Hayden announces candidacy for Municipal Court Judge

LINCOLN COUNTY – A local attorney this week announced his candidacy for Judge of the Merrill and Tomahawk Municipal Court.

Tom Hayden will appear on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 Spring Election ballots. As of Friday, Dec. 5, Hayden was the only candidate seeking the judgeship, according to the Lincoln County Clerk’s Office.

In a release, Hayden said he retired as Merrill City Attorney in July of this year after having served in the position since Aug. 2002. He served as prosecutor and general counsel for Merrill during his entire term with the City.

Since the 2014 creation of the joint Merrill and Tomahawk Municipal Court, Hayden has served as prosecutor for the City of Merrill and the City of Tomahawk, handling all ordinance violation matters, according to the release.

After graduating from Marquette University Law School in 1978, Hayden spent 13 years in private practice in Marshfield. While there, Hayden also served as Assistant District Attorney for the northern part of Wood County.

In 1985, Hayden was appointed by Governor Anthony Earl to fill the unexpired term of Judge Fred A Fink. At the end of that term, Hayden returned to private practice in Marshfield.

Hayden took the City Attorney position in Superior, Wis., in 1991 and held the post for nearly a decade.

The release said Hayden is a member of numerous service organizations, including the Merrill Optimist Club and the Merrill Rotary Club, where he served terms as President. He also is a past President of the Lincoln County Bar Association.

“I have been proud and happy to serve as attorney and prosecutor for Merrill and Tomahawk, and I hope to continue that service as the next Judge of the Merrill and Tomahawk Municipal Court,” Hayden said. “That Court has been blessed with fine Judges and staff. It would be an honor to continue that work.”