In 1984, Judge Finley served as a (Limited Term Employee) Assistant District Attorney in Madison, before being hired as a permanent Assistant District Attorney in the Kenosha County DA's Office. He transferred back to the Dane County DA's Office in Madison in 1987, where he again worked as an Assistant District Attorney until his retirement in April, 2015. During his experience in over 30 years as an Assistant District Attorney, he prosecuted all types of civil and criminal cases, from speeding charges to homicides. Judge Finley has been a homeowner and Monona resident since 1992.