The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin (in case citations, E.D. Wis.) is a federal trial court of limited jurisdiction. The court is under the auspices of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, although patent claims and claims against the federal government under the Tucker Act are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The Eastern District was established on June 30, 1870.

The district's headquarters, central courthouse, and the majority of its offices are located in Milwaukee, but the northern counties of the district are serviced by a courthouse in Green Bay. Currently, Pamela Pepper is the district's chief judge. As of November 17, 2025[update], the interim United States attorney for the district is Brad Schimel.

Organization of the court

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin is one of two federal judicial districts in Wisconsin. Court for the Eastern District is held at Green Bay and Milwaukee.

Green Bay Division comprises the following counties: Brown, Calumet, Door, Florence, Forest, Kewaunee, Langlade, Manitowoc, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara, and Winnebago.

Milwaukee Division comprises the following counties: Dodge, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Kenosha, Marquette, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha.

Current judges

As of November 4, 2024[update]:

#TitleJudgeDuty stationBornTerm of serviceAppointed by
ActiveChiefSenior
21Chief JudgePamela PepperMilwaukee19642014–present2019–present—Obama
16District JudgeJoseph StadtmuellerMilwaukee19421987–present1995–2002—Reagan
19District JudgeLynn AdelmanMilwaukee19391997–present——Clinton
22District JudgeBrett H. LudwigMilwaukee19692020–present——Trump
23District JudgeByron B. ConwayGreen Bay19762024–present——Biden
20Senior JudgeWilliam C. GriesbachGreen Bay19542002–20192012–20192019–presentG.W. Bush

Former judges

#JudgeBorn–diedActive serviceChief JudgeSenior statusAppointed byReason for termination
1Andrew G. Miller1801–18741870–1873——Polk/Operation of lawretirement
2James Henry Howe1827–18931873–1875——Grantresignation
3Charles E. Dyer1834–19051875–1888——Grantresignation
4James Graham Jenkins1834–19211888–1893——Clevelandelevation
5William Henry Seaman1842–19151893–1905——Clevelandelevation
6Joseph V. Quarles1843–19111905–1911——T. Rooseveltdeath
7Ferdinand August Geiger1867–19391912–1939——Taftretirement
8F. Ryan Duffy1888–19791939–1949——F. Rooseveltelevation
9Robert Emmet Tehan1905–19751949–19711954–19711971–1975Trumandeath
10Kenneth Philip Grubb1895–19761955–1965——Eisenhowerretirement
11John W. Reynolds Jr.1921–20021965–19861971–19861986–2002L. Johnsondeath
12Myron L. Gordon1918–20091967–1983—1983–2009L. Johnsondeath
13Robert W. Warren1925–19981974–19911986–19911991–1998Forddeath
14Terence T. Evans1940–20111979–19951991–1995—Carterelevation
15Thomas John Curran1924–20121983–1997—1997–2012Reagandeath
17Rudolph T. Randa1940–20161992–20162002–20092016G.H.W. Bushdeath
18Charles N. Clevert Jr.1947–present1996–20122009–20122012–2017Clintonretirement

Chief judges

Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their district court. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the district court judges. To be chief, a judge must have been in active service on the court for at least one year, be under the age of 65, and have not previously served as chief judge.

A vacancy is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years, or until age 70, whichever occurs first. The age restrictions are waived if no members of the court would otherwise be qualified for the position.

When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire, on what has since 1958 been known as senior status, or declined to serve as chief judge. After August 6, 1959, judges could not become or remain chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.

Succession of seats

Seat 1
Seat 1 Seat reassigned from the District of Wisconsin on June 30, 1870, by 16 Stat. 171 Miller 1870–1873 Howe 1873–1875 Dyer 1875–1888 Jenkins 1888–1893 Seaman 1893–1905 Quarles Jr. 1905–1911 Geiger 1912–1939 Duffy 1939–1949 Tehan 1949–1971 Warren 1974–1991 Randa 1992–2016 Ludwig 2020–presentSeat 2 Seat established on February 10, 1954, by 68 Stat. 8 Grubb 1955–1965 Reynolds Jr. 1965–1986 Stadtmueller 1987–presentSeat 3 Seat established on March 18, 1966, by 80 Stat. 75 (temporary) Seat made permanent on June 2, 1970, by 84 Stat. 294 Gordon 1967–1983 Curran 1983–1997 Adelman 1997–presentSeat 4 Seat established on October 20, 1978, by 92 Stat. 1629 Evans 1979–1995 Clevert Jr. 1996–2012 Pepper 2014–present
Seat reassigned from the District of Wisconsin on June 30, 1870, by 16 Stat. 171
Miller1870–1873
Howe1873–1875
Dyer1875–1888
Jenkins1888–1893
Seaman1893–1905
Quarles Jr.1905–1911
Geiger1912–1939
Duffy1939–1949
Tehan1949–1971
Warren1974–1991
Randa1992–2016
Ludwig2020–present
Seat 2
Seat established on February 10, 1954, by 68 Stat. 8
Grubb1955–1965
Reynolds Jr.1965–1986
Stadtmueller1987–present
Seat 3
Seat established on March 18, 1966, by 80 Stat. 75 (temporary)
Seat made permanent on June 2, 1970, by 84 Stat. 294
Gordon1967–1983
Curran1983–1997
Adelman1997–present
Seat 4
Seat established on October 20, 1978, by 92 Stat. 1629
Evans1979–1995
Clevert Jr.1996–2012
Pepper2014–present
Seat 5
Seat 5 Seat established on December 21, 2000, by 114 Stat. 2762 Griesbach 2002–2019 Conway 2024–present
Seat established on December 21, 2000, by 114 Stat. 2762
Griesbach2002–2019
Conway2024–present

See also

External links

43°02′17.7″N 87°54′16.5″W/43.038250°N 87.904583°W/ 43.038250; -87.904583