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Waukesha Common Council appoints Laurie Fabian interim municipal judge in 7–5 vote
Summary
The Waukesha Common Council voted 7–5 on Feb. 3 to appoint Laurie Fabian as interim municipal judge through April 30, 2026. Council members cited Fabian's municipal-prosecutor experience while some members preferred Christopher Drought because he intends to run for the seat in April.
The Waukesha Common Council appointed Laurie Fabian as interim municipal judge on Feb. 3, voting 7–5 to fill the vacancy left after Judge Wimmer's departure. The council set the interim term to expire April 30, 2026, when the position will return to the ballot.
Fabian, a Marquette University graduate and a partner at the downtown Waukesha law firm Hippenmeyer, Riley, Blum, Schmitzer and Fabian, told the council she has practiced municipal prosecution and family law for more than two decades and has served on the Waukesha–Pewaukee Convention and Visitors Bureau and the city's Police and Fire Commission. “I appreciate your support,” Fabian said after being sworn in.
The council heard from two other applicants before the vote. Christopher Drought described roughly 22 years of private practice and national bankruptcy experience and said he would be interested in running for the seat in April.
Council debate focused on two themes: municipal-court experience versus the advantage of appointing someone who plans to seek the full term. Alden Piper, who moved to appoint Fabian, and several colleagues cited Fabian’s municipal-prosecutor background. Alderman Rick Lemke said he preferred Drought because Drought indicated he would run for the position, and he did not want to appoint someone who intended to resign within a year. “I would be voting for Christopher because he at least expressed an interest in running again in April,” Lemke said.
The roll-call vote recorded two explicit ‘‘no’’ votes: Alderman Rick Lemke and an alder identified in the roll call as Christine; the motion passed 7 to 5. The council then administered the oath of office. The oath stated the interim term will expire on 04/30/2026.
Fabian told the council she would be prepared to begin immediately; staff said the city would contact her to coordinate start details.
Votes at a glance: - Approval of minutes (01/20/2026): motion carried unanimously. - Interim municipal judge appointment (Laurie Fabian): motion passed, 7 yes, 5 no. - Consent agenda: approved unanimously.
What it means: The council filled an immediate judicial vacancy with an experienced municipal prosecutor for a short, interim term that expires at the end of April. The discussion indicated some members preferred an appointee who plans to run in the April election; the council chose to prioritize municipal courtroom experience for the interim appointment.
Next steps: The interim judge will take the bench for scheduled municipal court dates while the April election proceeds. The council may follow up administratively to finalize start logistics.
