Kitty K. Brennan (born May 17, 1950) is an American lawyer and retired judge. She served on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals from 2008 to 2019 in the Milwaukee-based District I. Earlier in her career, she served 14 years as a Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge and worked as an assistant district attorney in Milwaukee County.
The Honorable Kitty K. Brennan | |
|---|---|
| Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District I | |
| In office August 21, 2008 – September 4, 2019 | |
| Appointed by | Jim Doyle |
| Preceded by | Ted E. Wedemeyer Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Joe Donald |
| Chief Judge of the 1st District of Wisconsin Circuit Courts | |
| In office August 1, 2005 – August 21, 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Michael P. Sullivan |
| Succeeded by | Jeffrey Kremers |
| Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Milwaukee Circuit, Branch 6 | |
| In office August 1, 1994 – August 21, 2008 | |
| Preceded by | George W. Greene Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Ellen R. Brostrom |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 17, 1950 Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Spouse | Joseph G. Murphy |
| Children |
|
| Education | |
Biography
editBorn in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Brennan received her bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and her J.D. degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School. She began her legal career as an assistant district attorney in the office of the Milwaukee County District Attorney. In 1984, she left the office to enter private practice with the firm Murphy & Brennan.[1]
Brennan was elected to the Wisconsin Circuit Court in 1994, defeating George W. Greene in the spring election that year. Greene had been appointed to the role seven months before the election to replace Judge Robert W. Landry, who had retired. She was re-elected to the circuit court in 2000 and 2006. In 2005, she was appointed Chief Judge of the 1st Judicial Administrative District by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. She was re-appointed to a second two-year term as Chief Judge in 2007, but in 2008, Governor Jim Doyle appointed her to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals following the death of Judge Ted E. Wedemeyer, Jr.[2] She was re-elected to the Court of Appeals without opposition in 2009 and 2015. She served as Presiding Judge for District I from 2016 to 2018.[1]
Judge Brennan was named "Judge of the Year" in 2006 by the State Bar of Wisconsin.[3] She retired in 2019 and was succeeded by Judge Joe Donald.[1]
Personal life and family
editJudge Brennan is married to Joseph G. Murphy, and they have four children.[1]
Electoral history
editWisconsin Circuit Court (1994, 2000, 2006)
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, April 5, 1994 | |||||
| Nonpartisan | Kitty K. Brennan | 46,176 | 60.43% | ||
| Nonpartisan | George W. Greene (incumbent) | 30,231 | 39.57% | ||
| Total votes | 76,407 | 100.0% | |||
Wisconsin Court of Appeals (2009, 2015)
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, April 7, 2015 | |||||
| Nonpartisan | Kitty K. Brennan | 52,442 | 98.83% | ||
| Scattering | 620 | 1.17% | |||
| Total votes | 53,062 | 100.0% | |||
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Judge Kitty K. Brennan". Wisconsin Court System. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
- ^ "Kremers predicts vacancies won't be filled quickly". Wisconsin Law Journal. November 17, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
- ^ "Awards and Recognition". State Bar of Wisconsin. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
- ^ Barish, Lawrence S., ed. (1995). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1995-1996 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 880. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
- ^ Pohlman, Julie, ed. (2015). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 2015-2016 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 881. Retrieved April 5, 2020.