--- title: "Kevin E. Martens | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kevin-e-martens-judge-milwaukee-county-circuit-court-wi" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Kevin E. Martens 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) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kevin-e-martens-judge-milwaukee-county-circuit-court-wi", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kevin-e-martens-judge-milwaukee-county-circuit-court-wi", "name": "Kevin E. 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Martens", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kevin-e-martens-judge-milwaukee-county-circuit-court-wi" } ] } ] } ``` ## Biography ### Professional career - He also contributed to legal education as an associate lecturer at the University of Wisconsin Law School ### Education - B.S. from Marquette University in 1990 and a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1993. ### Additional information - Judge Martens’ current term ends on August 1, 2026, and he is running for re-election in the general election scheduled for April 7, 2026. - Milwaukee County Circuit Court since 2001, presiding primarily over the Civil Division in Branch 27. - His career spans federal prosecution, private practice, and legal education, and he continues to serve as a presiding judge while seeking re-election in 2026. - Nonpartisan candidate and has previously won election to the same branch in 2020. - Before his judicial appointment, he held a position as an Assistant United States Attorney from 1997 to 2001 and spent two years in private legal practice from 1995 to 1997. - Following law school, he clerked for the United States District Court from 1993 to 1995, gaining early experience in federal judicial proceedings - The primary for this office was canceled, allowing him to advance directly to the general election ballot. - Kevin E. Martens is a highly experienced jurist with over two decades on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court. ## 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.