David G. Deininger (born July 9, 1947) is a retired Republican politician and jurist from Wisconsin. He served as a judge on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals for eleven years, from 1996 to 2007, and now serves as a reserve judge. He was the first chairman of the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, appointed by Democratic Governor Jim Doyle. Earlier in his career, he served three and a half terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing parts of Green and Rock counties, and was a Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge in Green County.

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The Honorable David G. Deininger
Chairman of the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board
In office January 10, 2008 – April 2008
Appointed by	Jim Doyle
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Michael W. Brennan
Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District IV
In office August 1996 – January 31, 2007
Appointed by	Tommy Thompson
Preceded by	Robert D. Sundby
Succeeded by	Burnie Bridge
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Green Circuit
In office August 1, 1994 – August 1996
Preceded by	John Callaghan
Succeeded by	James R. Beer
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
In office January 1, 1993 – August 1, 1994
Preceded by	Eugene Hahn
Succeeded by	Mike Powers
Constituency	80th district
In office January 1, 1987 – January 1, 1993
Preceded by	John T. Manske
Succeeded by	Eugene Hahn
Constituency	47th district
Personal details
Born	(1947-07-09) July 9, 1947 (age 76) Monroe, Wisconsin
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Mary Deininger
Children	Emilie Deininger (died 2006) 2 others
Residence	Monroe, Wisconsin
Alma mater	United States Naval Academy, University of Chicago, University of Wisconsin Law School
Profession	Politician, Jurist
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy
Years of service	1969-1975

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Born in Monroe, Wisconsin, Deininger graduated from Monroe High School and went to the United States Naval Academy. He graduated in 1969 and was a nuclear submarine officer in the United States Navy until 1975.^[1] He attended the University of Chicago before graduating from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1978.^[2] He began practicing law after graduation.

In 1986, Deininger launched a primary challenge against three-term incumbent Republican John T. Manske for his seat in the Wisconsin State Assembly. The district at the time was composed of parts of Green County, of which Deininger was a resident, and Rock County, where Manske resided. In the 1984 election, Deininger had worked for Manske's re-election campaign, but declared in 1986 that it was "Green County's turn to be represented in the Assembly." Deininger won a surprising upset in the September primary and was then unopposed in the general election.^[3] He was re-elected in 1988, and 1990, and after redistricting in 1991, was elected to another term in 1992.

In 1994, he ran unopposed for election to the Wisconsin Circuit Court in Green County, and resigned from the Wisconsin Assembly.^[1] Only two years later, in 1996, he was appointed to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals by Governor Tommy Thompson to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Robert D. Sundby. He was elected to two six-year terms on the Court of Appeals, in 1997 and 2003, but retired in 2007.^[1][4][5]

Deininger now serves as a reserve judge. He and his wife Mary reside in Monroe, and are raising their grandson Emerson following the death of their daughter.^[9]