Judge who signed Walker recall faces challenger

PORT WASHINGTON, Wis. (AP) - A Wisconsin judge who signed a petition to recall Gov. Scott Walker faces a challenger in the April 2 spring election.

Attorney Joe Voiland is attempting to unseat 19-year veteran Ozaukee County Circuit Judge Tom Wolfgram.

Wolfgram acknowledges signing his name to a 2011 petition seeking to recall a sitting Republican governor.

Wolfgram tells the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he does not believe the act of signing the petition violated the separation of powers. He says he just wanted to learn more about the proposals that led to the recall effort against Walker.

But Voiland says a judge should not sign a petition to recall any office holder.

It's the first challenge to Wolfgram since he was appointed to the court in 1994 by then-Gov. Tommy Thompson, a Republican.