Third Branch eNews

Portage County Circuit Court Judge Patricia A. Baker has been appointed chief judge of Wisconsin’s Ninth Judicial Administrative District, succeeding Taylor County Circuit Court Judge Ann N. Knox-Bauer. Chief Justice Jill J. Karofsky signed the appointment order August 13. Chief Judge Baker’s term began immediately and will continue through July 31, 2028.

The Supreme Court appoints a chief judge for each of Wisconsin’s nine judicial administrative districts. Chief judges supervise and direct court administration within their districts, including case flow, judicial assignments, and other administrative matters, while working with the Director of State Courts and district court administrators. District Nine includes Florence, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Menominee, Oneida, Portage, Price, Shawano, Taylor, Vilas, and Wood counties.

Chief Judge Baker has served in Branch 3 of the Portage County Circuit Court since her appointment to the bench in 2020. She was the first woman to serve as a circuit court judge in Portage County. Before joining the bench, her career included work as an assistant district attorney, private practice attorney, family law mediator, guardian ad litem, and Portage County clerk of circuit court. She also served as president of the Portage County Bar Association.

Chief Judge Baker is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School and the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She currently chairs the Portage County Justice Coalition, which brings together justice system and community partners to address issues affecting the local criminal justice system. She also serves on the Wisconsin Judicial Conference Criminal Jury Instruction Committee, with her current term running through 2027.

Judge Knox-Bauer concludes four years as District Nine chief judge after first being appointed to the role in 2022 and reappointed in 2024. She has served on the Taylor County Circuit Court since 2008 and previously served as a court commissioner and family court commissioner in Taylor County. Judge Knox-Bauer will continue serving on the Taylor County bench. The Wisconsin Court System thanks Judge Knox-Bauer for four years of leadership in District Nine and for her continued service to Wisconsin’s judiciary.