Judicial offices on the April 1 Spring Election ballot include one seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, three on the Court of Appeals, and 37 judgeships in circuit courts across the state. Those offices include:
- The Wisconsin Supreme Court seat currently held by Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, who is retiring at the end of her full term on July 31, 2025.
- Three seats on the Court of Appeals, including seats in Districts II, III, and IV
- Circuit court judgeships in 20 counties statewide
The new terms of office will be effective August 1, 2025. A primary election will be held on February 18 for offices with more than two candidates. The deadline for filing ballot access papers for judicial offices is January 7, 2025, according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission. The filing deadline for notification of non-candidacy by incumbents not seeking re-election is December 27, 2024.
As of December 17, the Wisconsin Elections Commission listed two candidates who had filed to run for the Supreme Court: Judge Brad Schimel, Waukesha County Circuit Court; and Judge Susan Crawford, Dane County Circuit Court. The winner of the election will serve a ten-year term, which will run through July 31, 2035.
The voters will be selecting judges to serve six years on the Court of Appeals. The incumbents have all submitted paperwork to seek re-election, which includes judges Mark Gundrum in District II, Lisa K. Stark in District III, and Jennifer Nashold in District IV.
Voters will choose 37 circuit court judges, each of whom will serve a six-year term. As of the December 17 update from the Wisconsin Elections Commission, only five of the races are currently contested, including those in Racine, St. Croix, and Waukesha counties.
Learn more on the Wisconsin Elections Commission website.
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