The Wisconsin Supreme Court has appointed circuit court judges from Waushara, Outagamie and Taylor counties as new chief judges of their respective judicial administrative districts, effective Aug. 1, 2022. The Court also re-appointed judges from Kenosha and Barron counties to continue as chief judges. The appointments are for two-year terms or until further order of the Court.
Judge Guy D. Dutcher
Deputy Chief Judge Guy D. Dutcher, Waushara County Circuit Court, will replace current Chief Judge Barbara H. Key, who is retiring from the bench July 31. Key was first elected to the bench in 1998 and was re-elected three times. She has served as chief judge since Aug. 1, 2017. Dutcher was first elected to the circuit court in 2005 and has been re-elected twice. He had served as Waushara County District Attorney before taking the bench.
Judge Carrie A. Schneider
Deputy Chief Judge Carrie A. Schneider, Outagamie County Circuit Court, will replace outgoing Chief Judge James A. Morrison, Marinette County Circuit Court. Morrison, who will have served the maximum of three successive two-year terms as a chief judge, was first appointed to the bench in 2012. He was elected in 2013 and re-elected in 2019. Schneider was first appointed to the bench in 2017 and was elected in 2018. Schneider previously served as Outagamie County District Attorney.
Judge Ann N. Knox-Bauer
Judge Ann N. Knox-Bauer, Taylor County Circuit Court, will replace current Chief Judge Gregory B. Huber, Marathon County Circuit Court, who is retiring from the bench. Huber was first elected to the circuit court in 2004. He was elected in 2010, and re-elected in 2016. Huber previously served in the Wisconsin State Assembly and as Marathon County district attorney. Knox-Bauer was first appointed to the circuit court in 2008. She previously served as a court commissioner and family court commissioner in Taylor County.
Judge Jason A. Rossell
Chief Judge Jason A. Rossell, Kenosha County Circuit Court, was first appointed chief judge in 2017 to fill an unexpired term of previous Chief Judge Allan P. Torhorst, who retired from the Racine County Circuit Court. Rossell was first elected to the bench in 2011; elected in 2012 and re-elected in 2018.
Judge Maureen D. Boyle
Chief Judge Maureen D. Boyle, Barron County Circuit Court, was first appointed chief judge in 2018. She was first elected to the bench in 2014 and was re-elected in 2020. Boyle had previously served as an assistant district attorney in Barron, Walworth and Rock counties.
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