J. Arthur Melvin III at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Wisconsin · State
- Judicial service
- Active
J. Arthur Melvin III
Judge · Waukesha County Circuit Court
Biography
Professional career
- Wisconsin circuit court judge for Waukesha County, elected in 2020, with a background in law, public service, and military legal work
- Judge Advocate, Wisconsin Army National Guard — served with the 505th Trial Defense Team, deployed to Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq
- Staff Attorney, Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Division of Gaming
- Associate Attorney, Baxter & O’Meara
Education
- Marquette University Law School — J.D. (1999)
- University of Wisconsin–Platteville — B.S. (1997)
Additional information
- Courtroom: 3‐1200, 515 W. Moreland Blvd, Waukesha, WI 53188
- Staff Attorney, Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission
- Staff Counsel, QBE America’s (previously General Casualty)
- Melvin served 16 years in the Wisconsin Army National Guard, including time as a Marine, and has worked on issues such as use‐of‐force training and civil disturbances.
- He has described his legal work in multiple countries due to his deployments.
- Born in La Crosse, WI, raised in Sparta and Brodhead, WI; father served in the U.S. Army.
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
Waukesha 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 ↗