Racine County Circuit Court Judge Charles Constantine announced his retirement after 22 years of serving on the bench.
Constantine sent a letter to Governor Scott Walker and Chief Justice Patience Roggensak on Friday indicating his intention to leave the bench, effective Sept. 5. First elected as a Racine County Circuit Court Judge in 1996, he was then re-elected in 2002, 2008 and 2014.
“I’m getting older,” he said. “I’ve got a couple of grandchildren that I would like to spend some time with… It would just be nice to move on a little bit.”
The oldest of five children, Constantine has lived his entire life in Racine. He also served as a lawyer for 18 years. He graduated from Washington Park High School in 1970. He then received his Bachelor’s degree in English from Columbia University in 1974 and graduated from Marquette Law School in 1978.
So what’s next after retirement?
“I have an offer to do a little law for a Milwaukee law firm,” Constantine said. “I’d like to volunteer. I also like to teach. I don’t plan on doing nothing.”
Constantine’s term doesn’t expire until 2020, which means Walker will need to appoint a person to serve out his remaining term.
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