(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA, Wis. — Judge Anthony G. Milisauskas told attendees at Thursday night’s Kenosha County “Judge’s Night” event that he will retire in roughly three months or sooner, closing out a judicial career that has shaped the county’s courts for two decades.
Milisauskas, a Kenosha native, graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law in 1983 and was admitted to the Wisconsin bar in 1984. He opened a private practice and worked for himself until 2005. Along the way, he served as a Kenosha County Circuit Court commissioner and guardian ad litem from 2001 to 2005, and as Somers municipal judge from 2000 to 2005. Before joining the bench, he also worked in county government as a senior assistant corporation counsel.
Voters elected Milisauskas to the Kenosha County Circuit Court in 2005, and he has been re-elected ever since. Colleagues selected him in 2014 as a deputy chief judge for the 2nd Judicial District, and he helped launch Kenosha County’s first Drug Court, a problem-solving court focused on treatment for people with addiction. Over the years, he has presided over high-stakes criminal and civil jury trials, including homicide cases.
Criminal defense attorneys KCE spoke with described Milisauskas as even-handed and steady in the courtroom, particularly during jury trials. Prosecutors and defense counsel alike frequently cite his preparation, grasp of the law, and no-nonsense expectations for lawyers who appear before him.
Local defense attorney Patrick Cafferty praised Milisauskas following his announcement: “He’s an excellent judge who served Kenosha well! He always went out of his way to treat all litigants and lawyers with respect and dignity.”
Milisauskas is married; he and his wife have five children.
What’s next: Under Wisconsin law, circuit-court vacancies are filled by gubernatorial appointment, and the appointee then stands for election at the next spring judicial election. If Milisauskas finalizes his retirement on the timeframe he announced, the Governor would be expected to name a successor to serve until voters weigh in next spring.
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27 Responses
Please stay till the next election we don”t need Evers rigging the courts.
The governor’s appointments in Kenosha have not fared well. I think everyone would be better off if the governor appoints someone to keep the seat warm until the election. Maybe bring back Judge Schroeder???
Would be an excellent deployment of high technology using AI to produce a hologram programmed with a layered algorithm of the sum total of 40 years of Judges Schroeder’s and Milisauskas’s rulings to be activated as a virtual judge for express application – and make it “Appeals-proof”. It would ensure a far higher quality of law and reduce taxpayer expense. Also, if WI were to ever get the Death Penalty, such a AI hologram, expanded to the intake Commissioner level, would be a pure gem to ensure that crime & punishment were properly aligned.
All good things end. With Judge Milisauskas and Judge Schroeder retired, Kenosha will be a more dangerous place with the current low quality bench and the nonsense elected County Sheriff.
we all know the type of judge Evers will provide us–more no bail, slap on the wrist judges
Why does the Wisconsin Bar exist? What is the BAR? Can you have two masters? Nonetheless, Anthony has conducted himself in a very interesting manner. He has had hand in helping keep many addicts alive. For that, Kudos sir. Retirements are always better sooner than later! Enjoy it.
Thwarting Darwin.
Good riddance. He’s a crotchity old man who hates family court and takes it out on the families.
Sounds like someone lost in court… not our fault.
He is one of the very best judges we have ever had in Kenosha. If you don’t like him you must be a low-life
Bring in the next pro crime Evers Donkey.
Down earth guy. Nothing like that little arrogant irate Judge Mary Wagner….
I work the at a financial institution years ago. Judge Mary Wagner was married several times. One of them was to Judge Malloy. They were married maybe 6 months. She never paid his debts. She inherited all his money. He was the type of person that would want to pay his debts. Sure was it legal. Not very ethical. As one person said she was morally corrupt.
She was corrupt. She would talk about cases to her friends in public My wife overheard her a couple times. She had opinion before the case even was heard. Wow what a judge.
I knew Judge Malloy. He passed away suddenly hence the short marriage.
Yep, had a stroke one morning while driving to work.
She was corrupt. She would talk about cases to her friends in public My wife overheard her a couple times. She had opinion before the case even was heard. Wow what a judge.
Most cases deal with slam dunk guilty defendants. A good judge will have a clear opinion before a case is heard and will tell the defense lawyer what it will be so the lawyer can telegraph it their client so to decide how to plead.
I remember multiple time DUI case of an upper income white collar person that was uncooperative that Judge Wagner dealt with very effectively.
Then why have a court system. Guilty before a trial. Is that what you’re saying.
We heard you the first time.
Well, now we will have no good judges on the bench here in Kenosha. He and Bruce Shroeder were the only judges with integrity and who did a great job executing the law.
A truer statement I cannot recall
Will be bad loss for the community. Great news for criminals and the scum of Kenosha now that Evers will be picking his antifa aligned “judge”.
Have a healthy and long retirement Judge.
Congrats !!! Smart Judge getting the Hell out before the whole thing implodes due to the corruption and Kerkman, at least he was a good judge ,
Sat through several jury trials in his court. Fair and impartial, no nonsense and didn’t play attorney games.
Happy retirement, Tony!
Very fair judge, very highly regarded…..enjoy retirement.