[1][3] After leaving the Justice Department, Fine relocated to Brown Deer, Wisconsin, and became a full-time writer, publishing a legal novel titled Mary Jane vs. Pennsylvania, a critique of the pharmaceutical industry, and several law journal articles.
[1][3] In 1972, he contested the Democratic nomination for Wisconsin's 9th congressional district, but was defeated;[3] he later worked for WITI, hosting a legal affairs program called A Fine Point.
[5] While serving in the court's felony division in 1985, Fine presided over the trial and sentencing of Daniel McDonald, a Lafayette County judge who had murdered the law partner of an electoral rival.
Touting his support of a stricter criminal justice system, Fine received the endorsement of The Milwaukee Sentinel and easily unseated Wedemeyer in the April general election.
In 2014, Fine dissented from a Court of Appeals ruling affirming the conviction of Kelly Rindfleisch, deputy chief of staff to Scott Walker when he served as Milwaukee County Executive.