Justice Janet C. Protasiewicz
Justice Janet C. Protasiewicz was elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court on April 4, 2023 and took office on August 1, 2023. Prior to her election to the Supreme Court, Justice Protasiewicz served as a Circuit Court Judge in Milwaukee County. She was first elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2020.
While in Circuit Court, Justice Protasiewicz handled a wide variety of cases including homicides, sexual assaults, drug-related offenses and domestic violence cases. Her latest rotation was in the Family Division where she handled divorce matters and issues related to child custody and placement disputes.
Justice Protasiewicz proudly served in the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office for 25 years where she worked to keep our communities safe. She prosecuted violent crimes, handled termination of parental rights cases and worked to protect children who were in need of protection and services.
Justice Protasiewicz taught Trial Advocacy at the National Advocacy Center in Columbia, South Carolina where she taught prosecutors to be the best advocates they could be in the courtroom. She also taught Trial Advocacy at Marquette University Law School and worked as a volunteer grading the Wisconsin Bar exam.
She has received numerous awards including the Community Involvement Award from the Association of Women Lawyers and the Women of Influence Award from the Wisconsin Law Journal. She continues to serve the community by working as a volunteer with the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Red Cross, The Polish Heritage Alliance and Marquette University Law School.
Justice Protasiewicz is a magna cum laude graduate of UW-Milwaukee and a graduate of Marquette University Law School.
Justice Protasiewicz resides in Franklin with her husband Attorney Greg Sell.