After the war, Martin returned to Green Bay and practiced law, partnering with his father and his uncle, Joseph Martin, who would also later serve on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. In 1933, John was appointed an assistant district attorney in Milwaukee.
In 1938, Martin was elected Wisconsin Attorney General, defeating incumbent Progressive Orland Steen Loomis. He would go on to serve nearly a decade in that office, earning re-election in 1940, 1942, 1944, and 1946. [2]
In June, 1948, he was appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court by Governor Oscar Rennebohm to fill the vacancy created by the death of Justice Chester A. Fowler.[1] Martin was elected in 1950 to complete the remainder of Fowler's term, and was elected to a full term in 1951. He became chief justice in 1957 upon the retirement of Chief Justice Edward T. Fairchild.[1] In 1961, Martin was the first Wisconsinite to serve as chair of the National Conference of Chief Justices.[2] Martin did not seek re-election in 1961, and his term expired January 1962. However, after his term, he was appointed the first court administrator of Wisconsin.[1][3][4]
He retired due to poor health in 1967.
Personal life and family
Martin was married to Mary Kerwin; they had two children, John Jr. and Mary Hope.
Martin died December 9, 1968, in Madison, Wisconsin. He was buried at Resurrection Cemetery, in northwest Madison.
^"Parties and elections: the primary election". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1940 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 540. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
^"Parties and elections: the general election". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1940 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 610. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
^"Parties and elections: the primary election". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1942 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 582. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
^"Parties and elections: the general election". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1942 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 660. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
^"Parties and elections: the primary election". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1944 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 576. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
^"Parties and elections: the general election". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1944 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 660. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
^"Parties and elections: the primary election". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1946 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 594. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
^"Parties and elections: the general election". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1946 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 668. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
^"Parties and elections: the primary election". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1948 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 603. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
^"Parties and elections: the general election". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1948 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 674. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
^ ab"Parties and elections: the judicial and nonpartisan elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1952 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 755, 756. Retrieved April 24, 2019.