Robert M. Curley

Robert M. Curley (November 23, 1922 – February 12, 2001) was an American politician and jurist. He was a Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for 23 years in Milwaukee County, and served one term in the Wisconsin State Assembly. His daughter, Patricia S. Curley, is a retired judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.

The Honorable Robert M. Curley
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Milwaukee Circuit, Branch 9
In office August 1, 1878 – 1983
Preceded by	Transitioned from 2nd Circuit
Succeeded by	Russell W. Stamper, Sr.
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the 2nd Circuit, Branch 9
In office May 1960 – July 31, 1978
Appointed by	Gaylord Nelson
Preceded by	William F. Shaughnessy
Succeeded by	Transitioned to Milwaukee Circuit
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Milwaukee 18th district
In office January 1, 1959 – May 1960
Preceded by	John R. Meyer
Succeeded by	Michael J. Barron
Personal details
Born	(1922-11-23)November 23, 1922 Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Died	February 12, 2001(2001-02-12) (aged 78) Indian Harbour Beach, Florida
Resting place	Resurrection Cemetery Mequon, Wisconsin
Spouse(s)	Mary Irene O'Rourke
Children	Judge Patricia S. Curley Robert Curley William Curley Michael Curley
Education	University of Notre Dame Marquette Law School (LL.B.)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy Navy Reserve
Years of service	1942–1946 (USN) 1946-1960 (USNR)
Battles/wars	World War II

Biography

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Curley served in the United States Navy from 1942 through 1946, and remained in the United States Navy Reserve until 1960. He attended the University of Notre Dame and received his law degree from Marquette Law School, practicing law from 1948 in Wisconsin.

He was elected to the in the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1958 as a Democrat. He resigned from the Assembly in 1960 to accept appointment to the Wisconsin Circuit Court in Milwaukee County (then the 2nd Circuit). He retired from the court in 1983, but was able to serve for five years alongside his daughter, Patricia S. Curley, who became a Circuit Court Judge in Milwaukee in 1978.

Judge Curley married Mary Irene O'Rourke. In addition to their daughter, they had three sons.

Judge Curley died at Indian Harbour Beach, Florida.[1][2][3]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (1958)

Wisconsin Assembly, Milwaukee 18th District Election, 1958[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
Primary Election, September 9, 1958
	Republican	John R. Meyer (incumbent)	1,401	25.96%
	Democratic	Robert M. Curley	1,257	23.30%
	Democratic	Robert J. Brady	910	16.86%
	Republican	Ida Mae Zimmermann	629	11.66%
	Democratic	Alfred J. Marcell	477	8.84%
	Democratic	Rebecca B. Cohnstaedt	317	5.87%
	Democratic	Joseph F. Lindner	287	5.32%
	Democratic	Leon C. Alberty	118	2.19%
Total votes			'3,304'	'100.0%'
General Election, November 4, 1958
	Democratic	Robert M. Curley	6,846	56.28%
	Republican	John R. Meyer (incumbent)	5,318	43.72%
Total votes			'12,164'	'100.0%'

Wisconsin Circuit Court (1963, 1969, 1975, 1981)

Wisconsin Circuit Court, 2nd Circuit, Branch 9 Election, 1963[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
General Election, April 2, 1963
	Nonpartisan	Robert M. Curley (incumbent)	77,774	100.0%
Total votes			'77,774'	'100.0%'

Wisconsin Circuit Court, 2nd Circuit, Branch 9 Election, 1969[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
General Election, April 1, 1969
	Nonpartisan	Robert M. Curley (incumbent)	108,116	100.0%
Total votes			'108,116'	'100.0%'	+39.01%

Wisconsin Circuit Court, 2nd Circuit, Branch 9 Election, 1975[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
General Election, April 1, 1975
	Nonpartisan	Robert M. Curley (incumbent)	87,042	100.0%
Total votes			'87,042'	'100.0%'	-19.49%

Wisconsin Circuit Court, Milwaukee Circuit, Branch 9 Election, 1981[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
General Election, April 7, 1981
	Nonpartisan	Robert M. Curley (incumbent)	68,776	100.0%
Total votes			'68,776'	'100.0%'	-20.99%

Notes

1. "Judge Robert Curley is Retiring". Milwaukee Journal. January 6, 1983. p. 2.
2. "Curley Served as Chief Judge". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. February 14, 2001.
3. Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1960). "Biographies and pictures of constitutional officers, supreme court justices, members of Congress, members of legislature". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1960 (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 52. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
4. Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1960). "Wisconsin state party platforms and elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1960 (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. pp. 662, 699. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
5. Theobald, H. Rupert, ed. (1964). "Elections in Wisconsin". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1964 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 770. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
6. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1970). "Elections in Wisconsin". In Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V. (eds.). The state of Wisconsin Blue Book, 1970 (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 838. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
7. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1975). "Elections in Wisconsin". In Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V. (eds.). The state of Wisconsin 1975 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 786. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
8. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1981). "Elections in Wisconsin". In Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V. (eds.). The state of Wisconsin 1981-1982 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 868. Retrieved March 2, 2020.

Legal offices
Preceded by William F. Shaughnessy	Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the 2nd Circuit, Branch 9 1960 – 1978	Succeeded by Circuit abolished
Preceded by New circuit	Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Milwaukee Circuit, Branch 9 1978 – 1983	Succeeded by Russell W. Stamper, Sr.