Damsteegt Running for Lakeside Municipal Court Judge

RIPON, Wis. (WRPN) – After 34 years in law enforcement, Troy Damsteegt traded in his badge in August for a judge’s robe.

He was appointed Interim Lakeside Municipal Court Judge by the Lakeside Municipal Court Executive Committee after his retirement as a Captain with the Ripon Police Department. He took over for Judge Jerry Jaye, who retired. Damsteegt says he job-shadowed Judge Jaye in July before taking over as judge.

The state is requiring a special election to fill the remainder of Judge Jaye’s term which runs to April 30, 2027. Damsteegt is the only candidate on the ballot for the Tuesday, Nov. 4 election.

He says the municipal court judge presides over traffic cases, parking tickets and OWI first offense cases, ordinance violations, building and fire code violations, can issue a warrant for a building inspection if required, and can even perform marriages.

The Lakeside Municipal Court consists of 23 municipalities across parts of Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Sheboygan, and Waushara counties.