Judge Sworn in to Wood County's New Branch 4

Wednesday, August 9th, 2023 -- 11:01 AM

(Karen Madden, Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune) Attorney Tim Gebert officially became Wood County Branch 4 Circuit Judge Gebert Friday afternoon when he took his oath of office and donned his robe during an investiture ceremony.

According to Karen Madden with the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, Gebert, 53, is the first Branch 4 judge for Wood County. In November 2021, the Wisconsin Supreme Court announced Wood County was one of four counties that would receive an additional circuit court branch. Clark, Sawyer and Manitowoc counties also received new judges this year.

Gebert defeated Wood County District Attorney Craig Lambert in the April election. Gebert's family, friends, colleagues and Wood County officials packed the Branch 2 courtroom Friday during the investiture ceremony.

Wood County Branch 1 Circuit Judge Greg Potter gave Gebert the oath of office and advice on how to be a good judge. A good judge respects every person who comes into the courtroom, prepares for the cases in advance, has patience and listens, Potter said.

Gebert grew up in Wisconsin Rapids. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in industrial organizational psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in 1991 and got his Juris Doctor from Michigan State Law School in 1994. He's practiced both criminal and civil law for the past 28 years.

Gebert has been sitting in Wood County Branch 1 with Potter for a week, learning what it's like to be in charge of a courtroom. Following Friday's ceremony, people got the chance to see the inside of the newly created Branch 4 courtroom and chambers.

The courtroom, the smallest of Wood County's four courtrooms, is in the former Wood County Clerk of Courts Office. Gebert said he's happy to have the newest courtroom. Any of the county's other three judges could have claimed it, but they didn't, he said.

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