Gov. Tony Evers announced on Tuesday his appointment of Judge Pedro Colón to the Court of Appeals – District I. Colón will be the first Latino judge to serve on an appellate court in Wisconsin.
The appointment will fill the vacancy being created by Judge Timothy G. Dugan’s retirement, effective Nov. 18. Colón will complete a term ending July 31, 2024.
“Judge Colón has dedicated his life to public service on behalf of the people of Milwaukee,” said Gov. Evers in a statement. “His dedication to his community, breadth of experiences, and commitment to applying the law impartially and fairly will make him an excellent judge on the Court of Appeals.”
Colón has served on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court in Branch 18 since 2010, a position to which he has been elected three times, according to a press release from the governor’s office. During his time on the bench, Colón has presided over rotations with the children’s court, the small claims court, the general felony division, and the civil division. He is currently in his fourth year as the presiding judge of the civil division, where he is responsible for managing the caseload, responding to new developments in the law, and ensuring procedural consistency for litigants across branches.
Prior to his service on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Colón was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1998, where he represented the 8th District until 2010. He was the first Latino elected to the state legislature.
“Judge Pedro Colón’s record on the bench demonstrates his unwavering commitment to justice and equality,” said Chief Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals Maxine Aldridge White. “Throughout his tenure, he has applied the law impartially and fairly, ensuring that everyone has equal access to justice. He will be an incredible asset to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, and I look forward to working with him in this capacity.”
Colón was born in Puerto Rico, grew up in Milwaukee, and attended Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin Law School. In addition to his public service, which has also included serving on the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District Commission and the Milwaukee Area Technical College Board, Colón is a trustee on the Greater Milwaukee Foundation board of directors and has volunteered extensively in his community.
