A Dane County judge appointed last year by Gov. Scott Walker stepped down Monday afternoon and announced plans to return to his former position in the Madison city attorney’s office.

Judge Roger Allen, who recently lost an election for his Dane County Circuit Court seat to assistant state public defender Ellen Berz, chose to resign before Berz’s term begins Aug. 1.

Allen previously served as assistant city attorney in Madison for more than 15 years but was appointed to his current position as a judge last year, according to current Madison City Attorney Michael May.

“When he took the position, he knew it was a possibility to lose the election, and he asked if we could keep his job open while he took a leave of absence,” May said. “I agreed to that, the city had a policy allowing that and now he is going to be coming back.”

Had Allen won the election, he would have continued after Aug. 1 for a term of six years on the circuit court.

Allen has served as an assistant city attorney since the mid-1990s, according to Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4. Allen began his city career as a prosecutor in the Madison City Municipal Court and has served as counsel to the Equal Opportunities Commission.

May
expressed his excitement that Allen has chosen to return to the city office.

“[Allen] has done a lot of good. He has been one of my best assistants,” May said. “He is one of the experts in the state on public records law and open meetings law, and he has handled a number of other difficult things for me.”

Verveer said Allen has worked as counsel for the Alcohol License Review Committee and has also aided the city on a variety of employment and labor issues.

Allen will return to his position as an assistant city attorney April 30. May noted that Allen will continue to work on issues he specializes in, including public records and open meetings laws.