Third Branch eNews

Chief Judge Carl Ashley of the First Judicial Administrative District has been selected by his fellow chief judges to serve as chair of the Wisconsin Committee of Chief Judges, a position sometimes informally called the “chief of the chiefs.”

The committee brings together the chief judges who oversee Wisconsin’s nine judicial administrative districts. It advises the Director of State Courts and collaborates on administrative issues affecting circuit courts across the state. The chief judges meet approximately seven times each year and form subcommittees as needed to address issues facing the trial courts.

“I appreciate the confidence of my fellow chief judges,” Chief Judge Ashley said. “I look forward to working with them and drawing on the experience represented across all nine judicial districts.”

Chief Judge Ashley has led the First Judicial Administrative District, which encompasses Milwaukee County, since April 2023. The Wisconsin Supreme Court reappointed him in 2025 to another two-year term as chief judge.

Because of the size and complexity of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, the First District chief judge serves as a full-time administrator. Chief judges in the other districts generally continue maintaining court calendars while carrying out their administrative responsibilities.

“The Committee of Chief Judges gives us an opportunity to look across districts, share what is working, and identify approaches that can benefit courts statewide,” Chief Judge Ashley said. “As chair, I want to help keep those conversations focused, productive, and connected to the work of the circuit courts.”

First elected to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court in 1999, Chief Judge Ashley has served in every court division, including misdemeanor, felony, family, large-claims civil, and children’s court. He has also served in the Adult Drug Treatment Court, Veterans Treatment Court, and Domestic Violence Court.

Before joining the bench, Chief Judge Ashley worked in private practice, as an administrative law judge, and as a public defender. He earned his undergraduate and law degrees from Marquette University.

Chief Judge Ashley chairs the Milwaukee Community Justice Council, the Milwaukee County Race, Equity, and Procedural Justice Committee, and is the past chair of the Planning and Policy Advisory Committee’s Effective Justice Strategies Subcommittee. He is also a faculty member of the Wisconsin Judicial College and a past chair of the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Diversity and Inclusion Oversight Committee.

“Wisconsin’s chief judges bring a great deal of experience and a strong commitment to the courts they serve,” Chief Judge Ashley said. “I look forward to building on the committee’s work and helping turn that collective experience into practical improvements across the state.”