Judicial offices slated for the April 4 Spring Election ballot include one seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court; two on the Court of Appeals, and about 50 judgeships in circuit courts statewide. Those offices include:
- the Wisconsin Supreme Court seat currently held by Justice Patience Drake Roggensack, who is retiring at the end of her second full term on July 31, 2023
- two seats on the Court of Appeals, including the District IV seat currently held by Judge Michael R. Fitzpatrick, who is retiring, and the District I seat held by Chief Judge William W. Brash III; and
- circuit court judgeships in at least 30 counties statewide, including four in newly created branches in Clark, Manitowoc, Sawyer and Wood counties.
The new terms of office will be effective Aug. 1, 2023. A primary election will be held Feb. 21 for offices with more than two candidates. The deadline for filing ballot access papers for judicial offices is Jan. 3, 2023, according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission. The filing deadline for notification of non-candidacy by incumbents not seeking re-election is Dec. 23, 2022.
As of Dec. 12, the Elections Commission listed four candidates who had filed to run for the Supreme Court: Judge Everett D. Mitchell, Dane County Circuit Court; Chief Judge Jennifer R. Dorow, Waukesha County Circuit Court; former Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly; and Judge Janet Protasiewicz, Milwaukee County Circuit Court.
Court of Appeals candidates listed as of Dec. 12 included incumbent Chief Judge William W. Brash III and Atty. Sara Greenen for the District I seat, and Judge Chris Taylor, Dane County Circuit Court, for the District IV seat.
As authorized by 2019 Act 184, Director of State Courts Randy R. Koschnick selected four counties for new judgeships, including Clark, Manitowoc, Sawyer and Wood.
The legislation created 12 new circuit court branches over three years, including four each in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Previous counties selected include: Adams, Eau Claire, Vilas, Waushara (2022); Calumet, Dunn, Jackson, Marathon (2021).
Counties are selected for new branches based on judicial caseload and other factors, such as preparedness of county government facilities. Each of the counties selected passed a resolution requesting an additional circuit court branch and each has established the appropriate infrastructure to support an additional branch.
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