Waukesha County Court Judge Talks About Being A Mentor And A Mom

WAUKESHA, WI— Don't judge a book by its cover is a philosophy a Waukesha County judge takes to heart in the courtroom and outside it.

Patch asked readers to name inspirational women for Women's History Month, and Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Laura Lau's name came up.

Lau said people assume judges are raised with a silver spoon in their mouths. "Everybody thinks [people in power] came in on a cloud with rainbows," she told Patch.

Lau said people have this view that judges come from a prestigious lineage of people in judicial power. But if you look at Lau's history, you can see that is not the case.

"I like to think I have one foot in the blue-collar world and the white-collar profession," she said.

Lau can't and won't forget where she came from. She said it makes her relatable and a good listener to people in the courtroom.

Lau's parents are graduates of Waukesha High School and Catholic Memorial High School. Her dad, Richard Schmidt, was a machine operator; her mom, Patricia Schmidt, was a secretary. "Our family grew up standing in line at the Waukesha Expo Center for surplus cheese," she said.

But Lau said no one should be judged based on how much money they have. "My father is the finest person I have ever known, and he didn't make much money," she said.

In her interactions in court, Lau said she shares snippets of her experiences when appropriate. Lau was the first generation of her family to attend college, and she received an athletic scholarship to Pennsylvania State University — for bowling. "No matter what I do in my life, that will be the one thing people remember," Lau said.

Lau was a top high school female bowler throughout high school and played in the men's bowling leagues until about 15 years ago.

She then worked as a lawyer in private practice for 13 years and as a Waukesha County Circuit Court commissioner for 17 years before deciding to run for a vacant position on the bench. "Judge Kathryn Foster was retiring, and if I wanted to ascend to a different judicial role, that was it," Lau said.

The path to the gavel and gown wasn't easy. Lau faced Jack Melvin III in a contested race in 2018. The results were close with Lau winning 38,138 votes and Melvin winning 37,517.

Since becoming a judge, she said the most challenging aspect is determining punishments. "Some people come in with pretty sad backgrounds, but you have to weigh in a lot of factors," she said.

A Positive Spin

In her judgments, Lau tries to encourage people to think about life after incarceration or custody. If a defendant doesn't have a GED or high school diploma, she suggests they take advantage of employment and education programs while in custody.

"There is life after incarceration, and I tell them to improve their situation if they can," she said.

But Lau is not naive about people reentering the community. She said she just wants them to be the best version of themselves in the future. "We want them to never re-offend so that [things are] safe for everyone," she said.

Ending the stigma about mental illness is an important goal for the Waukesha woman. "The brain is the most complicated organ in the body, and anyone who thinks it doesn't require treatment is uninformed," Lau said.

"Our family was strengthened by faith following the loss of my husband in 2003," Lau told Patch in 2018. Lau declined to identify her husband out of privacy concerns.

In the courtroom, Lau has seen a high percentage of people with mental health issues. She is on a variety of committees and boards that focus on mental health challenges, including the Housing Action Coalition (Overflow Homeless Shelter and Outreach) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Waukesha.

Being A Mom

Lau's father told her she was going to be a lawyer by the age of 5. She didn't even know what a lawyer did at the time. "I never thought twice," she said.

Lau laughed and said that if it would have been up to her, she would have been a French teacher.

Lau was born in Waukesha and graduated from Waukesha North High School as valedictorian in 1981. She said she was fortunate to grow up with wonderful teachers who supported her.

She feels it is important to be a good role model and mentor for other women in the community. "I've had so many amazing women who poured their love and time into my life," Lau said.

Lau said she had a supportive guidance counselor in high school and softball and bowling coaches who put in the effort to mold her. "If I can help inspire younger women to get a higher education and reach their highest level, I think it is a win for everyone," Lau said.

Lau said her biggest accomplishments are her children. After her divorce from her first husband and after her second husband took his own life, she found herself a single parent. But through adversity and because of Lau's hard work, her children lead successful lives.

Her daughter Andrea Lau, 31, followed in her mother's footsteps and became a lawyer for Waukesha County. Her son Ryan Lau, 28, became a doctor in Denver.

Lau also has what she called a "bonus daughter," Rebekah Jacunski,27, who has lived with the family since high school. Jacunski lived with her grandparents and then the Lau family. She has become a part of the family. Jacunski currently works as a school secretary in Pewaukee.

Andrea Lau sent a statement to Patch about her mother:

"My mom's commitment to community service has always left such a big impression on me. For someone who consistently has a jam-packed schedule of work and family obligations, she always makes it a point to make time to help others.

"Whether it's through her time attending board meetings for community service organizations or even just a coffee date with someone she's mentoring and encouraging, she makes the time. Her generosity of spirit and compassion for others is a big part of what makes her such a great leader and I'm lucky to have a role model like her in my daily life."