By Chelsey Hinsenkamp
SLN Staff
Walworth County Circuit Court Judge James Carlson’s courtroom was packed last week as Attorney Dan Necci’s family members and friends, county employees and law enforcement officials from throughout Southeastern Wisconsin came out to show him support as he was sworn in as the county’s newest top prosecutor.
Necci, 33, was appointed Walworth County’s 38th district attorney Oct. 2 by Gov. Scott Walker, to serve as interim DA through the end of the year.
Necci succeeds Philip Koss who served as the county’s top prosecutor for more than 20 years. Koss vacated the position Aug. 1 after being elected to the circuit court bench, replacing retired judge Robert Kennedy.
Despite last Friday’s formal investiture, Necci’s election to a full-term as DA will not be made official until voters elect him to the office on Nov. 6.
He cleared the first hurdle Aug. 14 when he defeated fellow Republican Steven Harvey in the primary election. No other candidates will appear on the upcoming ballot.
Despite the unlikely chance that a write-in candidate comes forward and defeats Necci next month, the interim DA remains confident that his first official work day on Monday, was the start of a four-year term.
“It’s been an incredible journey to come to this point, and I expect nothing less over the next four years,” he said at the ceremony.
State Supreme Court Justice Michael Gabeleman, who conducted the ceremony, recalled the day he was sworn in as a district attorney with only his parents and a judge present for the honor.
“This is quite the turnout and I know that our friend Dan is very grateful that each and every one of you could be here,” he said.
Necci said the swearing in ceremony was everything he would have imagined but that he too was blown away by the turned out.
“That was overwhelming,” he said of all those who showed up in support.
According to Gabeleman, Necci’s new job calls for a unique combination of talents.
As district attorney, Necci will need wisdom and discernment, he said.
“In his role as an attorney, he served as a zealous, effective, talented lawyer and today he takes and oath before God and his fellow citizens to put those talents to work for the public good,” Gabeleman added.
In his speech, Necci said there were only two promises he was willing to make regarding his work as district attorney:
“Everyone of us in (the district attorney’s) office are servants of Veritas and Aequitas, truth and justice, and that’s what we will seek every single day; that’s my first promise to you. My second promise is that I, as your district attorney, everyday, in every action I take, will seek the will and the glory of god almighty.”
Necci said on Monday his first order of business is to “alleviate some of the pressure on my already over-worked staff at the district attorney’s office.”
“We are short staffed as far as prosecutors and I hope to make everyone’s life a little easier simply by being a prosecutor,” he added.
The district attorney’s office includes Deputy District Attorney Joshua P. Grube, assistant district attorneys Diane M. Donohoo, Zeke S. Wiedenfeld and Haley J. Rea, Victim/Witness Coordinator Loretta S. Meinel and Victim/Witness Specialist Amy L. Los.
Prior to taking the oath, Necci worked out of his private practice in Elkhorn.
During his campaign, Necci’s opponents publically criticized him saying he lacks real courtroom experience.
To his critics, the new DA says, “I’ll see you in court.”
Though he declined to comment on just how many cases greeted him Monday on his first day in the office, he did say, “I’ll be taking a substantial workload.”
Necci added that he is “continuously overwhelmed by the constant trust that has been placed in me… It will continue to inspire me each and every day.”
The DA’s term officially begins Jan. 1, when it is expected that Necci would be sworn into office again, dropping “interim” from his title as Walworth County DA.
Vanessa Lenz contributed to this story.
