Dane County, Wisconsin (Judicial)

Dane County is within the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District IV.

The people of Dane County are served by a Municipal Court and the 5th District Circuit Court.

The United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin has jurisdiction in Dane County. Appeals from the Western District go to the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit.

Courts

Dane County, Wisconsin

Court of Appeals

Wisconsin Court of Appeals 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

Circuit Court

Dane County Circuit Court, Wisconsin

Office	Name
Dane County Circuit Court Branch 1	Susan Crawford
Dane County Circuit Court Branch 2	Payal Khandhar
Dane County Circuit Court Branch 3	Diane Schlipper
Dane County Circuit Court Branch 4	Everett Mitchell
Dane County Circuit Court Branch 5	Nicholas McNamara
Dane County Circuit Court Branch 6	Nia Trammell
Dane County Circuit Court Branch 7	Mario White
Dane County Circuit Court Branch 8	Frank Remington
Dane County Circuit Court Branch 9	Jacob Frost
Dane County Circuit Court Branch 10	Ryan Nilsestuen
Dane County Circuit Court Branch 11	Ellen Berz
Dane County Circuit Court Branch 12	Ann Peacock
Dane County Circuit Court Branch 13	Julie Genovese
Dane County Circuit Court Branch 14	John Hyland
Dane County Circuit Court Branch 15	Stephen Ehlke
Dane County Circuit Court Branch 16	Rhonda L. Lanford
Dane County Circuit Court Branch 17	David Conway

See also

• Wisconsin counties
• Courts in Wisconsin

Footnotes

Wisconsin courts

---

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

Elections

See also: Wisconsin judicial elections

Wisconsin is one of 43 states that hold elections for judicial positions. To learn more about judicial selection in Wisconsin, click here.

• Wisconsin local trial court judicial elections, 2025
• Wisconsin local trial court judicial elections, 2024
• Wisconsin local trial court judicial elections, 2023
• Wisconsin local trial court judicial elections, 2022
• Wisconsin local trial court judicial elections, 2021
• Wisconsin local trial court judicial elections, 2020
• Wisconsin local trial court judicial elections, 2019
• Wisconsin local trial court judicial elections, 2018
• Wisconsin local trial court judicial elections, 2017
• Wisconsin local trial court judicial elections, 2016
• Wisconsin judicial elections, 2015
• Wisconsin judicial elections, 2014
• Wisconsin judicial elections, 2013
• Wisconsin judicial elections, 2012
• Wisconsin judicial elections, 2011
• Wisconsin judicial elections, 2010

Election rules

Primary election

A primary is held on the third Tuesday in February to nominate judicial candidates for the spring election. Candidates seeking election must file by the first Tuesday in January preceding the spring general election. A primary is required if more than two candidates file for nomination to the supreme court, the same district of an appellate court, or for the same branch of a circuit court. If the number of candidates for office does not exceed twice the number to be elected to the office a primary is not held and all the candidates will appear on the ballot in the spring election. The two candidates who receive the most votes in a primary race advance to the general election.

General election

A spring election is held on the first Tuesday in April.