DIVERSITY IN THE LAW – Judge Pedro Colon — Wisconsin Court of Appeals

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Sworn in on Nov. 21 as the first Latino appointed or elected judge to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, Pedro Colón plans to use his experiences as an attorney, state legislator and circuit court judge to guide him in his new role.

“My interest in the law is directly related to my highest concern, justice. I still believe that as long as our nation and state remain committed to a fair representative democracy, our courts will always be the place to most fairly handle disputes between our citizens,” Colón said.

As an attorney, Colón has represented a range of clients from low-income individuals to some of the state’s largest corporations. A native of Puerto Rico, Colón was the first Latino elected to represent Milwaukee’s south side in the Wisconsin Legislature and was appointed to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court by former Gov. Jim Doyle in 2010. Voters reelected him three times.

“(Gov. Tony Evers’) commitment to diversifying the courts is paramount. We met and he did not beat around the bush. He got to the point and requested that I be fair, apply the law to all equally and work hard to move our state forward,” Colón said. “He offered me the opportunity of a lifetime and I took it.”

Craig Mastantuono, a partner at Mastantuono Coffee & Thomas, said Colón held the door open for other minorities, bringing attention to the lack of racial, gender and ethnic diversity on the bench and in the Bar.

“The impact of this body of work on the lives of many members of the legal community cannot be overestimated,” he said. “Judge Colón serves as an example of the ideals we as a Bar support and promote, including equal opportunity under the law and professional excellence, and his achievements, as such, should be recognized.”