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Wisconsin Court of Appeals: Difference between revisions

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==Elections==
==Elections==
===2025===
To see results from Wisconsin Court of Appeals elections, visit the [[Wisconsin Court of Appeals#Districts|individual district pages]]. For details about Wisconsin's judicial elections, [[Wisconsin judicial elections|click here]].
::''See also: [[Wisconsin intermediate appellate court elections, 2025]]''
* [[Wisconsin intermediate appellate court elections, 2026]]
 
* [[Wisconsin intermediate appellate court elections, 2025]]
The terms of three [[Wisconsin]] intermediate appellate court judges {{Greener | start=07/31/2025 9:00pm CST | before=will expire | after=expired}} on July 31, 2025. The three seats {{Greener | start=04/01/2025 9:00pm CST | before=are | after=were}} up for [[nonpartisan election of judges|nonpartisan]] election on April 1, 2025. The primary was scheduled to be held on February 18, 2025, but it was canceled when only one candidate filed for each seat. The candidates automatically advanced to the general election. The filing deadline was January 7, 2025.
* [[Wisconsin intermediate appellate court elections, 2024]]
 
* [[Wisconsin intermediate appellate court elections, 2023]]
{{WI IAC 2025}}
* [[Wisconsin intermediate appellate court elections, 2022]]
 
* [[Wisconsin intermediate appellate court elections, 2021]]
===2024===
* [[Wisconsin intermediate appellate court elections, 2020]]
::''See also: [[Wisconsin intermediate appellate court elections, 2024]]''
* [[Wisconsin intermediate appellate court elections, 2019]]
 
* [[Wisconsin intermediate appellate court elections, 2018]]
The terms of two [[Wisconsin]] intermediate appellate court judges {{Greener | start=07/31/2024 9:00pm CST | before=will expire | after=expired}} on July 31, 2024. The two seats {{Greener | start=04/02/2024 9:00pm CST | before=are | after=were}} up for [[nonpartisan election of judges|nonpartisan]] election on April 2, 2024. A primary {{Greener|start=2/20/2024 5:00pm CST|before=is|after=was}} scheduled for February 20, 2024. The filing deadline {{Greener|start={{StatewideFiling2024|WI spring}} 7:00PM CDT|before=is|after=was}} {{StatewideFiling2024|WI spring}}.
 
{{WI IAC 2024}}
===2023===
::''See also: [[Wisconsin intermediate appellate court elections, 2023]]''
{{WI IAC 2023}}
===2022===
::''See also: [[Wisconsin intermediate appellate court elections, 2022]]''
{{WI IAC 2022}}
 
===2021===
::''See also: [[Wisconsin intermediate appellate court elections, 2021]]''
{{WI IAC 2021}}
===2020===
::''See also: [[Wisconsin intermediate appellate court elections, 2020]]''
{{WI IAC 2020}}
===2019===
::''See also: [[Wisconsin intermediate appellate court elections, 2019]]''
{{WI IAC 2019}}
===2018===
::''See also: [[Wisconsin intermediate appellate court elections, 2018]]''
{{WI IAC 2018}}
===[[Wisconsin judicial elections, 2017|2017]]===
====Candidates====
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
====[[Wisconsin Court of Appeals District I|District I]]====
{{GrayBlock}} [[William Brash]] <small>''('''Incumbent/Unopposed''')''</small><br>
 
====[[Wisconsin Court of Appeals District II|District II]]====
{{GrayBlock}} [[Brian Hagedorn]] <small>''('''Incumbent/Unopposed''')''</small><br>
 
{{col-break}}
====[[Wisconsin Court of Appeals District III|District III]]====
:''No judges in [[Wisconsin Court of Appeals District III|District III]] have terms expiring in 2017.''
 
====[[Wisconsin Court of Appeals District IV|District IV]]====
:''Judge [[Paul Higginbotham]] declined to run for re-election even though his term expires in 2017.''<ref name=Hig>[http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime-and-courts/state-appeals-court-judge-paul-higginbotham-won-t-seek-re/article_1ba16fb6-0b49-5ccf-af9c-a0466bfa4eb4.html ''Wisconsin State Journal'', "State appeals court judge Paul Higginbotham won't seek re-election," May 18, 2016]</ref>
 
{{GrayBlock}} [[Michael R. Fitzpatrick (Wisconsin)|Michael R. Fitzpatrick]] <small>''('''Unopposed''')''</small><br>
{{col-end}}
 
===2016===
:''See also: [[Wisconsin judicial elections, 2016]]''
 
{{Wisconsin judicial results 2016|office=Wisconsin Court of Appeals, First District, Joan Kessler's Seat}}<br>
{{Wisconsin judicial results 2016|office=Wisconsin Court of Appeals, Second District, Paul Reilly's Seat}}<br>
{{Wisconsin judicial results 2016|office=Wisconsin Court of Appeals, Third District, Thomas Hruz's Seat}}<br>
{{Wisconsin judicial results 2016|office=Wisconsin Court of Appeals, Fourth District, Brian Blanchard's Seat}}
 
===2013===
:''See also: [[Wisconsin judicial elections, 2013]]''
=====[[Wisconsin Court of Appeals District II|Court of Appeals District II]]=====
<table width="600px" class="sortable" style="text-align:center;"><tr bgcolor="#2c5285" style="color:white;"><th>Candidate</th><th>Incumbency</th><th>Position</th><th>Primary Vote</th><th>Election Vote</th></tr><tr><td align="left"><span style="display:none;">Gundrum</span>[[Mark Gundrum|Mark Gundrum]]<html><a href="/File:Yes_check.svg" class="image" title="Approved"><img alt="Approved" src="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/f/fb/Yes_check.svg/18px-Yes_check.svg.png" width="18" height="18" /></a><span style="display:none;">A</span></html></td><td>Yes</td><td>District II</td><td></td><td>99.55&#37;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<html><a href="/File:Yes_check.svg" class="image" title="Approved"><img alt="Approved" src="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/f/fb/Yes_check.svg/18px-Yes_check.svg.png" width="18" height="18" /></a><span style="display:none;">A</span></html></td></tr></table>
[[Category:2013 elections (judicial)]]
=====[[Wisconsin Court of Appeals District III|Court of Appeals District III]]=====
<table width="600px" class="sortable" style="text-align:center;"><tr bgcolor="#2c5285" style="color:white;"><th>Candidate</th><th>Incumbency</th><th>Position</th><th>Primary Vote</th><th>Election Vote</th></tr><tr><td align="left"><span style="display:none;">Stark</span>[[Lisa Stark|Lisa Stark]]<html><a href="/File:Yes_check.svg" class="image" title="Approved"><img alt="Approved" src="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/f/fb/Yes_check.svg/18px-Yes_check.svg.png" width="18" height="18" /></a><span style="display:none;">A</span></html></td><td>No</td><td>District III</td><td></td><td>99.6&#37;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<html><a href="/File:Yes_check.svg" class="image" title="Approved"><img alt="Approved" src="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/f/fb/Yes_check.svg/18px-Yes_check.svg.png" width="18" height="18" /></a><span style="display:none;">A</span></html></td></tr></table>
[[Category:2013 elections (judicial)]]
=====[[Wisconsin Court of Appeals District IV|Court of Appeals District IV]]=====
<table width="600px" class="sortable" style="text-align:center;"><tr bgcolor="#2c5285" style="color:white;"><th>Candidate</th><th>Incumbency</th><th>Position</th><th>Primary Vote</th><th>Election Vote</th></tr><tr><td align="left"><span style="display:none;">Lundsten</span>[[Paul Lundsten|Paul Lundsten]]<html><a href="/File:Yes_check.svg" class="image" title="Approved"><img alt="Approved" src="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/f/fb/Yes_check.svg/18px-Yes_check.svg.png" width="18" height="18" /></a><span style="display:none;">A</span></html></td><td>Yes</td><td>District IV</td><td></td><td>99.55&#37;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<html><a href="/File:Yes_check.svg" class="image" title="Approved"><img alt="Approved" src="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/f/fb/Yes_check.svg/18px-Yes_check.svg.png" width="18" height="18" /></a><span style="display:none;">A</span></html></td></tr></table>
[[Category:2013 elections (judicial)]]
 
===2012===
=====[[Wisconsin Court of Appeals District I|Court of Appeals District I]]=====
<table width="600px" class="sortable" style="text-align:center;"><tr bgcolor="#2c5285" style="color:white;"><th>Candidate</th><th>Incumbency</th><th>Position</th><th>Primary Vote</th><th>Election Vote</th></tr><tr><td align="left"><span style="display:none;">Fine</span>[[Ralph Adam Fine|Ralph Adam Fine]]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<html><a href="/File:Yes_check.svg" class="image" title="Approved"><img alt="Approved" src="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/f/fb/Yes_check.svg/18px-Yes_check.svg.png" width="18" height="18" /></a><span style="display:none;">A</span></html></td><td>Yes</td><td>District I</td><td>n/a</td><td>100&#37;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<html><a href="/File:Yes_check.svg" class="image" title="Approved"><img alt="Approved" src="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/f/fb/Yes_check.svg/18px-Yes_check.svg.png" width="18" height="18" /></a><span style="display:none;">A</span></html></td></tr></table>
[[Category:2012 elections (judicial)]]
=====[[Wisconsin Court of Appeals District II|Court of Appeals District II]]=====
<table width="600px" class="sortable" style="text-align:center;"><tr bgcolor="#2c5285" style="color:white;"><th>Candidate</th><th>Incumbency</th><th>Position</th><th>Primary Vote</th><th>Election Vote</th></tr><tr><td align="left"><span style="display:none;">Brown</span>[[Richard Brown (Wisconsin)|Richard Brown (Wisconsin)]]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<html><a href="/File:Yes_check.svg" class="image" title="Approved"><img alt="Approved" src="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/f/fb/Yes_check.svg/18px-Yes_check.svg.png" width="18" height="18" /></a><span style="display:none;">A</span></html></td><td>Yes</td><td>District II</td><td>n/a</td><td>100&#37;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<html><a href="/File:Yes_check.svg" class="image" title="Approved"><img alt="Approved" src="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/f/fb/Yes_check.svg/18px-Yes_check.svg.png" width="18" height="18" /></a><span style="display:none;">A</span></html></td></tr></table>
[[Category:2012 elections (judicial)]]
=====[[Wisconsin Court of Appeals District III|Court of Appeals District III]]=====
<table width="600px" class="sortable" style="text-align:center;"><tr bgcolor="#2c5285" style="color:white;"><th>Candidate</th><th>Incumbency</th><th>Position</th><th>Primary Vote</th><th>Election Vote</th></tr><tr><td align="left"><span style="display:none;">Mangerson</span>[[Mark Mangerson|Mark Mangerson]]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<html><a href="/File:Yes_check.svg" class="image" title="Approved"><img alt="Approved" src="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/f/fb/Yes_check.svg/18px-Yes_check.svg.png" width="18" height="18" /></a><span style="display:none;">A</span></html></td><td>Yes</td><td>District III</td><td>n/a</td><td>100&#37;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<html><a href="/File:Yes_check.svg" class="image" title="Approved"><img alt="Approved" src="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/f/fb/Yes_check.svg/18px-Yes_check.svg.png" width="18" height="18" /></a><span style="display:none;">A</span></html></td></tr></table>
[[Category:2012 elections (judicial)]]
=====[[Wisconsin Court of Appeals District IV|Court of Appeals District IV]]=====
<table width="600px" class="sortable" style="text-align:center;"><tr bgcolor="#2c5285" style="color:white;"><th>Candidate</th><th>Incumbency</th><th>Position</th><th>Primary Vote</th><th>Election Vote</th></tr><tr><td align="left"><span style="display:none;">Kloppenburg</span>[[JoAnne Kloppenburg|JoAnne Kloppenburg]]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<html><a href="/File:Yes_check.svg" class="image" title="Approved"><img alt="Approved" src="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/f/fb/Yes_check.svg/18px-Yes_check.svg.png" width="18" height="18" /></a><span style="display:none;">A</span></html></td><td>No</td><td>District IV</td><td>n/a</td><td>100&#37;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<html><a href="/File:Yes_check.svg" class="image" title="Approved"><img alt="Approved" src="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/f/fb/Yes_check.svg/18px-Yes_check.svg.png" width="18" height="18" /></a><span style="display:none;">A</span></html></td></tr></table>
[[Category:2012 elections (judicial)]]
 
===2011===
=====[[Wisconsin Court of Appeals District III|Court of Appeals District III]]=====
<table width="600px" class="sortable" style="text-align:center;"><tr bgcolor="#2c5285" style="color:white;"><th>Candidate</th><th>Incumbency</th><th>Position</th><th>Primary Vote</th><th>Election Vote</th></tr><tr><td align="left"><span style="display:none;">Peterson</span>[[Gregory Peterson|Gregory Peterson]]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<html><a href="/File:Yes_check.svg" class="image" title="Approved"><img alt="Approved" src="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/f/fb/Yes_check.svg/18px-Yes_check.svg.png" width="18" height="18" /></a><span style="display:none;">A</span></html></td><td>Yes</td><td>District III</td><td>n/a</td><td>99.48&#37;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<html><a href="/File:Yes_check.svg" class="image" title="Approved"><img alt="Approved" src="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/f/fb/Yes_check.svg/18px-Yes_check.svg.png" width="18" height="18" /></a><span style="display:none;">A</span></html></td></tr></table>
[[Category:2011 elections (judicial)]][[Category:2011 elections]]
=====[[Wisconsin Court of Appeals District IV|Court of Appeals District IV]]=====
<table width="600px" class="sortable" style="text-align:center;"><tr bgcolor="#2c5285" style="color:white;"><th>Candidate</th><th>Incumbency</th><th>Position</th><th>Primary Vote</th><th>Election Vote</th></tr><tr><td align="left"><span style="display:none;">Higginbotham</span>[[Paul_Higginbotham|Paul Higginbotham]]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<html><a href="/File:Yes_check.svg" class="image" title="Approved"><img alt="Approved" src="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/f/fb/Yes_check.svg/18px-Yes_check.svg.png" width="18" height="18" /></a><span style="display:none;">A</span></html></td><td>Yes</td><td>District IV</td><td>n/a</td><td>99.44&#37;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<html><a href="/File:Yes_check.svg" class="image" title="Approved"><img alt="Approved" src="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/f/fb/Yes_check.svg/18px-Yes_check.svg.png" width="18" height="18" /></a><span style="display:none;">A</span></html></td></tr></table>
[[Category:2011 elections (judicial)]][[Category:2011 elections]]


==Ethics==
==Ethics==

Latest revision as of 18:13, 18 December 2025

Wisconsin Court of Appeals districts

The Wisconsin Court of Appeals is the state's intermediate appellate court. It was founded in 1978. The court is composed of 16 judges from four districts, headquartered in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Wausau, and Madison. The judges are elected to six-year terms in district-wide, nonpartisan April elections. Vacancies are filled by gubernatorial appointment, and a new appointee is required to stand for election to a full six-year term the following spring.[1][2]

Functions

State courts

The primary function of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals is to correct errors from Circuit Court cases. Court of appeals opinions become binding precedent unless the Wisconsin Supreme Court overrules them.[3]

Judges of the Court of Appeals sit in three-judge panels for most appeals. Some cases are decided by a single judge, however: small claims actions, municipal ordinance violations, traffic regulation violations, mental health, juvenile, contempt, and misdemeanor cases.[3]

The Court of Appeals makes decisions based on circuit court records and the written briefs of the parties, only hearing oral arguments when the judges think it will help their decision. While the Court of Appeals issues a written decision in every case, it has a publication committee to determine which decisions are published. Only published opinions have precedential authority.[3]

Published opinions of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals can be found here.

Districts

District Seat Counties served
District I Milwaukee Milwaukee County
District II Waukesha Calumet, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Kenosha, Manitowoc, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha and Winnebago counties
District III Wausau Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Forest, Iron, Kewaunee, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Shawano, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vilas and Washburn counties
District IV Madison Adams, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, La Crosse, Lafayette, Marquette, Monroe, Portage, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Vernon, Waupaca, Waushara and Wood counties

Judges

District I

Judge Tenure Appointed By

Martin Joseph Donald

September 6, 2019 - Present

Tony Evers

Maxine A. White

February 7, 2020 - Present

Tony Evers

Sara Geenen

August 1, 2023 - Present

Elected

Pedro A. Colón

November 19, 2023 - Present

Tony Evers


District II

Judge Tenure Appointed By

Mark Gundrum

November 30, 2011 - Present

Scott Walker

Shelley Grogan

August 1, 2021 - Present

Elected

Maria S. Lazar

August 1, 2022 - Present

Lisa Neubauer

January 7, 2008 - Present

James Doyle


District III

Judge Tenure Appointed By

Thomas M. Hruz

August 1, 2014 - Present

Scott Walker

Greg Gill Jr.

August 1, 2021 - Present

Elected

Lisa Kay Stark

April 23, 2013 - Present

Scott Walker


District IV

Judge Tenure Appointed By

Jennifer Nashold

August 1, 2019 - Present

Elected

Brian Blanchard

August 1, 2010 - Present

Elected

Rachel Graham

July 4, 2019 - Present

Tony Evers

JoAnne Kloppenburg

August 1, 2012 - Present

Elected

Chris Taylor

August 1, 2023 - Present

Elected


Former judges

Salary

See also: Wisconsin court salaries and budgets

In 2025, the associate judges of the court received a salary of $184,995, according to the National Center for State Courts.[4]

Judicial selection

See also: Judicial selection in Wisconsin

The 16 judges on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals are elected in nonpartisan elections. Judges serve six-year terms, and to remain on the court, they must run for re-election after their term expires.[5][6]

Qualifications

To serve on the court of appeals, a judge must be:

  • a qualified elector of Wisconsin;
  • licensed to practice law in Wisconsin for a minimum of five years immediately prior to election or appointment; and
  • under the age of 70.[7]

Chief judge

The Wisconsin Supreme Court appoints the chief judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. The chief judge serves a three-year term.[5] Each of the four districts of the court of appeals is managed by a presiding judge, appointed by the chief judge of the court of appeals. The presiding judges serve two-year terms.[2][8]

Vacancies

In the event of a vacancy on the court, the governor has the power and duty to appoint an individual to the vacancy. The governor screens judicial applicants using an advisory council on judicial selection. The council recommends three to five candidates to the governor, although the governor is not bound by their recommendations. The appointed judge must then stand for election in the first subsequent year in which no other judge's term expires.[6][5]

Elections

To see results from Wisconsin Court of Appeals elections, visit the individual district pages. For details about Wisconsin's judicial elections, click here.

Ethics

The Wisconsin Code of Judicial Conduct sets forth ethical guidelines and principles for the conduct of judges and judicial candidates in Wisconsin. It consists of seven Supreme Court Rules:

  • Rule 60.01: Definitions.
  • Rule 60.02: A judge shall uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary.
  • Rule 60.03: A judge shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all of the judge's activities.
  • Rule 60.04: A judge shall perform the duties of judicial office impartially and diligently.
  • Rule 60.05: A judge shall so conduct the judge's extra-judicial activities as to minimize the risk of conflict with judicial obligations.
  • Rule 60.06: A judge or judicial candidate shall refrain from inappropriate political activity.
  • Rule 60.07: Applicability.[9]

The full text of the Wisconsin Code of Judicial Conduct can be found here.

Removal of judges

Court of Appeals judges in Wisconsin may be removed in one of four ways:

  • By the Supreme Court, on the recommendation of the Wisconsin Judicial Commission.
  • By a two-thirds vote of the Senate, upon impeachment by a majority vote of the Assembly.
  • By the governor, upon address of both houses of the legislature with concurrence of two thirds of each house.
  • By the voters through a recall election.


State profile

Demographic data for Wisconsin
 WisconsinU.S.
Total population:5,767,891316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):54,1583,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:86.5%73.6%
Black/African American:6.3%12.6%
Asian:2.5%5.1%
Native American:0.9%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0%0.2%
Two or more:2.1%3%
Hispanic/Latino:6.3%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:91%86.7%
College graduation rate:27.8%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$53,357$53,889
Persons below poverty level:15%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Wisconsin.
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Presidential voting pattern

See also: Presidential voting trends in Wisconsin

Wisconsin voted for the Democratic candidate in five out of the seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.

Pivot Counties (2016)

Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, 23 are located in Wisconsin, accounting for 11.17 percent of the total pivot counties.[10]

Pivot Counties (2020)

In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Wisconsin had 21 Retained Pivot Counties and two Boomerang Pivot Counties, accounting for 11.60 and 8.00 percent of all Retained and Boomerang Pivot Counties, respectively.

More Wisconsin coverage on Ballotpedia

See also

Wisconsin Judicial Selection More Courts
Seal of Wisconsin.png
Judicialselectionlogo.png
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Courts in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Court of Appeals
Wisconsin Supreme Court
Elections: 2026202520242023202220212020201920182017
Gubernatorial appointments
Judicial selection in Wisconsin
Federal courts
State courts
Local courts

External links

Footnotes