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Kristy Yang
Kristy Yang is a judge for Branch 47 of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court in Wisconsin. She assumed office in 2017. Her current term ends on August 1, 2029.
Yang ran for re-election for the Branch 47 judge of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court in Wisconsin. She won in the general election on April 4, 2023.
Biography
Yang earned her undergraduate degree from Lakeland College. She also earned a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin. Yang owned Kashoua Yang, LLC, a law firm concentrating in family law, at the time of her election.[1]
Elections
2023
See also: Municipal elections in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin (2023)
General election
General election for Milwaukee County Circuit Court Branch 47
Incumbent Kristy Yang won election in the general election for Milwaukee County Circuit Court Branch 47 on April 4, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Kristy Yang (Nonpartisan) | 98.9 | 141,930 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.1 | 1,577 | ||
| Total votes: 143,507 | |||
 = 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. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
The primary election was canceled. Incumbent Kristy Yang advanced from the primary for Milwaukee County Circuit Court Branch 47.
2017
Wisconsin held local judicial elections in 2017. Forty-eight circuit court seats were up for election on April 4, 2017. Three seats required primaries on February 21, 2017, with the top two vote recipients for each seat advancing to the April 4 general election. Thirty-seven seats up for election in 2017 were unopposed.[2] Kristy Yang defeated Scott Wales in the general election for the Branch 47 seat on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court.
| Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Branch 47 General Election, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Kristy Yang |
57.32% | 49,288 |
| Scott Wales | 42.68% | 36,699 |
| Total Votes | 85,987 | |
| Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "April 2017 Wisconsin and Milwaukee-area spring general election results," April 4, 2017 | ||
Endorsements
Yang's endorsements included the following individuals:[3]
- Oak Creek Alderman Dan Bukiewicz
- State Rep. Jonathan Brostoff (D)
- State Rep. Frederick Kessler (D)
- Court of Appeals Judge JoAnne Kloppenburg
- Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Marshall Murray
Selection method
For more information about judicial selection processes in each state, click here.
Campaign themes
2023
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Kristy Yang did not complete Ballotpedia's 2023 Candidate Connection survey.
2017
Yang participated in Ballotpedia's 2017 survey of local judicial candidates. The following sections display her responses to the survey questions. When asked what non-judicial legal experience qualifies her to be a judge, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | After achieving a summa cum laude undergraduate degree, I worked for and traveled the world for many years for the Kohler Company before attending law school. I attended the University of Wisconsin Law school. I have been recognized not only by my clients but by my colleagues and judges for my hard work, and importantly, the quality of my work. For 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016, I have been nominated and selected as a Super Lawyer Rising Star. I am a family law mediator and have experience being in the role of a neutral third party. Currently, less than 10% of cases go to trial; my skills as a mediator will serve me well as a circuit court judge. Additionally, I have been recognized by the Milwaukee Bar Association and the Association of Women Lawyers for my pro bono work. After all, it is not the number of years or the quantity but the quality of what we as community members contribute to improving our community.[4][5] | ” |
When asked why she was running for this particular court seat, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | The reasons I am running for circuit court are multifaceted. I will bring a fresh, valuable perspective to our circuit courts. I have the depth and breadth of non-legal professional experience, legal experience, and community knowledge to serve as circuit court judge.[4][5] | ” |
When asked to identify one judge, past or present, who she admires, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor[4][5] | ” |
When asked about her primary concern regarding today's judicial system in her state, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | Public trust and confidence in the legal system.[4][5] | ” |
See also
2023 Elections
External links
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Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Yang for Judge, "Home," accessed March 7, 2017
- ↑ Wisconsin Elections Commission, "Spring 2017 Election," accessed January 3, 2017
- ↑ Yang for Judge, "Our Supporters," accessed March 7, 2017
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Ballotpedia's local judicial candidate survey, 2017, "Kristy Yang's Responses," March 6, 2017
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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
