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Janet Protasiewicz
Janet Claire Protasiewicz (/ˌproʊtəˈseɪwɪts/; proh-tə-SAY-wits; born December 3, 1962) is an American attorney and jurist from Wisconsin who has served as a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court since August 2023. Protasiewicz was elected to the court in the 2023 election, after previously serving as a Milwaukee County circuit court judge in from 2014 to 2023 and as an assistant district attorney in Milwaukee for 26 years.
Protasiewicz was born and raised on the south side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She graduated from Pius XI High School in 1981. She earned her bachelor's degree in education from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 1985 and her Juris Doctor from the Marquette University Law School in 1988.
Shortly after graduation from law school, Protasiewicz joined the office of the Milwaukee County District Attorney. She remained with the office 26 years as an assistant district attorney.
While working in the district attorney's office, she was a member of the employees' union. She participated in several of the protests against 2011 Wisconsin Act 10, the so-called "Budget Repair Bill," which stripped many collective bargaining rights from Wisconsin unions.
In 2013, she made her first run for public office, running for a Milwaukee County circuit judge position against incumbent Rebecca Bradley. Bradley had just been appointed to the position by Republican Governor Scott Walker, but managed to prevail in the election. Protasiewicz received 47% of the vote.
The following year, however, another Milwaukee County judge, Charles Kahn, announced his retirement. Protasiewicz ran for the open seat and won without opposition. She was re-elected without opposition in 2020. As a circuit judge, Protasiewicz was assigned to family court, and had previously presided over felony, domestic violence, and drug court cases.
In the spring of 2022, Protasiewicz announced her candidacy for Wisconsin Supreme Court in the 2023 election. Ultimately, three other candidates entered the race for the seat being vacated by the retirement of justice Patience Roggensack. Protasiewicz came in first in the February nonpartisan primary, securing a place in the April general election. Her opponent in the general election was former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice Daniel Kelly. Although Wisconsin Supreme Court elections are nonpartisan, Kelly was endorsed by the Republican Party of Wisconsin and Protasiewicz was endorsed by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.
Protasiewicz was candid during her campaign for Supreme Court about her philosophy and values on issues such as abortion, gerrymandering, LGBTQ rights, and environmental protections. She supports abortion and opposed the state's then Republican-drawn legislative maps.
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Janet Protasiewicz
Janet Claire Protasiewicz (/ˌproʊtəˈseɪwɪts/; proh-tə-SAY-wits; born December 3, 1962) is an American attorney and jurist from Wisconsin who has served as a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court since August 2023. Protasiewicz was elected to the court in the 2023 election, after previously serving as a Milwaukee County circuit court judge in from 2014 to 2023 and as an assistant district attorney in Milwaukee for 26 years.
Protasiewicz was born and raised on the south side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She graduated from Pius XI High School in 1981. She earned her bachelor's degree in education from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 1985 and her Juris Doctor from the Marquette University Law School in 1988.
Shortly after graduation from law school, Protasiewicz joined the office of the Milwaukee County District Attorney. She remained with the office 26 years as an assistant district attorney.
While working in the district attorney's office, she was a member of the employees' union. She participated in several of the protests against 2011 Wisconsin Act 10, the so-called "Budget Repair Bill," which stripped many collective bargaining rights from Wisconsin unions.
In 2013, she made her first run for public office, running for a Milwaukee County circuit judge position against incumbent Rebecca Bradley. Bradley had just been appointed to the position by Republican Governor Scott Walker, but managed to prevail in the election. Protasiewicz received 47% of the vote.
The following year, however, another Milwaukee County judge, Charles Kahn, announced his retirement. Protasiewicz ran for the open seat and won without opposition. She was re-elected without opposition in 2020. As a circuit judge, Protasiewicz was assigned to family court, and had previously presided over felony, domestic violence, and drug court cases.
In the spring of 2022, Protasiewicz announced her candidacy for Wisconsin Supreme Court in the 2023 election. Ultimately, three other candidates entered the race for the seat being vacated by the retirement of justice Patience Roggensack. Protasiewicz came in first in the February nonpartisan primary, securing a place in the April general election. Her opponent in the general election was former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice Daniel Kelly. Although Wisconsin Supreme Court elections are nonpartisan, Kelly was endorsed by the Republican Party of Wisconsin and Protasiewicz was endorsed by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.
Protasiewicz was candid during her campaign for Supreme Court about her philosophy and values on issues such as abortion, gerrymandering, LGBTQ rights, and environmental protections. She supports abortion and opposed the state's then Republican-drawn legislative maps.