Bench and Bar Committee - Judge of the Year Application

• ​​​Nomination Form​
  Download (108 KB)
• Download (154 KB)
  Fillable Nomination Form

DEADLINE - January 31, 2025

The Judge of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding circuit court trial judge who is an example of a fair and impartial jurist. He or she will have been a leader in advancing the quality of justice, judicial education, or innovative programs. He or she may also have demonstrated the ability to effectively handle complex or unusual trials. High ideals, personal character, and community involvement that enhance the judicial system are hallmarks of the Judge of the Year Award recipient.​​

Eligibility Guidelines

Established to honor a circuit court trial judge who has made significant recent contributions:

Eligibility:

1. Nominee is an outstanding circuit court trial judge who exemplifies a fair and impartial jurist;
2. Nominee has made significant recent contributions in advancing the quality of justice, judicial education, technology, or innovative programs;
3. Nominee has demonstrated high ideals, exemplary personal character, and judicial competence;
4. Nominee is actively involved in community efforts that enhance the judicial system;
5. Nominee may have demonstrated the ability to effectively handle challenging court proceedings.

Ineligibility:​

1. Nominee cannot be campaigning for elected office other than the currently held office during the nomination process; and
2. Judges who are current members of the Bench and Bar Committee of the State Bar of Wisconsin are not eligible.

Deadline for submittal of nomination materials is January 31, 2025

To nominate an individual, please submit the following documents by JANUARY 31, 2025 to: Bench and Bar Committee, c/o Lisa Roys, State Bar of Wisconsin, P.O. Box 7158, Madison, WI 53707-7158 or to lroys@wisbar.org.

1) A completed nomination form, or fillable nomination form. Please provide both the nominator and candidate information requested.

2) A letter addressing each of the criteria listed on the Judicial Awards Eligibility Guidelines that are applicable to the award for which you are nominating your candidate. Please also provide concrete examples that will emphasize your nominee's accomplishments, ideals, personal character and judicial competence. Also, please describe in detail your nominee's experience level, including any creative or innovative programs your nominee has implemented, any publishing credits and teaching experience, and be sure to include any other relevant information that you believe distinguishes your candidate.

3) Letters of recommendation. In order to provide the selection committee with more information, we suggest you submit at least three, but no more than five, letters of recommendation or testimonials from other​ individuals (including lawyers, judges, public officials or civic leaders) that address one or more of the criteria for the award for which you are nominating your candidate.

Please send your nomination materials to:

Bench and Bar Committee Judicial Achievement Awards Subcommittee
c/o Lisa Roys​
State Bar of Wisconsin
P.O. Box 7158
Madison, WI 53707-7158

OR​

lroys@wisbar.org​

​

Please, no fax materials.​​

Judge of the Year Award Recipients

2024  *
2023  Judge Richard Radcliffe, Monroe County Circuit Court
​2022  Judge James Babler, ​​Barron County Circuit Court
2021  Judge Ralph Ramirez, Waukesha County Circuit Court
2020  Judge John Anderson, Bayfield County Circuit Court
2019​  Judge Michael J. Dwyer, Milwaukee County Circuit Court
2018  Judge Kathryn Foster, Waukesha County Circuit Court
2017  Judge Frederick Rosa, Milwaukee County Circuit Court
2016  Judge Robert P. VanDeHey, Grant County Circuit Court
2015  Judge William Domina, Waukesha County Circuit Court
2014  Judge Jeffrey Kremers, Milwaukee County Circuit Court
2012  Judge Mary Ann Sumi, Dane County
2011  Judge Carl Ashley, Milwaukee County Circuit Court
2010  Judge Benjamin D. Proctor, Eau Claire County
2009  ​Judge Tom R. Wolfgram, Ozaukee County Circuit Court
2008  Judge Frederic W. Fleishauer, Portage County Circuit Court
2007  * 
2006  Kitty K. Brennan, Milwaukee County Circuit Court
2005  Mark S. Gempeler, Waukesha County Circuit Court
2004  John J. Perlich, La Crosse County Circuit Court
2003  Gerald C. Nichol, Dane County Circuit Court
2002  Maxine White, Milwaukee County Circuit Court
2001  Gary L. Carlson, Taylor County Circuit Court
2000  Michael P. Sullivan, Milwaukee County Circuit Court
1999  Harold V. Froe​lich, Outagamie County Circuit Court
1998  Dennis Barry, Racine County Circuit Court
1997  Thomas Barland, Eau Claire Circuit Court ​​

* No award