A crowd of hundreds of colleagues, friends, family, and members of the public gathered June 12 at the State Capitol to honor Chief Justice Ann Walsh Bradley and her three decades of service on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
The Celebration of Service took place in the Capitol Rotunda and featured remarks from Governor Tony Evers, retired Justice Janine Geske, Marquette University Law School Dean Joseph Kearney, University of Wisconsin Law School Dean Dan Tokaji, and attorney Christine Bremer Muggli.
Chief Justice Bradley, first elected to the Supreme Court in 1995, is currently the court’s longest-serving member and holds the fifth-longest tenure in state Supreme Court history. Throughout the program, speakers reflected on her leadership, her dedication to civic and judicial education, and her steady presence during times of transition within the court system.
Governor Evers praised Chief Justice Bradley’s contributions to Wisconsin law and public life. “Chief Justice Bradley has always been steadfast in making sure every door she opened never closed behind her—she's always tirelessly fought to support and help those who followed after, “ Governor Evers said. “You’ve been a pivotal leader at a time when doing what was right and what was just was, perhaps, more important and consequential than ever before. And you never wavered. That matters.”
Chief Justice Bradley also addressed those in attendance, offering reflections on her time on the bench and what it has meant to serve the people of Wisconsin.
“As I have often said, and I truly believe, when I am sitting on the bench, I am standing up for the people of this state,” said Chief Justice Bradley. “I want to express my gratitude to the people of Wisconsin. It has been an honor to have served you.”
She began her judicial career in 1985 as a circuit court judge in Marathon County. In 1995, she became the first woman elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court without a prior appointment and was elevated to Chief Justice in 2025.
Over the course of her tenure, she has participated in more than 28,000 cases, heard over 2,300 oral arguments, and authored nearly 600 written opinions. She is scheduled to retire on July 31.
The June 12 event was open to the public and livestreamed online.
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