Two new judges have been appointed to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, bringing experience in civil legal aid, commercial litigation, prosecution, public defense, law enforcement, and civilian oversight to the bench.
Malinda Eskra will serve in Branch 9, and Jay Pucek will serve in Branch 34.
Eskra will fill the vacancy being created by Judge Paul R. Van Grunsven’s September 4 retirement. Pucek will fill the vacancy being created by Judge Glenn H. Yamahiro’s September 2 retirement. Both will complete terms ending July 31, 2027.
Malinda Eskra, Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Branch 9
Eskra has served since 2023 as managing attorney of the Milwaukee office of Legal Action of Wisconsin. She represents low-income individuals and families and supervises attorneys handling civil legal matters involving housing, family stability, income, public benefits, and employment.
She previously was a shareholder at Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren S.C., where she represented businesses, government pension funds, and multiemployer pension funds. Her practice focused on commercial litigation, appellate advocacy, and employee benefits litigation.
Earlier in her career, Eskra served as a law clerk to U.S. Magistrate Judge William E. Callahan Jr. of the Eastern District of Wisconsin and Judge Kitty K. Brennan of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.
Eskra lives in Milwaukee and is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Marquette University Law School. She serves on the Milwaukee Coalition on Housing and Homelessness board of directors and as board secretary of Neighborhood House of Milwaukee. Her professional involvement has included service on the Seventh Circuit Bar Association Board of Governors and as president of the Association for Women Lawyers.
“My career has given me a deep appreciation for the role courts play in people’s lives and for the importance of ensuring that everyone who comes before the court is treated with fairness, dignity, and respect,” Eskra said.
Jay Pucek, Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Branch 34
Pucek has served since April 2025 as deputy director of the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission, where he oversees civilian oversight functions involving the Milwaukee Fire Department and Milwaukee Police Department.
Pucek joined the Wisconsin State Public Defender in November 2017, initially representing clients in criminal appeals, mental health proceedings, guardianships, and termination of parental rights cases. He moved to the Trial Division in West Bend in 2024, representing clients in circuit court.
From 2012 to 2017, Pucek served as an assistant district attorney in Milwaukee County. He prosecuted cases in the general crimes unit and worked with other criminal justice system partners as a member of the community prosecution unit.
Pucek lives in Fox Point with his family and is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and the University of Wisconsin Law School. After earning his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, he served for four years as an officer with the Platteville Police Department.
“I look forward to serving as a circuit court judge who treats all people with fairness and respect and is committed to the rule of law,” Pucek said.
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