Madison, Wisconsin (March 16, 2023) – The Wisconsin Supreme Court has elected Chief Justice Annette Kingsland Ziegler to serve a second two-year term as chief justice, effective May 1, 2023. Chief Justice Ziegler was first elected to the Court in 2007 and became chief justice in 2021, succeeding former Chief Justice Patience Drake Roggensack in that role.
“I greatly appreciate the opportunity to continue serving the court system and the people of Wisconsin. There’s a lot of work aside from deciding cases that goes into keeping the courts running smoothly. I am fortunate to work with a group of very talented and passionate people, who understand and appreciate the role of the courts in our justice system and in our form of government,” Ziegler said.
Justice Roggensack, who served as chief justice from 2015 to 2021, was the first chief justice elected by the Court.
“Chief Justice Ziegler has provided outstanding service to the judicial system, and I was happy to nominate her to serve another two-year term,” Justice Roggensack said.
Pursuant to Article VII, Section 4 (3) of the Wisconsin Constitution, the chief justice of the Supreme Court is the administrative head of the judicial system and exercises administrative authority pursuant to procedures adopted by the Supreme Court. In this role, the chief justice works with fellow justices, the director of state courts, chief judges and other administrators to ensure the courts operate efficiently.
Before her election to the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Ziegler served as a Washington County Circuit Court judge from 1997 to 2007, including service as deputy chief judge of the Third Judicial Administrative District.
Chief Justice Ziegler received her law degree from Marquette University and bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Business Administration from Hope College in Holland, Michigan. She was recognized as the Marquette Law School Alumna of the Year in April, 2019 and received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Hope College in 2014.
Upon graduation from law school, Justice Ziegler was in private practice, where she engaged in civil litigation. She also served as a pro bono special assistant district attorney in Milwaukee County in 1992 and 1996. Immediately prior to serving as a circuit court judge, she was an assistant United States attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
Chief Justice Ziegler is the second justice to be elected to serve as Chief Justice since the 2015 constitutional amendment that permitted Supreme Court Justices to select the chief justice. Justice Roggensack, who will retire July 31, was the first justice to be elected by fellow justices to serve as chief justice.
