In 1972, the Assembly was redistricted to an extent which makes it hard to decide who would be considered Kessler's successor in the Assembly; he was not a candidate for re-election, having himself served on the Governor's Task Force on Voter Registration and Elections established by the governor in July 1971, and on the Reapportionment Commission created by the governor in January 1972, as well. In 1972 he was appointed a Milwaukee County Court Judge, and was elected in April 1973.