Third Branch eNews

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has appointed Dane County Circuit Court Judge Julie Genovese as the new chief judge for the Fifth Judicial District, which covers Columbia, Dane, Green, Lafayette, Rock, and Sauk counties.

"I am delighted to assume the position of Chief Judge for District 5 and am particularly grateful for the mentorship of my predecessor, Chief Judge Thomas Vale," said Judge Genovese. "I look forward to working with my fellow Chief Judges and colleagues in the district to continue the pursuit of excellence in our justice system."

Judge Genovese has sat on the Dane County Circuit Court bench since she was first elected in 2009. Prior to serving on the bench, she worked as a special investigator with the Wisconsin Office of Lawyer Regulation, a position she held for over a decade. In addition to her regulatory work, she was also a lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

After completing her J.D. from Vanderbilt Law School in 1987, Judge Genovese started her legal career as a law clerk to former Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson. She served in that capacity until 1988 when she began working as an attorney at Foley and Lardner, where she worked for 11 years and was elected a partner. Additionally, Judge Genovese holds a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Harvard College.

Judge Genovese will be serving the remainder of the term of the Honorable Thomas Vale, which ends July 31, 2025. Judge Vale retired earlier this month from the Green County Circuit Court.