William Grant Callow (April 9, 1921 – March 6, 2018) was an American jurist who served as a justice of the
Wisconsin Supreme Court from 1977 to 1992.
Life and career
Callow was born in
Waukesha, Wisconsin and graduated from Waukesha High School.
He received his bachelor's and law degrees from the
University of Wisconsin Madison
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...
and is a veteran of both
World War II and the
Korean War, serving in the
United States Marine Corps in the former and in the
United States Air Force in the latter.
Following his discharge from the Air Force, Callow served as Waukesha City Attorney from 1952 to 1960.
From 1961 to 1977, Callow served as a judge of the
Waukesha County Court, presiding over a felony trial calendar.
As a county judge, Callow gained notoriety for innovations in
restorative justice practices and for his general prohibition of
plea bargaining.
In 1977, Callow was elected to a seat on the
Wisconsin Supreme Court vacated by Justice
Robert W. Hansen, defeating
Milwaukee County
Milwaukee County is located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. At the 2020 census, the population was 939,489, down from 947,735 in 2010. It is both the most populous and most densely populated county in Wisconsin, and the 45th most populous coun ...
Circuit Court judge
Robert Watson Landry
Robert Watson Landry (June 22, 1922November 13, 2017) was an American lawyer, judge, and Democratic politician. He served two terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the east side of the city of Milwaukee and went on to serve 35 ye ...
. Callow is the only Wisconsin county judge elected directly to the Supreme Court;
county courts, trial courts of limited jurisdiction, were merged with the
circuit court system in 1978.
Callow's judicial philosophy on the Supreme Court was categorized as both moderate and conservative.
He served on the court until 1992, when he retired, citing a desire to "take time to smell the roses."
Following his retirement, Callow has served as a reserve
circuit court judge, as an arbitrator for the Wisconsin Employee Relations Commission, and as a mediator.
Callow died, on March 6, 2018, in
Oconomowoc, Wisconsin at AngelsGrace Hospice.
William G. Callow-obituary
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Notes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Callow, William G.
1921 births
2018 deaths
Politicians from Waukesha, Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni
University of Wisconsin Law School alumni
Justices of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
Wisconsin state court judges
Military personnel from Wisconsin
20th-century American judges
American military personnel of World War II