A judge-elect who was to serve on the Jackson County Circuit Court has died.

The wife of 63-year-old Eric F. Stutz confirmed Saturday that he died the previous day after battling cancer since 2006.

The Black River Falls judge was elected to the bench April 2 after running unopposed to succeed Circuit Judge Gerald Laabs. Laabs had chosen not to run for re-election.

Gov. Jim Doyle will be asked to name a replacement for Stutz, who was to be sworn in on August 1.

Stutz was originally from Aurora, Illinois. He had practiced law in Black River Falls since 1970, where he had been a court commissioner for 12 years