Draft:Todd Ziegler

Todd L. Ziegler (born c. 1969/1970) is an American attorney and jurist who serves as a judge on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals in District IV. He was appointed to the court by Governor Tony Evers in July 2026 and assumed office on August 1, 2026. He previously served as a Monroe County Circuit Court judge from 2007 to 2026.

Early life and education

Ziegler raised and resides in Sparta, Wisconsin. He attended the University of Wisconsin–Platteville, graduating with his bachelor's degree in 1991. He then pursued legal studies at the University of Wisconsin Law School, earning his Juris Doctor in 1995.

Legal and early judicial career

Following his graduation from law school, Ziegler worked as a law clerk for Judge Gordon Myse on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. He later entered private practice, working as a general practice attorney at the law firm of Gleiss, Wolf & Schandorf in Sparta, Wisconsin.

In 2007, Ziegler was elected to the Monroe County Circuit Court bench for Branch I. He won re-election to successive six-year terms. During his 19-year tenure as a trial court judge, he served as the county's presiding judge. In 2023, he was named Deputy Chief Judge of the 7th Judicial Administrative District of Wisconsin.

Treatment court leadership

On the circuit court bench, Ziegler became prominent for his work in problem-solving courts. He established Monroe County's first OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) Treatment Court. Following statutory revisions in 2020, he implemented a dedicated track targeting 5th and 6th offense OWI violators, which became a blueprint for other jurisdictions across the state. For his efforts, the Wisconsin Association of Treatment Court Professionals honored him with the Hero Award in 2023 and the Jack Aulik Award in 2026.

Wisconsin Court of Appeals

On July 21, 2026, Governor Tony Evers announced the appointment of Ziegler to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District IV, filling a vacancy left by Judge Chris Taylor's election to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Ziegler took office on August 1, 2026. His initial appointed term runs through July 31, 2027, and he must run for a full six-year term in the April 2027 nonpartisan judicial elections to retain the seat.

Memberships and committees

Throughout his judicial career, Ziegler has been involved in several statewide policy initiatives, including:

• The Wisconsin Judicial Committee on Child Welfare
• The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Youth Justice Judicial Work Group (Co-Chair)
• The Wisconsin Juvenile Jury Instruction Committee
• The Planning and Policy Advisory Committee (PPAC)

External links

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