In the recent election, voters across Wisconsin chose judges to represent their regions, including competitive races in ten circuit court branches. In total, 12 new judges will take their places on the bench. The winners of the Spring Election will start their new six-year terms on the first of August.
Judge Pedro Colón from Milwaukee County has retained his position on the bench after running unopposed in the April election. Appointed by Governor Tony Evers in June, he was sworn into office in November. Judge Colón is the first Latino to sit on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.
Hon. Pedro Colón
In District IV, Judge JoAnne Kloppenburg has secured another term on the Court of Appeals, where she has presided since 2012. Kloppenburg, a former assistant attorney general in the Wisconsin Department of Justice, ran unopposed and will continue her role on the court.
Hon. JoAnne Kloppenburg
On April 2nd, voters elected twelve new circuit court judges, with nine of them winning contested races.
Lodi attorney Roger Klopp was successful in his challenge to incumbent Judge Troy Cross. In an incredibly close race that saw roughly 400 votes separate the candidates, Klopp prevailed to become the next judge for Columbia County Circuit Court Branch 3. He will bring more than 35 years to the bench.
Cross was first elected to the court in 2018. His term concludes on July 31.
Roger Klopp
Door County Family Court Commissioner Jennifer Moeller defeated attorney Brett Reetz for the Branch 1 bench. Moeller, who has practiced law since 1997, already made history by running as the county's first female candidate for judge. Now, she’ll continue breaking down barriers as the first female judge in Door County Circuit Court history when she is sworn in in August.
Judge D. Todd Ehlers announced in August that he would retire in July. Ehlers’ 24 years on the bench marks the third-longest tenure by a judge in Door County Circuit Court history.
Jennifer Moeller
Heather Iverson unseated Judge Frank Gagliardi in the race for Kenosha County Circuit Court Branch 3 judge. Iverson has served as a Kenosha County Circuit Court commissioner since 2021. Prior to her appointment as a commissioner, Iverson worked as an attorney for the State of Wisconsin for over a decade.
Gagliardi was appointed to the bench in November.
Heather Iverson
La Crosse County Circuit Court Judge Mark A. Huesmann, who was appointed to the bench in 2023, defeated Candice C.M. Tlustosch in his first election. Prior to his appointment, Huesmann worked for more than two decades as a court commissioner and attorney in the area and as a professor at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves, having retired in 2014 with the rank of Lt. Colonel. He received a Bronze Star during his service.
Hon. Mark Huesmann
State legislator and immigration rights attorney Marisabel Cabrera is the newest member of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court. Cabrera defeated Rochelle Johnson-Bent for the open Branch 43 judgeship. She has served in the Wisconsin State Assembly since 2019. Cabrera has also worked as a solo practitioner attorney and at law firms in Wisconsin and Florida.
Judge Marshall Murray announced in 2023 that he intended to retire at the end of his term. Judge Murray, who was initially appointed by Gov. Tommy Thompson, served on the bench since 1999.
Marisabel Cabrera
Assistant District Attorney Mary Sowinski has been elected as Oneida County's newest judge. She defeated Oneida County Corporation Counsel Michael Fugle for the seat on the Branch 2 bench. Sowinski begins her tenure with a pedigree that includes 25 years of experience practicing law.
Judge Michael Bloom did not seek re-election after previous wins in 2012 and 2018. He has practiced law in Wisconsin since 1993 and was the Oneida County District attorney for five years before serving on the bench.
Mary Sowinksi
Assistant District Attorney Jessica Lynott claimed a spot as the newest judge in Racine County by ousting incumbent Judge Toni L. Young. Lynott has been a prosecutor in Racine County since 2017, as well as juvenile and traffic matters as well as misdemeanor and felony court. She will preside over Racine County Circuit Court Branch 3.
Young, who was appointed to the bench in late 2023, was the first woman of color to serve as a Racine County Circuit Court judge.
Jessica Lynott
In another very close race, Blake Duren edged fellow attorney Nancy Thome to secure a six-year term on the Sauk County Circuit Court in Branch 3. Duren has strong ties to the area, graduating from Reedsburg High School and practicing law in his hometown for more than a decade.
Judge Pat Barrett chose not to run for re-election. Barrett, a former district attorney, was first elected in 2018.
Blake Duren
Walworth County’s newest judge is someone very familiar with the county's operations. Deputy Corporation Counsel Estee E. Scholtz defeated Court Commissioner Peter Navis for the Branch 1 seat. Scholtz has spent 15 years in public service and has nearly 15 years of litigation experience representing the State of Wisconsin in criminal matters, the County’s interest in mental health and guardianship cases, and the interests of the public in child welfare proceedings.
Judge Phillip Koss announced that he will retire at the end of his term in July. Koss has been a fixture in the Wisconsin legal system since 1985 and was elected to the bench in 2012 and re-elected in 2018.
Estee E. Scholtz
Michael Rust will become the newest judge in Winnebago County. He edged former Winnebago County judge LaKeisha Haase in a tight race to become the judge of Winnebago County Circuit Court Branch 1. Rust, a court commissioner, will move up the bench beginning in August.
The incumbent, Judge Teresa Basiliere, opted not to seek re-election. She was first elected in 2018 after 27 years working as a family law attorney in Oshkosh.
Michael Rust
Judicial candidates in three counties ran unopposed on the ballot. In each case, the incumbent decided not to run for re-election.
Attorney Sam Lawton has been elected as the newest judge on the Barron County Circuit Court. The attorney was the only candidate on the ballot for the open seat in Branch 2. The position was vacated in September by former Judge J. Michael Bitney, who retired after ten years on the bench.
Sam Lawton
Assistant District Attorney Mark Fuhr successfully completed his bid to become the next Price County Circuit Court Judge by easily winning his uncontested race. Fuhr brings more than 30 years of experience practicing law to the bench. Judge Kevin Klein, who was appointed in 2017 and elected in 2018, chose not to run for re-election.
Mark Fuhr
Waukesha County Assistant District Attorney Jack Pitzo is the newest member of the bench. Pitzo easily claimed a spot as the judge for Waukesha County Circuit Court Branch 12. Despite running unopposed, Pitzo had several high-profile endorsements, including Appeals Judge Maria Lazar, former Attorney General Brad Schimel, and former Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch. Judge Laura Lau, who was elected in 2018, chose not to run for re-election.
Jack Pitzo
Third Branch eNews is an online monthly newsletter of the Director of State Courts Office. If you are interested in contributing an article about your department’s programs or accomplishments, contact your department head. Information about judicial retirements and judicial obituaries may be submitted to: Sara.Foster@wicourts.gov