Pursuant to Rotation Plan
August 1, 2025 through July 31, 2027
Effective August 1, 2025, the following judges/branches will be in the criminal division:
| Branch | Judge | % of Criminal Draw |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Payal Khandhar | 12.5 |
| 3 | Diane Schlipper | 12.5 |
| 5 | Nicholas McNamara | 12.5 |
| 7 | Mario White | 12.5 |
| 8 | Stephanie Hilton | 12.5 |
| 11 | Ellen Berz (Veterans Court) | 12.5 |
| 12 | Ann Peacock | 12.5 |
| 14 | John Hyland | 12.5 |
Criminal Draw Explanation
Effective May 1, 2025, the criminal division judges will split 100% of the criminal cases filed and each judge will be assigned 12.5% of the criminal case draw. The judge with Veterans Court responsibility will not be assigned Small Claims dates. Criminal division judges will not be assigned any new civil or family cases, but will retain pending and past cases.
Pursuant to Dane County Circuit Court Rule 205, if any new case filed after May 1, 2025 has a defendant with a legal status from a prior case that may cause an appearance before a judge, and the judge who would normally be assigned is leaving the criminal division, the case will be assigned to the judge entering the division who is teamed with the outgoing judge for the purpose of calendar and schedule coordination instead of a random draw. Further, open criminal cases (CF/CM/CT case types) pending with the outgoing judge that involve a defendant in a newly-filed criminal case will be administratively transferred to the incoming judge unless the cases are already scheduled with the outgoing judge for trial or plea/sentencing, or the affected judges determine the posture of the cases warrants them remaining with the outgoing judge.
Judge Genovese (Br. 13) who is the outgoing judge will be paired with Judge Hilton (Br. 8). Judge Conway (Br. 17) who is the outgoing judge will be paired with Judge Peacock (Br. 12).
Effective August 1, 2025, the following judges/branches will be in the civil division:
| Branch | Judge | % of Civil Draw | % of Family Draw |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benjamin Jones | 15 | 9.1 |
| 9 | Jacob Frost | 15 | 9.1 |
| 13 | Julie Genovese | 12.5 | 6.7 |
| 15 | Stephen Ehlke | 12.5 | 6.7 |
| 16 | Rhonda Lanford | 15 | 9.1 |
| 17 | David Conway | 15 | 9.1 |
Civil/Probate Draw Explanation
Effective May 1, 2025 the civil division judges will split 85% of the civil/probate cases, except Chief Judge Genovese and Presiding Judge Ehlke will receive a 2.5% caseload reduction in recognition of their administrative responsibilities. The juvenile division judges will split the other 15% of civil/probate cases filed.
Family Draw Explanation
Effective May 1, 2025, the civil division judges will split 50% of the family cases, except Chief Judge Genovese and Presiding Judge Ehlke will receive an approximate 2.5% caseload reduction in recognition of their administrative responsibilities. The juvenile division judges will split the other 50% of family cases filed.
Effective August 1, 2025, the following judges/branches will be in the juvenile division:
| Branch | Judge | % of Juvenile Draw | % of Civil Draw | % of Family Draw | % of Guardianship Draw |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Everett Mitchell (Drug Court) | 33.3 | 5 | 16.7 | 33.3 |
| 6 | Nia Trammell | 33.3 | 5 | 16.7 | 33.3 |
| 10 | Ryan Nilsestuen (OWI Court) | 33.3 | 5 | 16.7 | 33.3 |
Juvenile Draw Explanation
Effective May 1, 2025, the juvenile division judges will split 100% of the juvenile and guardianship cases filed. The judges with OWI and Drug Court responsibilities will be not be assigned Small Claims dates.
Rotation Order August 1, 2025 through July 31, 2027
