Three candidates for Winnebago County Branch 1 outline mental‑health courts, case coordination and neutrality at Oshkosh forum

At a League of Women Voters forum in Oshkosh, three candidates competing in the primary for Winnebago County Circuit Court Branch 1 presented their qualifications and proposals for the county court system.

The contest features Lakeisha Hayes, a former Winnebago County judge and Oshkosh Common Council member; Eric Haywood, a judicial court commissioner; and Michael Rust, a long‑time professional neutral who has led the Resolution Center. The incumbent, Teresa Basilere, is not seeking reelection, the forum moderator said.

The candidates spent most of the hour addressing how their legal experience would shape their work on the bench and describing specific programs they would support. Mental‑health treatment courts, improved case coordination where families face multiple dockets, and outreach to help the public understand court operations were the most frequently mentioned priorities.

Lakeisha Hayes, a former Winnebago County circuit court judge and current Oshkosh Common Council member, emphasized her prior judicial experience and preparation on the bench. "I'm the only candidate who has the previous experience as a judge," Hayes said, adding that her time on the bench gave her familiarity with the full range of cases handled in county court and with supervising court…