Michael N. Nowakowski
Dane County Circuit Court Judge
2008 Lifetime Jurist Achievement Award
The Lifetime Jurist Achievement Award recognizes a
jurist who has served more than one full term as a circuit court judge
and who has demonstrated outstanding, long-term judicial service during
his or her years as a sitting judge.
March 4, 2009 – After 24 years on the Dane County
bench, Michael N. Nowakowski will retire in July. While
Nowakowski has served in the juvenile, criminal, and civil divisions,
most will remember him for his dedication and commitment as the head of
a committee that ultimately won the approval for a new Dane County
Courthouse.
In a letter of nomination, the Dane County Bar Association notes
Nowakowski’s efforts regarding the new courthouse, “he took
on the unenviable task of championing that cause over a decade, and then
overseeing the design and construction … it is no small
achievement that of the thousands of details that went into planning the
courthouse, there were so few glitches in its operation. His
contributions to this effort are immeasurable, and the new Dane County
Courthouse has had a positive impact on the circuit court, the legal
community and, most importantly, the public.”
In 2001 he was appointed by the Wisconsin Supreme Court as Chief
Judge of the Fifth Judicial Administrative District. He served as
“Chief of the Chiefs” from 2006 to 2007.
Michael J. Rosborough, Vernon County Circuit Court Judge, who
concurrently served as a chief judge with Nowakowski for six years,
said, “Judge Nowakowski was an active, productive participant at
the meeting of the Committee of Chief Judges, bringing thoughtful,
constructive ideas to the table. He served and chaired several of the
subcommittees that were formed during these years to address the many
and varied topics put before the chief judges, most notably the Judicial
Workload Committee. His former role as a county board supervisor
contributed a valuable point of view to the many discussions that
related to county government.”
Nowakowski received his B.A. from the U.W.-Madison in 1971 and his
J.D. cum laude from the U.W. Law School in 1974, and was named to the
Order of the Coif. He was first elected to the bench in 1985 after 11
years in a general litigation practice.
Long-time law school friend and colleague Robert Ramsdell cited
Nowakowski’s service to the Dane County Board. “He earned
the respect of liberals and conservatives alike for his thoughtful
approach to the issues. I watched him work tirelessly on County Board
matters for a pittance. For Mike, there was no greater calling than
public service, and he served with distinction and devotion.”
As chief judge for the Fifth District, he helped implement an
exchange program with the U.W. Law School and judges from Shanghai,
China, and was instrumental in establishing the Criminal Defense
Project, in which lawyers contract with the county to provide legal
services for the indigent, who in turn reimburse the county for the
expense.
Nowakowski has served as the treasurer for the Rubin for Kids board
for the past 14 years. Rubin for Kids is a nonprofit organization that
helps achieving youths by awarding them stipends to encourage their
efforts. “Mike believes deeply in the value of human being and
this has guided him to help others in achieving their goals. He has
quietly labored throughout his career to make our society a more just
place for all,” says Rubin for Kids Board, co-president Barb
Rubin.
He served as presiding judge of the civil division from 1991 to 1995,
authored Manual of Wisconsin Law and Procedure in Juvenile Court
Proceedings (State Bar of Wisconsin 1979), and lectures frequently
on a variety of legal topics. Nowakowski was a Civil Benchbook Committee
member for six years and chaired the 1998 Judicial Conference.
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