---
title: "John P. Zakowski | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-p-zakowski-judge-brown-county-circuit-court-wi"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-08-22"
---

# John P. Zakowski

Brown County Circuit Court · Judge

## Profile

- Court: Brown 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)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-p-zakowski-judge-brown-county-circuit-court-wi",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-p-zakowski-judge-brown-county-circuit-court-wi",
      "name": "John P. Zakowski | KnowJudges",
      "description": "John P. Zakowski, Brown County Circuit Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-08-22",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-p-zakowski-judge-brown-county-circuit-court-wi#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-p-zakowski-judge-brown-county-circuit-court-wi#judge",
      "name": "John P. Zakowski",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-p-zakowski-judge-brown-county-circuit-court-wi",
      "jobTitle": "Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Brown County Circuit Court"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://www.wicourts.gov/courts/circuit/judges.htm"
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Wisconsin",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/wisconsin"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "John P. Zakowski",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-p-zakowski-judge-brown-county-circuit-court-wi"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge on Branch 6 of the Brown County Circuit Court in Green Bay, Wisconsin, appointed in 2011 and elected in 2012 for a term ending in 2018
- District Attorney: held the role of Brown County District Attorney from 1986 to 2011

### Education

- B.S. in Political Science, University of Wisconsin–Madison (1979) J.D., University of Wisconsin Law School (1983)

### Additional information

- Election: Unopposed in 2012; term expired 2018
- Appointment: Named by former Governor Scott Walker on December 21, 2011
- Awards: E. Michael McCann Prosecutor of the Year Award (2002).
- Admissions: Wisconsin Bar (1983) and U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin (1983).
- Legal Practice: Before that, was an associate at Green Bay law firm Nelson & Schmelling.



## 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.
