Judge M. Joseph Donald appointed chief judge of Court of Appeals; Judge Rachel Graham named deputy chief judge

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has appointed District One Court of Appeals Judge M. Joseph Donald as chief judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, effective April 22, 2026. District Four Court of Appeals Judge Rachel A. Graham will serve as deputy chief judge.

Judge Donald succeeds Chief Judge Maxine A. White, who recently retired from the Court of Appeals. He previously held the role of deputy chief judge of the Court of Appeals.

Judge Donald has been on the Court of Appeals since 2019. Prior to joining the court, he served for more than two decades as a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge.

Before taking the bench, Judge Donald served as an assistant city attorney for the City of Milwaukee and worked as a law clerk in Milwaukee County Circuit Court. In addition to his judicial service, he has been involved in judicial education and statewide court initiatives and has served in leadership roles within the Wisconsin judiciary.

Judge Graham has served on the Court of Appeals since 2019 and is currently a presiding judge in District Four. Before joining the court, she practiced commercial litigation at Quarles & Brady LLP and served as a law clerk to Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Ann Walsh Bradley.

In addition to her work on the bench, Judge Graham is a member of the Wisconsin Judicial Council and chairs the council's Appellate Procedure Committee. She previously served as president of the James E. Doyle American Inns of Court chapter and as vice president of the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation. She is also a recipient of the Seventh Circuit Bar Association's Pro Bono and Public Service Award.

In addition to maintaining a caseload, the chief judge handles administrative duties for the four-district, 16-judge Court of Appeals. The chief judge works with the Supreme Court, court administrators, and staff on budget, case flow management, and other administrative matters.

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Stephen Kelley
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