Lifetime Achievement Award Winner

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Linda O’Dell
Wisconsin Court of Appeals, Dist. IV

No computer can or ever will replicate the mind of Linda O’Dell when it comes to storing information and processing case-related information.

In fact, O’Dell, an assistant deputy clerk for the Wisconsin Court of Appeals in the District IV office in Madison, is better than a computer because she does all that and has a wonderful sense of humor, too, said staff attorney Deborah Moritz.

“She’s able to handle an incredible amount of work and keep track of everything,” Moritz explained. “In District IV, we have one of the heavier caseloads. Yet, at any given time, Linda can tell you where any case is at in the process. She processes motions, answers questions, and reminds us when things need to get done.”

O’Dell has been an employee of the Wisconsin Court System for the last 30 years, starting in Adams County.

She’s been in her current job for the last 13 years.

She has witnessed an amazing transformation over the years as technology has helped courts dispense justice with greater speed and efficiency.

“When I started in the late 1970s, we were typing our minutes in the bound court volumes that were stored nightly in the vault. Now we have online dockets and e-filing of briefs — with more changes ahead,” said O’Dell.