Berrios-Schroeder pays it forward as court commissioner

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Ana Berrios-Schroeder remains extremely grateful to the teachers and colleagues who helped her on the way to becoming Milwaukee County’s Family Court commissioner.

“I’ve had angels with me all along to guide me in the right direction, and I’m so thankful for that support base,” said Berrios-Schroeder, who said that few of her relatives have pursued schooling beyond high school. “I’ve had teachers take a personal interest in me and encourage me along. And when I started in the court commissioners’ office as the youngest person 15 years ago, I had colleagues who guided me and taught me the things I didn’t even know that I didn’t know.”

Before joining the family commissioners’ office in 2001, Berrios-Schroeder put together an impressive resume. Among other things, she helped start a law firm and worked as a staff attorney at the Milwaukee County Child Support Agency.

Dean Zemel, an assistant family court commissioner for Milwaukee County, was impressed when Berrios-Schroeder appeared before him as an attorney.

“She was always incredibly prepared and the commissioners knew, when she was the attorney assigned to their calendar, that her part in the hearings would be handled professionally,” he said.

After joining the family commissioners’ office, “She never shied away from working beyond normal hours and takes whatever time is needed to get her job done well,” Zemel said.

In 2012, Berrios-Schroeder was appointed deputy family court commissioner and named to her current post in 2015.

“I really enjoy my work and try to craft orders that minimize conflict among the parties,” Berrios-Schroeder said. “I only wish that we had more time to spend with the families, but the volume of cases doesn’t always make that possible.”

When in court, Berrios-Schroeder exudes calmness, said Lisa Allgood-Beal, office management supervisor for Milwaukee County Family Court. Berrios-Schroeder has a talent for speaking in a firm, even-keeled way when she explains the law and the conclusion she’s reached to litigants, Allgood-Beal said.

“The litigants weren’t interrupting her and even acted completely comfortable,” she said.

Although she keeps a busy calendar and has many management responsibilities, Berrios-Schroeder has still managed to find time in the past few years to earn a master’s degree in sociology. She also participates in various community organizations, including La Causa Inc., Community Action Inc., the Latino Community Center Inc., and the Wisconsin Hispanic Lawyers Association.

“I enjoy helping others and want to help others as I have been helped,” Berrios-Schroeder said.