MADISON—Today, Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett endorsed Judge Ben Jones for election to a full term in Dane County Circuit Court, Branch 1. Judge Jones was appointed by Gov. Tony Evers, and has already been endorsed by Supreme Court Justice Susan Crawford, who he replaced in Branch 1.
“There’s nothing more important our judicial system can do than to keep all people safe, and to treat all people with dignity, and Judge Ben Jones is the best choice to keep doing that work in Branch 1,” said Sheriff Barrett. “He’s dedicated his career to helping kids and making sure every resident of Dane County and across the state is treated with dignity and with empathy, and I’m proud to endorse him. We are seeing communities across the country under assault from an out-of-control Administration in Washington, DC, and we need great people like Ben on the bench to protect all of our rights.”
“It’s an honor to have the support of a dedicated public servant like Sheriff Kalvin Barrett,” said Judge Jones. “He knows what it means to keep people safe, and to ensure that every person who touches our system, whether it is victims, families, accused perpetrators, convicted offenders, law enforcement, litigants, or attorneys and court staff, all deserve to be treated with dignity and empathy. We need to listen and be kind to all, while we enforce the law and do our best to ensure just outcomes under the law. I thank Sheriff Barrett for his support.”
A longtime champion for the rights of kids and inclusion in education, Judge Jones was appointed to the bench by Governor Tony Evers earlier this year, following a comprehensive merit-driven selection process. Prior to being appointed to the bench, Judge Jones built an impressive record as an attorney in private practice, and then was chief legal counsel at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), the state’s education agency.
Jones distinguished himself at DPI as the leader developing legal frameworks for providing education during the COVID crisis. He was also the architect of a legal strategy to protect children’s rights, especially as the Trump Administration has tried to undermine protections secured through generations of advocacy – especially for LGBTQ+ kids.
Judge Jones lives in Monona with his wife and two sons, and is a proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison and UW Law School.
The general election will be April 7, 2026, with a primary election to be held February 17 if there are three or more candidates.
