Milwaukee Bar Association releases 2024 Judicial Poll results

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The Milwaukee Bar Association (MBA) released results from the 2024 Judicial Poll this week.

According to MBA officials, each year prior to the Spring elections, MBA surveys members regarding qualifications of judicial candidates appearing on the Milwaukee County ballot.

MBA members are asked to designate each candidate as “qualified” or “not qualified.” Members not familiar with a candidate’s qualifications have the option of marking “no opinion.”

In the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District 1, Judge Pedro Colón, received a positive score with 231 approvals and only 57 disapprovals. 47 had no opinion.

As previously reported by the Wisconsin Law Journal, when Colón took the oath of office in November, he made history as the former Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge became the first Latino member of Wisconsin’s appellate court.

According to MBA officials, several factors are weighted in the poll. These factors include, but are not limited to, Integrity, including the ability to decide issues without regard to the identity of the parties or counsel, and without concern for the public reaction to the decision.
 Knowledge and understanding of the law.
 Communication skills, including clarity of thought and, when applicable, rulings or writings.
 Preparation, attentiveness, and control over proceedings.
 Management skills, including the devotion of appropriate time to conflicting work
requirements.
 Punctuality.
 Service to the profession and to the public.
 Effectiveness in working with other judges.

According to the MBA, the 2024 poll yielded a 16.5% return rate.