Evers Appoints Pierce to Monroe County Bench
Gov. Tony Evers named La Crosse attorney David Pierce to fill a Monroe County Circuit Court vacancy left by Judge Mark L. Goodman's retirement.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in People
Gov. Tony Evers appointed David Pierce to Branch 2 of the Monroe County Circuit Court, filling the seat vacated when Judge Mark L. Goodman retired. Pierce will serve a term ending July 31, 2028.
Why it matters
The appointment fills a judicial vacancy in Monroe County and places a practicing La Crosse attorney on the bench in western Wisconsin. Pierce brings criminal law, civil litigation and administrative experience to the court.
The appointed term runs through July 31, 2028, the remaining period of the vacated seat. The announcement does not indicate whether Pierce will seek election to the position when that term ends.
The players
Tony Evers
Tony Evers is the Governor of Wisconsin, who makes judicial appointments to fill vacancies in the state's circuit courts.
David Pierce
David Pierce is a La Crosse attorney and partner at Johns, Flaherty & Collins S.C. who previously served on the La Crosse County Board.
Mark L. Goodman
Mark L. Goodman is the former judge of Branch 2 of the Monroe County Circuit Court whose retirement created the vacancy.
The details
Pierce is a partner at Johns, Flaherty & Collins S.C. in La Crosse, where he joined as an associate in 2017. He has served as a supplemental court commissioner for the La Crosse County Circuit Court since August 2025 and is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and the University of Wisconsin Law School.
Timeline
August 2025: Pierce began serving as a supplemental court commissioner in La Crosse County.
2017: Pierce joined Johns, Flaherty & Collins S.C. as an associate.
July 31, 2028: Pierce's appointed term on the Monroe County Circuit Court ends.
Market Landscape
The appointment is a single instance of Gov. Tony Evers using his power to fill mid-term circuit court vacancies in Wisconsin. Appointments of this kind place sitting attorneys on the bench between judicial elections in the state.
Residents in Monroe County and the surrounding circuit now have a new judge presiding over Branch 2 through July 31, 2028. The appointment changes which judge handles cases in that branch until the term expires.
The takeaway
Judicial appointments can shape local court operations for years, so the identity and background of the appointee matters to people who appear before that branch. Pierce's combination of criminal, civil and administrative experience will define the court's work during his term.
Further reading
Explore more People coverage across Wisconsin business and public appointments.
