A former Bayfield County district attorney is returning to the office, Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle's office announced Friday.
Doyle has appointed Ruth Kressel to temporarily handle the duties of Bayfield County prosecutor until current Bayfield County District Attorney H. Craig Haukaas' court case can be resolved.
Haukaas was suspended in December after being accused of conspiring with a defendant to miss a court appearance three years ago in exchange for the defendant's departure from Wisconsin. He is charged with felony misconduct in office and conspiracy to entice a defendant to commit bail-jumping. He's scheduled to be arraigned on the charges Jan. 30.
Kressel was the Bayfield County district attorney from 1993 to 1999. She has worked as an assistant district attorney in Langlade and Oneida counties, and she has been in private practice in Ashland and Washburn.
A spokeswoman in Doyle's office said Friday was is Kressel's first day on the job.
