Third Branch eNews

Judge Joseph G. Sciascia is retiring after more than four decades of service in the Dodge County court system, including 29 years as a part-time family court commissioner and the past 12 years as a circuit court judge.

During his time on the bench, Sciascia said he tried to run an efficient courtroom where parties were treated with respect and had a fair chance to be heard. He also worked with courthouse staff and the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office to provide courtroom security within the available resources.

Sciascia said some of the most significant changes he’s seen over the years include a sharp decline in the number of practicing attorneys in Dodge County and an increase in cases involving substance abuse and mental illness. “We had about 82 attorneys in the county in 1978. Now there are about 25,” he said. “Unfortunately, we live in a substance abuse society, and I don’t see any progress being made in the foreseeable future.”

While serving as a family court commissioner, Sciascia said his department followed a mission of providing at least one dollar of service for every dollar spent. He carried that same approach into his work as a judge.

Sciascia said he will miss working with attorneys and courthouse staff. He has no immediate plans for retirement, other than to take time to decompress. “I plan to go where I want to go, do what I want to do, with whoever I want to do it with,” he said.

Judge Ramona A. Gonzalez decided not to seek re-election after five terms on the La Crosse County Circuit Court, Branch 1 bench. First elected in April 1995, she became the county’s first female judge and its first judge of color.

Gonzalez earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from Loyola University in Chicago before earning her law degree at Marquette University Law School. She began her legal career in La Crosse in 1981, working as a law clerk and entering private practice, where she handled a broad range of family, probate, criminal, and guardian ad litem cases.

On the bench, Gonzalez became a recognized authority on family law, especially in areas involving child abduction, immigration, LGBTQ+ youth, and domestic violence. She has represented the judiciary at national and international conferences and served on multiple commissions, including the Wisconsin Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force and the Wisconsin Judicial Committee on Child Welfare.

Gonzalez has received statewide recognition for her service, including the Lifetime Jurist Award from the State Bar of Wisconsin in 2023. She said she will miss the daily courtroom interactions and the relationships she’s built with staff and the public.

Judge Edward Vlack will retire on July 31, 2025, after 24 years as a circuit court judge in St. Croix County. First elected in 2001, Vlack has served in Branch 2 and became known for embracing all facets of circuit court work.

Before joining the bench, Vlack practiced law in western Wisconsin for more than 25 years and served as family court commissioner in both Pierce and St. Croix counties. He played a key role in launching several problem-solving courts, including St. Croix County’s Drug Court in 2006, the Juvenile Treatment Court, and the Domestic Violence Court, which began in 2019 and which he continues to preside over.

He also contributed to the broader court system through committee work and judicial education, regularly teaching at the Wisconsin Judicial College and other statewide training events.

“I like to consider myself a meat-and-potatoes judge,” Vlack said. “I enjoy doing all facets of the law, every day, day in and day out.”

Among the biggest changes he has witnessed is the growth of digital access to court information. He said the ability to retrieve files and case law in real time has transformed the work of the courts.

Vlack said he will miss the daily in-person interactions with courthouse staff and the public. After retirement, he plans to travel—camper hitched to his truck and his black lab, Warden, in the back seat.

Judge Robert Russell steps off the bench after serving 12 years as a circuit court judge in Lincoln County. He was first elected in 2013 and has presided over Branch II in the county’s two-judge circuit.

Before joining the bench, Russell practiced law in Merrill for 21 years in a general practice firm. He brought that broad legal background to the circuit court and has worked to ensure that Lincoln County courts remain accessible, efficient, and welcoming for both attorneys and the public.

During his time on the bench, Russell supported efforts to expand the use of remote appearances and flexible scheduling, particularly in response to the evolving needs of the legal community. He noted that the number of private practice attorneys in the area has declined, which has presented challenges for court appointments and case scheduling. In response, the court has worked to remain flexible and open to collaboration.

“We will look far and wide for attorneys willing to accept court appointments,” he said. “Judges also need to be approachable, especially for younger attorneys who may not have had strong mentoring.”

Russell earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and his law degree from Northern Illinois University College of Law. He said he has appreciated the opportunity to serve the people of Lincoln County and work alongside dedicated court staff and legal professionals.

Judge Brad Schimel will conclude his six-year term on the Waukesha County Circuit Court, Branch 6, on July 31. He was appointed by Governor Scott Walker in November 2018 and subsequently elected to a full term in 2019.

Before assuming the bench, Schimel served two terms as Wisconsin Attorney General from 2015 to 2019 and was the District Attorney in Waukesha County from 2007 to 2015. He began his legal career as a prosecutor in Waukesha County after graduating from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1990.

In 2025, Schimel ran for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court and chose not to seek re-election to the Waukesha County Circuit Court. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the people of Wisconsin in various roles and looks forward to the next chapter in his career.