James R. Doolittle, of Racine, was elected Judge of the First Judicial Circuit. One passage dates the election September 26, 1853.

The evidence

• “Judge Whiton continued to discharge the duties of Circuit Judge to the entire satisfaction of the people of the circuit, until the April term, 1853, when, having been elected Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the State, he resigned to accept that position. Wyman Spooner, of Walworth County, was appointed to fill the vacancy until a successor could be elected. In September, 1853, James R. Doolittle, of Racine, was elected, and entered upon the discharge of the duties of Judge of the First Judicial Circuit, and first held a special term for Rock County, commencing on the 7th day of February, 1854.”

  1879-history-of-rock-county/10-rock-county-ch04-early-maps-courts-railroads.md, PDF p. 361 / book p. 365

  Butterfield, C. W., et al. The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1879. Cornell University Library via the Internet Archive, archive.org/details/cu31924028871585.

  Grade A: Found on a page of one of our sources