My name is Daniel Gorman, and I am the River Falls Municipal Judge seeking reelection on April 7. I am proud to announce the start of my campaign and to ask for the continued support of the community I have been honored to serve for the past eight years.

During that time, I have worked to ensure that every person appearing before the court receives due process, impartial justice, and respect for their constitutional rights. These are not abstract ideals; they are fundamental protections that must be understood and applied by the judge on the bench. Because a judge cannot apply the rule of law if they do not know it.

I graduated from William Mitchell School of Law in 2011 and passed the Wisconsin Bar Exam that same year. For 14  years I have been a licensed Wisconsin attorney, and for eight of those years I have served as your Municipal Judge.

In this election, I am the only candidate with a law degree, the only one admitted to the Wisconsin Bar, and the only one who has practiced law in Wisconsin under the Rules of Professional Ethics for attorneys and judges. I know the law, I know your rights, and I have a proven record of applying them justly.

There are many qualities that make a good judge. The first is the ability to listen. Real listening means giving every person the opportunity to be heard without interruption or prejudgment. People come to municipal court with concerns that affect their families, their livelihoods, and their reputations. A judge must be patient enough to hear the full story and respectful enough to recognize that each case involves real human beings, not just files on a docket.

A good judge must also use good judgment rather than being judgmental. This requires approaching each case with an open mind, applying the law carefully, and considering the individual case’s facts before reaching a decision. Municipal court is not merely about penalties and punishment; it is about fairness, accountability, and when appropriate, helping people get back on the right path. Exercising good judgment means applying the law to promote better outcomes.

Finally, a judge must be able to discern fact from fiction. Court decisions must be based on credible evidence, reliable testimony, and the proper application of legal standards, and not on assumptions, emotions, or personal biases. My legal training and years of experience as an attorney has taught me how to evaluate evidence, recognize inconsistencies, and reach conclusions that are grounded in truth.

As this campaign continues, I look forward to demonstrating how these qualities are used every day in the Municipal Court to the benefit of our community. It has been a privilege to serve the people of River Falls, and I would be honored to continue that service. I respectfully ask for your vote on April 7 so that I may continue to provide a fair, knowledgeable, and independent court for all.

Submitted by Daniel Gorman