Additionally, he trained as an emergency medical technician at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College.
[1] Brunner was elected Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for Barron County's newly created Branch 2 seat in 1988.
In 1999 he was designated by the Wisconsin Supreme Court as Chief Judge of the 10th Judicial Administrative District and remained in that role until August 2005.
[1] As Judge, Brunner was responsible for introducing restorative justice projects to Barron County in 1998, and was an advocate for statewide implementation.
[1] He was a candidate for Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2003, but was defeated in the general election by future Chief Justice Patience D. Roggensack.