Gov. Jim Doyle was set today to announce the appointment of Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Louis Butler as the first African-American justice to serve on the state Supreme Court. Doyle was scheduled to make his announcement this afternoon at a Capitol news conference. Butler declined to comment this morning on the appointment, saying the announcement had to come from the governor's office. But a Capitol source close to the governor confirmed that Butler was Doyle's choice. In making the appointment, the source said, Doyle "wanted the court to reflect the diversity of the state." Butler, 52, was one of three finalists for the seat held by Justice Diane Sykes, who resigned last month after she was confirmed for a seat on the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. [more
]