MADISON — With the February 17 Primary Election approaching quickly, members of Wisconsin’s legal community continue to announce their support for Judge Ben Jones to carry on serving in Dane County Circuit Court, Branch 1.
The broad coalition of respected voices in Wisconsin’s legal community includes both local and statewide elected officials, judges, attorneys, and sheriffs — experienced professionals with diverse backgrounds who have each committed their careers to service in protecting the public.
“Ben understands what it means to be a judge, and every day brings the values we share to the bench – commitment to the rule of law, a belief that all people should be treated fairly, and an understanding that power and money shouldn’t buy favoritism.” – Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Susan Crawford
“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.” – Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett
Additional figures from Wisconsin’s expansive legal community to endorse Judge Ben Jones include:
- Wisconsin District IV Court of Appeals Judges Rachel Graham and Jennifer Nashold
- Dane County Circuit Court Judges Diane Schlipper (Branch 3), Nia Trammel (Branch 6), Jacob Frost (Branch 9), Ryan Nilsestuen (Branch 10), John Hyland (Branch 14), and Stephen Ehlke (Branch 15)
- Retired Dane County Judges Rick Niess, Frank Remington, David Flanagan, and Amy Smith.
- Fellow Circuit Court Judges from around Wisconsin — including Judge Mark Sanders (Milwaukee Circuit Court, Branch 28), Judge Jorge Fragoso (Milwaukee Circuit Court, Branch 23), Judge Jamie McClendon (Racine Circuit Court, Branch 7), Judge Emily Long (Eau Claire County Circuit Court, Branch 3), Judge Emily Nolan-Plutchak (Wood County Circuit Court Branch 3).
See the full list of endorsements for Judge Ben Jones at https://judgebenjones.com/endorsements
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.
