Gwen Connolly at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Wisconsin · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Gwen Connolly
Judge · Milwaukee County Circuit Court
Biography
Professional career
- Gwendolyn G. Connolly is a judge on Branch 44 of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court in Wisconsin, serving since 2016 with a term ending August 1, 2028
- Prior roles: Solo practitioner, Law Office of Gwendolyn G. Connolly (2001–present) Associate at Maier McIlnay & Kerkman (1997–2001) and Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek, S.C. (1993–1996) Supplemental court commissioner (2013–2016)
Education
- B.A. in Economics, Carleton College (1990) J.D., Drake University Law School (1993)
Additional information
- Elected: 2016 for Branch 44; re‐elected in 2022 with 98.7% of the vote.
- Awards: Outstanding Pro Bono Participation Award (2012), Pro Bono Recognition (2007), and multiple other honors.
- Vincent Deshay McGee et al., filed Nov.
- Case types: Primarily family law matters, including paternity, child support, and other family law cases.
- Recent case: State of Wisconsin Child Support Agency – Milwaukee v.
- Married to Hon. Brent C. Bedwell, a federal administrative judge; they have three children.
- Admissions: Wisconsin, U.S. District Court (E.D. Wis. & W.D. Wis.), U.S. Court of Appeals (7th Cir.).
- Professional service: Past president of the Association for Women Lawyers Foundation; board member of Collaborative Family Law Council of Wisconsin; former State Bar of Wisconsin governor and treasurer.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Camera Notice
Statewide
Wisconsin SCR 61 asks media to give the trial judge advance notice before bringing cameras or recording equipment into the courtroom.
the trial judge shall be given notice, at least 3 days in advanceWisconsin SCR Chapter 61: Electronic Media and Still Photography Coverage of Judicial Proceedings ↗
Courtroom Equipment Control
Statewide
Wisconsin SCR 61 leaves courtroom equipment placement, lighting, and use subject to trial-judge control.
Only equipment approved by the trial judge in advance of the court proceeding may be usedWisconsin SCR Chapter 61: Electronic Media and Still Photography Coverage of Judicial Proceedings ↗
Remote appearances
Statewide
Wisconsin's court system instructs parties that courts will notify them when a hearing is remote and provide joining instructions.
The court will send you instructions on how to join your remote hearing by video or by phone.Wisconsin Court System: Zoom hearing resources ↗
Statewide
Wisconsin remote-hearing guidance tells participants to contact the clerk promptly if they lack reliable internet or phone access.
Contact the clerk of circuit court as soon as possible.Wisconsin Court System: Zoom hearing resources ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Wisconsin SCR Chapter 61: Electronic Media and Still Photography Coverage of Judicial Proceedings
Milwaukee County Circuit Court
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked August 22, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 11, 2026.
Wisconsin Court System official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 22, 2026
View Wisconsin Court System official judicial roster ↗Wisconsin SCR Chapter 61: Electronic Media and Still Photography Coverage of Judicial Proceedings
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Wisconsin SCR Chapter 61: Electronic Media and Still Photography Coverage of Judicial Proceedings ↗Wisconsin Court System: Zoom hearing resources
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Wisconsin Court System: Zoom hearing resources ↗