# Max Raskin

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{{short description|American jurist and politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name             = Max Raskin
| honorific_suffix = 
| image            = Max Raskin 1949 Edit.jpg
| alt              = 
| caption          = Raskin {{circa}} 1949
| office           = Acting {{nowrap|[Wisconsin Circuit Court](/source/Wisconsin_circuit_courts) Judge}} {{nowrap|for the [Waukesha](/source/Waukesha_County%2C_Wisconsin) Circuit, Branch 1}}
| term_start       = August 1, 1978
| term_end         = December 8, 1980
| predecessor      = William E. Gramling ''(Disabled)''
| successor        = [Harry G. Snyder](/source/Harry_G._Snyder)
| office1          = Acting {{nowrap|[Wisconsin Circuit Court](/source/Wisconsin_circuit_courts) Judge}} {{nowrap|for the 22nd Circuit, Branch 1}}
| term_start1      = May 1977
| term_end1        = July 31, 1978
| predecessor1     = William E. Gramling ''(Disabled)''
| successor1       = ''Circuit abolished''
| office2          = [Wisconsin Circuit Court](/source/Wisconsin_circuit_courts) Judge {{nowrap|for the 2nd Circuit, Branch 2}}
| term_start2      = October 1963
| term_end2        = August 1973
| appointer2       = [John W. Reynolds, Jr.](/source/John_W._Reynolds_Jr.)
| predecessor2     = Michael T. Sullivan
| successor2       = George Burns
| office3          = [City Attorney](/source/City_Attorney) of [Milwaukee](/source/Milwaukee)
| term_start3      = April 1932
| term_end3        = April 1936
| predecessor3     = John Niven
| successor3       = Walter Mattison
| birth_name       = 
| birth_date       = {{birth date|1902|11|8}}
| birth_place      = [Vitebsk](/source/Vitebsk), [Vitebsk Governorate](/source/Vitebsk_Governorate), [Russian Empire](/source/Russian_Empire)
| death_date       = {{death date and age|1984|8|22|1902|11|8}}
| death_place      = [Milwaukee, Wisconsin](/source/Milwaukee%2C_Wisconsin), U.S.
| resting_place    = Spring Hill Cemetery <br />Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| party            = [Socialist](/source/Socialist_Party_of_America) {{small|(before 1940)}}<br />[Progressive](/source/Wisconsin_Progressive_Party) {{small|(1940–1944)}}<br />[Democratic](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)) {{small|(after 1944)}}
| spouse           = Elaine Hilda Rosenblith<br />{{sup|(died 2002)}}
| children         = Bonnie Fern (Prager)<br />{{sup|(b. 1935; died 2011)}}
| relatives        = [Marcus Raskin](/source/Marcus_Raskin) (nephew)<br />[Barbara Raskin](/source/Barbara_Raskin) (niece in law)<br />[Jamie Raskin](/source/Jamie_Raskin) (grandnephew)
| education        = [Marquette Law School](/source/Marquette_University_Law_School)
}}

'''Max Raskin''' (November 8, 1902{{spaced ndash}}August 22, 1984) was a [Belarusian-born](/source/Belarusians) [Jewish American](/source/Jewish_American) lawyer and judge who served as [Milwaukee](/source/Milwaukee) [City Attorney](/source/City_Attorney) from 1932 to 1936 and later as a judge of the [Wisconsin Circuit Court](/source/Wisconsin_circuit_courts) from 1963 to 1980.

== Early life ==
Raskin was born to Jewish parents in [Vitebsk](/source/Vitebsk), a majority-Jewish city in the [Russian Empire](/source/Russian_Empire) (in what is now [Belarus](/source/Belarus)), and emigrated with his family at the age of nine.<ref name=Obituary>{{cite news|title=Former circuit judge, Max Raskin, dies of cancer|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19840822&id=Jm8aAAAAIBAJ&pg=5184,836025&hl=en|access-date=25 July 2015|work=The Milwaukee Journal|date=22 August 1984}}</ref> He graduated from the [Marquette University Law School](/source/Marquette_University_Law_School) in 1926 and practiced in [Milwaukee](/source/Milwaukee) as a [labor law](/source/labor_law) attorney.<ref>{{cite news|title=Max Raskin, Two Others Form Law Firm|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19581227&id=nHxRAAAAIBAJ&pg=4239,3304454&hl=en|access-date=25 July 2015|work=The Milwaukee Sentinel|date=27 December 1958}}</ref>

== Political career ==
thumb|left|upright=0.8|Raskin {{circa}} 1933
Raskin ran unsuccessfully for [Milwaukee County District Attorney](/source/Milwaukee_County_District_Attorney) in 1930.<ref>{{cite news|title=For Circuit Judge in Branch 8|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19490226&id=LcgWAAAAIBAJ&pg=1582,2481676&hl=en|access-date=25 July 2015|work=The Milwaukee Journal|date=26 February 1949}}</ref>  In 1932, he was elected Milwaukee City Attorney as a [Socialist](/source/Socialist_Party_of_Wisconsin), unseating nonpartisan incumbent John M. Niven.<ref>{{cite news|title=Women Voters' League Reports on Candidates|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19320313&id=-VIaAAAAIBAJ&pg=6849,1865114&hl=en|access-date=25 July 2015|work=The Milwaukee Sentinel|date=13 March 1932}}</ref>  After his election, Raskin appointed former judge and Socialist state senator [William F. Quick](/source/William_F._Quick) as his first assistant and employed [Edwin Knappe](/source/Edwin_Knappe), a former Socialist state representative, as an assistant city attorney.<ref>{{cite news|title=Raskin Ousts Six Niven Aids|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19320420&id=mVBQAAAAIBAJ&pg=4771,3342512&hl=en|access-date=25 July 2015|work=The Milwaukee Sentinel|date=20 April 1932}}</ref>  As city attorney, Raskin collaborated closely with Mayor [Daniel W. Hoan](/source/Daniel_W._Hoan), also a Socialist, and required assistant city attorneys to relinquish any employment in private practice.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rivals Batter Raskin; All 5 See Victory|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19360317&id=ZhQxAAAAIBAJ&pg=4369,3063523&hl=en|access-date=25 July 2015|work=The Milwaukee Sentinel|date=17 March 1936}}</ref>  He was harshly criticized by the conservative ''[Milwaukee Sentinel](/source/Milwaukee_Journal_Sentinel)'' for "his refusal to prosecute communistic rioters".<ref>{{cite news|title=Milwaukee Rebukes Radicalism|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19360409&id=f0xQAAAAIBAJ&pg=5597,1679454&hl=en|access-date=25 July 2015|work=The Milwaukee Sentinel|date=9 April 1936}}</ref>

Raskin was defeated in his 1936 reelection bid and reentered private practice.  In 1937, he was elected as a national committeeman of the [Socialist Party of America](/source/Socialist_Party_of_America)<ref>{{cite news|title=Hoan Leaves Party Board|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19370329&id=iKtQAAAAIBAJ&pg=6969,3207970&hl=en|access-date=25 July 2015|work=The Milwaukee Journal|date=29 March 1937}}</ref> but, in 1940,<ref>{{cite news|title=Raskin Seeks Judge's Post, Campaign Spending Curb|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19551106&id=6W1QAAAAIBAJ&pg=4203,6242679&hl=en|access-date=25 July 2015|work=The Milwaukee Sentinel|date=6 November 1955}}</ref> he left the party and joined the [Wisconsin Progressive Party](/source/Wisconsin_Progressive_Party). In 1944, he became a [Democrat](/source/Democratic_Party_of_Wisconsin).<ref name=Obituary />  Raskin ran for judicial office in 1949 and 1956 but was twice defeated; in 1963, his political ally Governor [John W. Reynolds, Jr.](/source/John_W._Reynolds_Jr.), appointed him to the [Milwaukee County](/source/Milwaukee_County) [Circuit Court](/source/Wisconsin_Circuit_Court).<ref>{{cite news|title=Raskin Is Appointed Circuit Court Judge|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19631009&id=gt8jAAAAIBAJ&pg=5216,4209666&hl=en|access-date=25 July 2015|work=The Milwaukee Journal|date=9 October 1963}}</ref>  Raskin served on the court until 1973 and, following his mandatory retirement at the age of 70, continued to serve the state as a reserve judge.  In that capacity, he stepped in as Acting Circuit Court Judge in [Waukesha County](/source/Waukesha_County%2C_Wisconsin) for Judge William E. Gramling during a lengthy struggle with cancer.<ref name=Obituary />  He died in 1984 at the age of 81.<ref name=Obituary />

== Personal life ==
Raskin's nephew, [Marcus Raskin](/source/Marcus_Raskin), was a progressive activist and social critic.<ref>{{cite news|title=Milwaukeean Raskin Has Served Presidents|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19680106&id=Kt4jAAAAIBAJ&pg=3829,1896670&hl=en|access-date=25 July 2015|work=The Milwaukee Journal|date=6 January 1968}}{{Dead link|date=February 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> His grandnephew is Congressman [Jamie Raskin](/source/Jamie_Raskin).

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-legal}}
{{s-bef|before = Michael T. Sullivan }}
{{s-ttl|title  = {{nowrap|[Wisconsin Circuit Court](/source/Wisconsin_circuit_courts) Judge for the 2nd Circuit, Branch 2}} |years=1963{{spaced ndash}}1973}}
{{s-aft|after  = George Burns }}
{{s-bef|before = William E. Gramling<br />''(Disabled)'' }}
{{s-ttl|title  = {{nowrap|[Wisconsin Circuit Court](/source/Wisconsin_circuit_courts) Judge for the 22nd Circuit, Branch 1}}<br />''(Acting)'' |years=1977{{spaced ndash}}1978}} 
{{s-aft|after  = Circuit abolished}}
{{s-bef|before = William E. Gramling<br />''(Disabled)'' }}
{{s-ttl|title  = {{nowrap|[Wisconsin Circuit Court](/source/Wisconsin_circuit_courts) Judge for the [Waukesha](/source/Waukesha_County%2C_Wisconsin) Circuit, Branch 1}}<br />''(Acting)'' |years=1978{{spaced ndash}}1980 }} 
{{s-aft|after  = [Harry G. Snyder](/source/Harry_G._Snyder) }}
{{s-end}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Raskin, Max}}
Category:1904 births
Category:1984 deaths
Category:Emigrants from the Russian Empire to the United States
Category:American people of Latvian-Jewish descent
Category:Jewish socialists
Category:Politicians from Milwaukee
Category:Marquette University Law School alumni
Category:Wisconsin city attorneys
Category:Wisconsin circuit court judges
Category:American Jews
Category:Wisconsin Democrats
Category:Wisconsin Progressives (1924)
Category:Socialist Party of America politicians from Wisconsin
Category:Lawyers from Milwaukee
Category:20th-century Wisconsin state court judges
Category:20th-century American lawyers
Max
Category:20th-century Wisconsin politicians

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Max Raskin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Raskin) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Raskin?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.