Benjamin D. Proctor
Eau Claire County Circuit Court
Former Eau Claire County Circuit Court Judge Benjamin D. Proctor, who served 23 years on the bench and helped develop court programs focused on collaboration and treatment, died May 6. He was 81.
Judge Proctor was elected in 1988 to the newly created Branch 4 of the Eau Claire County Circuit Court. He served until his retirement in 2011, including service as presiding judge in Eau Claire County and chief judge of the Tenth Judicial Administrative District.
His work in Eau Claire County included helping establish the Eau Claire Criminal Justice Collaborating Council, one of the first criminal justice coordinating councils in Wisconsin. He also helped develop AIM Court, a treatment court for single mothers, and the Chippewa Valley Veterans Treatment Court.
In 2008, Wisconsin’s Committee of Chief Judges elected Judge Proctor to serve as chair. In that role, he helped lead the group of chief judges responsible for administrative issues affecting courts statewide. In 2010, the State Bar of Wisconsin named Judge Proctor Judge of the Year.
Before joining the bench, Judge Proctor practiced law in Eau Claire for 17 years. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Beloit College in 1967 and his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1971.
Outside of the courtroom, Judge Proctor was active in the Eau Claire community, including service with the United Way, YMCA, Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Refuge House, Courage Center, and UW-Eau Claire Foundation. His obituary also noted his love of family, music, golf, Badger football, and walking his dogs.
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