News

Wisconsin's Committee of Chief Judges unanimously elected Chief Judge Benjamin D. Proctor, Eau Claire County Circuit Court, as 'chief of the chiefs' at its August meeting. In this capacity, Proctor will serve as chair of the group. He replaces Chief Judge Gerald P. Ptacek, Racine County Circuit Court, who continues to serve as a judge but completed his service on the committee.  

"The Committee of Chief Judges helps to ensure that the Wisconsin court system functions effectively and efficiently," Proctor said. "I am honored that my colleagues saw fit to elect me as their chair."

Proctor has served on the bench in Eau Claire County for 20 years, and will continue to handle a caseload in that county.  During his tenure on the bench in Eau Claire, Proctor has served in a number of leadership capacities. For the past seven years, he has been the county's presiding judge. He is also founder and past chair of the Eau Claire County Criminal Justice Collaborating Council, and founder of the AIM Treatment Court, where he serves as presiding judge.

In 2005, the Wisconsin Supreme Court appointed Proctor to serve as chief judge for the Tenth Judicial District, which is comprised of the circuit courts in 13 northwestern Wisconsin counties including Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Polk, Rusk, St. Croix, Sawyer, and Washburn.

The Committee of Chief Judges is comprised of Wisconsin's 10 chief judges. These judges are selected by the Supreme Court to handle administrative matters for the court system. Working as a team with a deputy chief judge and a professional court administrator, they manage the flow of cases, supervise personnel, develop budgets, and meet monthly as a committee to work on issues of statewide importance.