduate. She earned a degree from UW-Milwaukee and JD from Southern Illinois University. She went on to work as a public defender before being elected to the Assembly in 2003, according to her campaign website.
Molly Gena is currently managing attorney for Legal Action of Wisconsin. According to her campaign website, the nonprofit law firm works to provide free civil legal services to state residents who would not usually be able to afford representation. Gena previously worked for the Center for Driver’s License Recovery and Employability.
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