Press Release: Gov. Evers Appoints Kathryn Schmidt to the Monroe County Circuit Court

State of Wisconsin sent this bulletin at 10/06/2026 03:00 PM CDT
Office of Governor Tony Evers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 6, 2026
Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov 
 
Gov. Evers Appoints Kathryn Schmidt to the Monroe County Circuit Court
 
MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers announced today his appointment of Kathryn Schmidt to the Monroe County Circuit Court – Branch 1. The appointment will fill the vacancy created by Judge Todd Ziegler’s appointment to the Court of Appeals – District IV. Schmidt will complete a term ending July 31, 2027.

“Kathryn Schmidt brings a breadth of experience to the bench both in civil law and as a prosecutor,” said Gov. Evers. “She will be a great judge for the people of Monroe County.”

Schmidt is the owner and sole practitioner of Kathryn Schmidt Law Office LLC, which focuses on elder law, providing estate planning, probate, trusts, guardianship, real estate, and tax law services in Monroe County and the surrounding area. From 2010 to 2021, she was a partner at Osborne, Tripp & Schmidt S.C., where she had a general civil practice and represented numerous municipalities. Earlier, Schmidt was an assistant district attorney for nearly five years in the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office. In that role, she prosecuted a variety of cases, including property crimes, sexual assault, and drug offenses. She also has experience in employment law and criminal defense from her time as an associate at Davis, Birnbaum, Marcou, Seymore & Colgan in La Crosse.

“Kathryn Schmidt is an exceptional choice for Monroe County Circuit Court Judge,” said Court of Appeals Judge Todd Ziegler. “Throughout her career, she has demonstrated her commitment to the rule of law while treating everyone with dignity and respect. Kathryn has the experience, intellect, integrity, and judgment to be an outstanding judge and will serve the people of Monroe County well.”

Schmidt is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Wisconsin Law School. In the community, she has served as president of the Monroe County Bar Association and the Bangor Scholarship Foundation, and as a trustee for the village of Bangor. Schmidt has lived most of her life in nearby Rockland and Bangor and is relocating to Monroe County for the position.

“I am honored to accept Gov. Evers’ appointment as Monroe County Circuit Court Judge,” said Schmidt. “I am grateful and excited to have the opportunity to serve the citizens of Monroe County in this new role. Understanding the important responsibility that comes with serving as a judge, I will work diligently to fulfill my duties to our community with fairness, impartiality, and respect for the law.”

A photo of Schmidt is available here.
 
An online version of this release is available here.
###