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# Carolina Maria Stark

Milwaukee County Circuit Court · Judge

## Profile

- Court: Milwaukee County Circuit Court
- State: Wisconsin
- Role: Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-08-22

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### camera notice

Scope: statewide

Wisconsin SCR 61 asks media to give the trial judge advance notice before bringing cameras or recording equipment into the courtroom.

Evidence excerpt: the trial judge shall be given notice, at least 3 days in advance

[Wisconsin SCR Chapter 61: Electronic Media and Still Photography Coverage of Judicial Proceedings](https://www.wicourts.gov/sc/scrule/DisplayDocument.html?content=html&seqNo=1099)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### courtroom equipment control

Scope: statewide

Wisconsin SCR 61 leaves courtroom equipment placement, lighting, and use subject to trial-judge control.

Evidence excerpt: Only equipment approved by the trial judge in advance of the court proceeding may be used

[Wisconsin SCR Chapter 61: Electronic Media and Still Photography Coverage of Judicial Proceedings](https://www.wicourts.gov/sc/scrule/DisplayDocument.html?content=html&seqNo=1099)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### remote hearing notice

Scope: statewide

Wisconsin's court system instructs parties that courts will notify them when a hearing is remote and provide joining instructions.

Evidence excerpt: The court will send you instructions on how to join your remote hearing by video or by phone.

[Wisconsin Court System: Zoom hearing resources](https://www.wicourts.gov/courts/zoom.htm)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### remote hearing technology

Scope: statewide

Wisconsin remote-hearing guidance tells participants to contact the clerk promptly if they lack reliable internet or phone access.

Evidence excerpt: Contact the clerk of circuit court as soon as possible.

[Wisconsin Court System: Zoom hearing resources](https://www.wicourts.gov/courts/zoom.htm)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.wicourts.gov/courts/circuit/judges.htm)
- [Official roster](https://www.wicourts.gov/courts/circuit/judges.htm)
- [Wisconsin Court System official judicial roster](https://www.wicourts.gov/courts/circuit/judges.htm)
- [Wisconsin SCR Chapter 61: Electronic Media and Still Photography Coverage of Judicial Proceedings](https://www.wicourts.gov/sc/scrule/DisplayDocument.html?content=html&seqNo=1099)
- [Wisconsin Court System: Zoom hearing resources](https://www.wicourts.gov/courts/zoom.htm)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- Carolina Maria Stark is the current Branch 17 judge of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court in Wisconsin, serving since 2012 and re‐elected in 2024 for a term ending in 2030
- Trial attorney for Stark Law Office, LLC
- Nonpartisan trial court judge for Branch 17 of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court
- Administrative Law Judge for the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

### Education

- J.D. – University of Wisconsin Law School (2002) She was Moot Court President at UW–Madison (2001–2002) and earned multiple oral advocacy awards.
- B.A. in Criminal Justice and Spanish – St. Louis University (1999)

### Additional information

- Her term began in 2012 and is set to run until August 1, 2030.
- 2024: Re‐elected with 98.8% of the vote Her 2024 campaign focused on judicial integrity, access to justice, and efficient case handling.
- In a 2022 “Notes from the Bench” article, Stark addressed the impact of lack of civil legal representation in family law cases, noting how it affects decision quality, litigant confidence, and court efficiency.
- 2018: Re‐elected to Branch 17 with 98.7% of the vote
- handling a variety of cases under Wisconsin’s circuit court system.
- She emphasized that while judges cannot fill the gap left by absent legal counsel, systemic solutions are needed to improve access to representation.



## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Wisconsin SCR Chapter 61: Electronic Media and Still Photography Coverage of Judicial Proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-36fa3f826227447b1512eede) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim.  Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.wicourts.gov/sc/scrule/DisplayDocument.html?content=html&seqNo=1099). Collected 2026-07-26.
