Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Wagner will retire next year and end a judicial career that spanned over four decades between county and municipal courts.
Wagner’s retirement will be on March 13, 2026, and means Gov. Tony Evers will appoint a new judge to fill the vacancy. That judge will complete a term ending July 31, 2027, according to a news release from Evers’ office.
“I certainly enjoyed my tenure on the bench. I found it a privilege and an honor to serve the community,” Wagner told the Journal Sentinel.
Wagner is currently overseeing felony cases for Milwaukee’s court system.
Throughout his career, Wagner developed a reputation for his willingness to work after hours, said Milwaukee County District Attorney Kent Lovern. At times when area law enforcement would have late-night asks for a search warrant, Wagner was frequently willing to review those or fill-in for colleagues who may be unavailable.
That was particularly apparent on Christmas Eve 2012, when Wauwatosa police officer Jennifer Sebena was shot and killed by her husband Benjamin. Wagner spent hours that day on the scene with prosecutors to ensure legal documents were reviewed and signed, Lovern said.
“Judge Wagner always made himself available,” he said.
Those work habits extended to how Wagner managed his court on a daily basis, said Chief Judge Carl Ashley. Often when court was scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m., he would start at 8:15 a.m. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Wagner was one of only a few judges who came regularly to the courthouse, Ashley said.
“He has been an example of work ethic,” Ashley said. “He was just a huge benefit to our community and I was very proud to work with him.”
Lovern said there may not be a local judge who has spent more time overseeing homicide and sensitive crimes cases than Wagner.
“For many, many years has willingly embraced the challenges,” Lovern said.
Wagner’s career as a circuit court judge began in 1988. At that time, the Milwaukee Journal reported on his campaign for circuit court judge, noting his past work as an assistant city attorney and five years as a municipal judge. He filled a then-newly created court seat aimed at easing the workload of the county’s judges.
“Upon his retirement, the bench will lose a living legend,” said Wagner’s son Benjamin in a letter to court officials announcing Wagner’s retirement. “He has presided with humility, empathy, competence, common sense, and strength for over 35 years. This rare and unique list of qualities are what make a judge a great judge.”
David Clarey is a public safety reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at dclarey@gannett.com.
This story was updated to add new information.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee judge retiring, Evers to pick replacement
Reporting by David Clarey, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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