Third Branch eNews

The Wisconsin Law Journal has recognized District Court Administrator Jon Bellows as one of its 2025 Legal All-Star honorees in the category of Unsung Hero. The annual award celebrates professionals whose behind-the-scenes work is essential to the success of the legal system.

Since 2012, Bellows has served as the District Court Administrator for Wisconsin’s 4th Judicial District. He oversees administrative operations across eight counties, supporting judges, clerks, and justice system partners in their daily work. His leadership helps maintain consistent operations across the district’s circuit courts and supports efficient coordination among staff and partners.

Bellows received a bachelor’s degree in Justice Policy and holds master’s degrees in both Criminology and Public Administration. He began his career in the North Carolina courts as a pretrial screener interviewing inmates, later serving as Director of Administration for Florida State University’s Center for Criminology and Public Policy Research. Before joining the Wisconsin Court System, he was the Trial Court Administrator for North Carolina’s 18th Judicial District.

Presiding Sheboygan County Judge Angela Sutkiewicz, who nominated Bellows for the honor, said his professionalism and steady guidance make him an essential part of the district’s success. “Jon’s attention to detail, his strong interpersonal and communications skills, and his ability to focus on pertinent issues keep the circuit courts running efficiently,” Sutkiewicz said. “With Jon and Chief Judge Guy Dutcher, judges in the 4th District, as well as court staff and our justice system partners, feel supported in all aspects of our jobs. Jon’s role is vital to the courts; therefore, it is fitting for him to receive this well-deserved recognition as an unsung hero.”

Bellows will be recognized along with other honorees during the Wisconsin Law Journal’s Legal All-Star Awards ceremony in Milwaukee this November. The recognition highlights the vital role of court administrators in supporting Wisconsin’s judicial system and the communities it serves.