After receiving his master's degree, he spent five years abroad in Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and Brazil on program to assist developing nations in building infrastructure.
[2] He was defeated seeking re-election in 1982 after a 1981 redistricting plan put him in the same district as Democratic incumbent representative Lloyd H.
[3][4] Immediately after his defeat, however, he expressed his interest in running for the Wisconsin Circuit Court seat being vacated by the retirement of Judge Michael G.
[5] Three weeks later, outgoing Governor Lee S. Dreyfus appointed Schmidt to the judgeship, and he won an election for a full term in April 1984.
[1] After retirement, however, Schmidt continued to serve as a reserve judge and filled in for several cases in Marathon and Langlade counties.