Milwaukee County Circuit Court
First Judicial District
Chief Judge
Carl Ashley
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Judicial Districts
The state's 72 counties are grouped into nine judicial administrative districts. Milwaukee County is the First Judicial District. In each district there is a Chief Judge appointed by the Supreme Court and Deputy Chief Judge(s) appointed by the Chief Judge. The Chief Judge, who may serve up to three consecutive two-year terms, supervises and directs the administration of the district.
A professional District Court Administrator and a District Administrative Assistant, both employees of the Director of State Courts and permanently located in the district, assist the Chief Judge.
Chief Judge Carl Ashley
Judge Carl Ashley was appointed as Chief Judge of the First Judicial District effective April 15, 2023, by the Supreme Court of Wisconsin. He is the Chair of the Milwaukee Community Justice Council (MCJC).
During his 24 years on the bench, he had the privilege to serve in every court division (Misdemeanor, Felony, Family Court, Large Claims Civil, and Children's Court), as well as the Adult Drug Treatment Court, Veterans Treatment Court, and Domestic Violence Court.
Judge Ashley is Chair of the Supreme Court Planning and Policy Subcommittee on Effective Justice Strategies (EJS). Judge Ashley is also Past Chair of the Wisconsin State Bar Diversity and Inclusion Oversight Committee. He is the Chair of the Milwaukee County Race, Equity and Procedural Justice Committee.
He is a member of the Evidenced-based Sentencing Judicial Peer Group for the National Center for State Courts. He is a faculty member of the Wisconsin Judicial College. He is the Chair of the Wisconsin Association of Treatment Court Professionals (WATCP) Subcommittee on Equity and Inclusion.
In 2003, he received the Innovator of the Year Award in recognition of vision, creativity, and innovative spirit. In 2011, he was selected by the State Bar of Wisconsin as Judge of the Year. In 2013, Judge Ashley received the Leaders in the Law Award from the Wisconsin Law Journal. In 2014 and 2015, Judge Ashley was presented with the State Bar’s President’s Award. In 2016, he received the E. Michael McCann Distinguished Public Service Award. In 2019, he received the Charles L. Goldberg, Distinguished Service Award from the Wisconsin Law Foundation.
Milwaukee County Circuit Court Local Rules Revision Project
The Local Rules of the First Judicial District have been substantially revised. New rules governing the civil and criminal divisions and new rules generally applicable in all divisions became effective March 1, 2009. New rules governing the family division become effective on April 15, 2010.
New rules regarding the children’s division are being developed. Consult this site for updates and an opportunity to comment on the proposed rules.
If you have comments regarding the new local rules, direct them to Judge Kevin Martens at [email protected], the chair of the Local Rules Revision Project Committee.
- Revised Local Rules Governing the Civil, Criminal and Family Divisions and Rules Generally Applicable to All Divisions
- 14-11 Revision of Local Rules
- Attachment - Proceedings for Amortization of Debt
- Appendix of CV Forms 1-4
- Fillable Form: Petition to Amortize Debt (Forms CV 5-10)
- Form 1929-R1: Plea Questionnaire Addendum
- Scheduling Conference Data Sheet