After years of work advancing treatment courts in western Wisconsin, Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Todd Ziegler was recognized this month with the state’s top honor for problem-solving courts.
Judge Ziegler received the Jack Aulik Award from the Wisconsin Association of Treatment Court Professionals on April 23 during its annual conference in Wisconsin Dells.
The Aulik Award recognizes outstanding contributions to Wisconsin’s problem-solving court movement. It is named for Jack Aulik, who is credited with launching the state’s first drug court. Recipients are honored for leadership that advances the effectiveness and sustainability of treatment courts and supports efforts to break cycles of addiction, mental illness, and criminal behavior.
Judge Ziegler, who serves on the Monroe County Circuit Court, has played a longstanding role in treatment court work. He leads the Monroe County OWI Treatment Court, which established a track for OWI 5th and 6th offenders after a law change in 2020. The program has been a model for other counties.
In addition to his work in Monroe County, Judge Ziegler serves as deputy chief judge for the Seventh Judicial District and has been involved in statewide committees and court initiatives, including the Wisconsin Judicial Committee on Child Welfare, DCF Youth Justice Judicial Workgroup, PPAC Planning, Juvenile Jury Instruction Committee, Fairness Challenge Pilot Project, and judicial education efforts.
Judge Ziegler joined the bench in 2007 and previously served as a law clerk to Judge Gordon Myse on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.
Third Branch eNews is an online monthly newsletter of the Director of State Courts Office. If you are interested in contributing an article about your department’s programs or accomplishments, contact your department head. Information about judicial retirements and judicial obituaries may be submitted to: Sara.Foster@wicourts.gov