--- title: "Kristela L. Cervera | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kristela-l-cervera-judge-milwaukee-county-circuit-court-wi" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Kristela L. Cervera 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/kristela-l-cervera-judge-milwaukee-county-circuit-court-wi", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kristela-l-cervera-judge-milwaukee-county-circuit-court-wi", "name": "Kristela L. Cervera | KnowJudges", "description": "Kristela L. Cervera, Milwaukee County Circuit Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-07", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kristela-l-cervera-judge-milwaukee-county-circuit-court-wi#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kristela-l-cervera-judge-milwaukee-county-circuit-court-wi#judge", "name": "Kristela L. Cervera", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kristela-l-cervera-judge-milwaukee-county-circuit-court-wi", "jobTitle": "Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Milwaukee 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": "Kristela L. Cervera", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kristela-l-cervera-judge-milwaukee-county-circuit-court-wi" } ] } ] } ``` ## Biography ### Professional career - Kristela L. Cervera is a judge for Branch 5 of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court in Wisconsin, appointed in 2021 and re‐elected in 2022, with a background in family law, child support enforcement, and community legal services. - Assistant Family Court Commissioner (2019–2021). - Legal Counsel, Milwaukee County Department of Child Support Services (2005–2019) - Court Commissioner, Milwaukee Municipal Court (2006–2014), first Latina appointed to the role - Assistant District Attorney, Kenosha County (2002–2003) ### Education - University of Wisconsin Law School — J.D. (2001) - in Journalism, University of Wisconsin–Madison — B.A. (1998) - Divorce Mediation Training, Northwestern University School of Professionalism Studies. ### Additional information - Her term runs until August 1, 2028. - Re‐elected: April 5, 2022, in a nonpartisan general election, winning 98.5% of the vote. - Past president of the Wisconsin Hispanic Lawyers Association and was named Hispanic Woman of the Year by United Migrant Opportunity Services in 2021. - Appointed: October 29, 2021, by Governor Tony Evers to replace Hon. Brett R. Blomme (Ret.). - Managing Attorney, Esperanza Unida, Inc. (2003–2005) — nonprofit supporting Latino workers. - Cervera serves in Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Department Branch 5, Room 2425, in the First Judicial District of Wisconsin. - Cervera has extensive experience in family law, child support enforcement, and community legal services, often working with Spanish‐speaking, low‐income, and undocumented individuals. - She presides over family law matters such as paternity, divorce, child support, contempt, and domestic violence/harassment injunctions, as well as certain criminal forfeiture cases. ## 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.