Judge Maria S. Lazar
Court of Appeals–District II
2727 North Grandview, Boulevard, Suite 300
Waukesha, WI 53188
Current term expires July 31, 2028.
Career history
Appellate Judge, Court of Appeals – District II (elected 2022); Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge (elected 2015 and 2021); Assistant Attorney General, Wisconsin (2010-2015); Attorney, Private Practice (civil) (1989-2010).
Law-related activities
Presiding, Juvenile Division (2020-2022); Presiding, Criminal Division (2019-2020); Criminal Division (2017-2020); Drug Treatment Court (2018-2019); DOJ Special Litigation and Appeals (2010-2015); Judicial Education Committee (2018-2022); Juvenile Jury Instruction Committee (2021 - ); Judicial Conference Executive Committee (2017-2022); National Conf. of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, Curriculum Committee & Military Committee (2020-2022); Adjunct Professor, Marquette University Law School (2018, 2019); Trainer, National Assoc. of Attorneys General Training & Research Institute (2013-2015); Contributing Author, Wisconsin Methods of Practice (West Group) (2004-2012); Milw. Bar Assoc. President (2008-2009), Director (2004-2006), Editor, MBA Messenger (1995-96); Wisconsin State Bar Board of Governors (1996-2000, two terms); State Bar, Cable, Broadcast and Outreach Committee, Chair (1996-2000); Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Assoc., Director, Editor of Newsletter (2007-2008); Federalist Society; Thomas Fairchild American Inns of Court; Serjeants’ Inn; Waukesha County Bar Assoc.; Assoc. of Women Lawyers (to 2010); 2015 Leaders in the Law Award; 2012 Women in the Law Award; State Bar of Wisconsin President’s Award of Excellence (1997); Milw. Bar Assoc. Special Services Award (1998); Delta Epsilon Sigma (Nat’l Honor Society for Academic Excellence); and Phi Alpha Theta (History Honors Society). Admission to United States Supreme Court Bar (2014); and admission to United States District Court, Eastern and Western Districts (1990).
Birth date/place
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Education
Mount Mary College/University, B.A. History, minors in English & Political Science (1986) (Magna cum Laude); Long Island University – United Nations Semester (1984); Georgetown University Law Center, J.D. (1989) (Deans List, 1988, 1989)
Interests
Theater, travel, reading, needlepoint, gardening, Make-A-Wish, and music.