Barron County judge to lead 10th judicial district

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The Wisconsin Supreme Court has appointed a new chief judge for the 10th judicial district and reappointed four chief judges. The appointments and reappointments will all take effect on Aug. 1.

The high court appointed Barron County Circuit Court Judge Maureen Boyle to be chief judge of the 10th Judicial Administrative District. Boyle will replace outgoing Chief Judge Scott R. Needham

The 10th district encompasses the northwestern part of the state, including Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Polk, Rusk, St. Croix, Sawyer, and Washburn counties.

Boyle was first appointed to the Barron County bench in 2013, and was elected in 2014.

Needham served more than three terms as a chief judge, including one year as the chairman of the Committee of Chief Judges. He was first elected to the St. Croix County bench in 1994 and has been re-elected four times since, most recently in April.

The justices also reappointed the following chief judges:

·     Chief Judge Lisa S. Neubauer, who was re-appointed to a new three-year term as chief judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.
·     Chief Judge Jason Rossell, Kenosha County Circuit Court, who was reappointed to the Second Judicial Administrative District, which includes Kenosha, Racine, and Walworth counties in Southeastern Wisconsin.
·     Chief Judge Gregory Huber, Marathon County Circuit Court, who was re-appointed chief judge of the 9th Judicial Administrative District, which includes Florence, Forest, Iron, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Menominee, Oneida, Price, Shawano, Taylor, and Vilas counties.
·     Chief Judge James Morrison, Marinette County Circuit Court, who was re-appointed chief judge of the 8th Judicial Administrative District, which includes Brown, Door, Kewaunee, Marinette, Oconto, Outagamie, and Waupaca counties.

Chief judges work with deputy-chief judges and court administrators to manage the flow of cases and work on statewide administrative matters. Except for the chief judge of the 1st Judicial Administrative District, chief judges maintain court calendars in addition to handling various administrative matters. Follow @erikastrebel