Ellen Berz
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2030
Ellen Berz is a judge for Branch 11 of the Dane County Circuit Court in Wisconsin. Her current term ends on August 1, 2030.
Berz ran for re-election for the Branch 11 judge of the Dane County Circuit Court in Wisconsin. She won in the general election on April 2, 2024.
Education
Berz earned a B.A. in history from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1979 and a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Law School in 1983. In 1999, Berz completed the John F. Kennedy School's Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at Harvard University.[1]
Career
After law school, Berz began her career as an Assistant District Attorney in Eau Claire County. Starting in 1985, Berz served in various positions at the Wisconsin State Public Defender's Baraboo office.[1] In 1990, she was promoted to Director of the Trial Division within the Wisconsin State Public Defender's office, and since 2002 has taught as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Wisconsin Law School. Berz also served as a criminal justice representative to former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno.[2][3] During the 2011 Capitol demonstrations, Berz was a union-designated legal observer, providing instruction and guidance to demonstrators and union leaders.[3] In April 2012 Berz was elected judge of the Dane County Circuit Court Branch 11.[1]
Awards and associations
- Founding board member, Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Board member, Wisconsin State Bar Criminal Law Section
- Chair of the Defender Policy Group, National Legal Aid and Defender Association
- Founding member, American Council of Chief Defenders
- Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Member, James E. Doyle, Jr. chapter of the American Inns of Court[1]
- Founding member, Justice Without Borders[3]
- Co-founder, UW Law School Mock Trial Program
- Board member, AIDS Network[4]
Elections
2024
See also: Municipal elections in Dane County, Wisconsin (2024)
General election
General election for Dane County Circuit Court Branch 11
Incumbent Ellen Berz won election in the general election for Dane County Circuit Court Branch 11 on April 2, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Ellen Berz (Nonpartisan) | 99.0 | 87,679 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.0 | 914 | ||
| Total votes: 88,593 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
The primary election was canceled. Incumbent Ellen Berz advanced from the primary for Dane County Circuit Court Branch 11.
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Berz in this election.
2018
General election
General election for Dane County Circuit Court Branch 11
Incumbent Ellen Berz won election in the general election for Dane County Circuit Court Branch 11 on April 3, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Ellen Berz (Nonpartisan) | 98.7 | 84,711 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.3 | 1,082 | ||
| Total votes: 85,793 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Selection method
- See also: Nonpartisan election of judges
The 241 judges of the Wisconsin Circuit Courts are elected in nonpartisan elections to six-year terms. All judges must run for re-election if they wish to continue serving after their term expires.[5]
The chief judge of each circuit court is chosen by the state supreme court to serve a two-year term.[5]
Qualifications
To serve on the circuit courts, a judge must be:[5]
- a qualified elector in the state;
- a qualified elector of his or her circuit (for circuit judges); and
- licensed to practice law in the state for at least five years.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Ellen Berz did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 University of Wisconsin Law School, "Ellen Berz: Biography," accessed December 9, 2013
- ↑ Ellen K. Berz campaign website, Internet Wayback Machine, February 22, 2012
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 The Cap Times, "Candidates Speak Out: Ellen K. Berz, candidate for Dane County Circuit Court judge," March 17, 2012
- ↑ Wisconsin State Journal, "Candidate profiles: Dane County Circuit Judge," March 25, 2012
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Wisconsin," archived October 3, 2014
Federal courts:
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Wisconsin, Western District of Wisconsin • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Wisconsin, Western District of Wisconsin
State courts:
Wisconsin Supreme Court • Wisconsin Court of Appeals • Wisconsin Circuit Courts • Wisconsin Municipal Courts
State resources:
Courts in Wisconsin • Wisconsin judicial elections • Judicial selection in Wisconsin
