Third Branch eNews

Kathryn Schmidt will join the Monroe County Circuit Court, bringing experience in civil practice and nearly five years as a prosecutor in the county.

Schmidt was appointed to Branch 1 to fill the vacancy created by Judge Todd Ziegler’s appointment to the District IV Court of Appeals. She will complete a term ending July 31, 2027.

Schmidt owns Kathryn Schmidt Law Office LLC, where her practice focuses on elder law and includes estate planning, probate, trusts, guardianship, real estate, and tax law. She previously was a partner at Osborne, Tripp & Schmidt S.C. from 2010 to 2021, maintaining a general civil practice and representing municipalities.

Earlier in her career, Schmidt served as an assistant district attorney in Monroe County and worked in employment law and criminal defense as an associate at a La Crosse law firm.

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Wisconsin Law School, Schmidt has served as president of the Monroe County Bar Association and the Bangor Scholarship Foundation, and as a village of Bangor trustee. She has lived most of her life in Rockland and Bangor and is relocating to Monroe County for the position.

“I am grateful and excited to have the opportunity to serve the citizens of Monroe County in this new role,” Schmidt said. “Understanding the important responsibility that comes with serving as a judge, I will work diligently to fulfill my duties to our community with fairness, impartiality, and respect for the law.”