Joseph R. Wall at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Wisconsin · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Joseph R. Wall
Judge · Milwaukee County Circuit Court
Biography
Professional career
- Assistant U.S. Attorney: Eastern District of Wisconsin, Criminal Division, 1986–2001 and 2007–present
- Joseph R. Wall is a judge on Branch 20 of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court in Wisconsin, appointed in 2017 and re‐elected in 2024, with a long career as a prosecutor and prior judicial service
- Milwaukee County Circuit Court from 2001 to 2007, and before that, from 2007 to 2017, was an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Wisconsin
- Assistant U.S. Attorney: Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1986–2001 and 2007–2017 the biographical record+1
- Circuit Court Judge: Milwaukee County, 2001–2007 the biographical record+1
- Assistant District Attorney: Milwaukee County, 1984–1986 the biographical record+1
- is a judge of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court in Wisconsin’s First Judicial District, serving in Branch 20
Education
- J.D., Marquette University Law School, 1984 the biographical record Admitted to the Wisconsin Bar, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin in 1984 the biographical record.
- B.A., Marquette University (1979) J.D., Marquette University Law School (1984)
- Marquette University the biographical record — B.A. (1979)
Additional information
- Judge, Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Branch 20, Milwaukee, WI; term ends August 1, 2030
- Re‐election: Won the April 2, 2024 general election for the position; term ends August 1, 2030
- He was appointed to the bench by former Governor Scott Walker on June 2, 2017, and re‐elected in 2018 and 2024 for terms ending in 2030
- Wall has presided over the Milwaukee County Children’s Court and has handled a wide range of cases, among them general criminal matters
- As a federal prosecutor, he handled public corruption and human trafficking cases, among them
- Harris) where Judge Wall made remarks about the defendant’s lifestyle, including the term “baby mama.” The court upheld the sentence, rejecting a challenge that the comments improperly considered race and gender.
- His early judicial role included overseeing termination of parental rights cases, and there he helped establish a dedicated children’s court to address complex child welfare matters
- Wall has been active in the Milwaukee Bar Association, Thomas E. Fairchild Inns of Court, National Italian American Bar Association, Justinian Society of Lawyers, and the Seventh Circuit Bar
- He has also served on the Governor’s Advisory Council on Early Childhood Development and various juvenile and criminal jury instruction committees
- He has volunteered with the Benedict Center for Women, the Coalition for Children, Youth, and Families, and the St. Benedict’s free meal program
- In children’s court, Wall championed reforms to address child welfare issues, among them high‐profile termination of parental rights cases
- United States v.
- Abdullah Rafeia
- , a landmark international parental kidnapping prosecution
- Admissions: Wisconsin Bar, U.S. District Court (Eastern & Western Districts of Wisconsin)
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 ↗