Third Branch eNews

Chief Judge Guy D. Dutcher of the Fourth Judicial Administrative District was selected to serve as chair of the Wisconsin Chief Judges Committee, effective August 1. He was chosen for the statewide leadership post by his fellow chief judges.

Judge Dutcher has served as a circuit court judge in Waushara County since 2005. He was elected Chief Judge of the Fourth District by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2022. In his new statewide leadership role, Dutcher will help guide the work of the Chief Judges Committee, which advises the Director of State Courts and collaborates on administrative issues affecting circuit courts across the state.

“I am honored that my fellow chief judges have asked me to assume this important role, and I feel an immense responsibility to the judiciary as we chart our way through very difficult and challenging times,” Dutcher said.

He identified several key priorities for the year ahead, including addressing the growing shortage of attorneys in rural areas. This trend has serious implications for the constitutional right to counsel. Dutcher also highlighted the need to expand access to qualified court interpreters and prepare for a wave of anticipated court reporter retirements. In addition, he noted the emerging impact of artificial intelligence on court operations as an issue that demands careful attention.

“These challenges require thoughtful and coordinated responses if we are to maintain the public’s trust and ensure access to justice statewide,” he said.

Judge Dutcher is a 1987 graduate of Ripon College and received his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1990. Early in his career, he focused on product liability and civil litigation before being elected Waushara County District Attorney in 1993, a role he held for 12 years until joining the bench.

He is a longtime contributor to judicial education, having served on the faculty of the Wisconsin Judicial College since 2007. Dutcher was Associate Dean of the College from 2017 to 2023 and currently serves as Co-Dean alongside Judge Wendy Klicko. He has also been a regular instructor at numerous judicial seminars, teaching topics ranging from criminal procedure and evidence to sentencing and constitutional law.

“Judges must work tirelessly and be unyielding in defense of the integrity and independence of the judiciary,” Judge Dutcher said. “Our system of government and our society are dependent upon it. Judges must remain immunized from the ebbs and flows of ideological advancement—a phenomenon that frequently overcomes those acting within the other two branches of government. The freedoms and protections that are the bedrock of our culture derive from the existence of judges who have the insight and courage to uphold the principles of law upon which we are all governed.”

Outside the courtroom, Dutcher has been a licensed WIAA basketball and football official for nearly 30 years. He also enjoys cycling, golfing, and skiing, and serves as president of the Waushara County Fair.