--- title: "Paul B. Higginbotham | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/paul-b-higginbotham-8494" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Paul B. Higginbotham Wisconsin Court of Appeals · Judge ## Profile - Court: Wisconsin Court of Appeals - State: Wisconsin - Role: Judge - Service status: former - Last verified: 2026-08-22 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, Court of Appeals of Wisconsin, 2003-present - 2003–2017: Judge, Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District IV — appointed by Governor Jim Doyle after a vacancy created by the elevation of Patience D. Roggensack to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. - 1994–2003: Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge, Dane County - 1986–1988: Attorney, Reynolds, Gruber, Herrick, Flesch & Kasdorf and Borns, Macauley & Jacobson - Retired Wisconsin Court of Appeals judge, the first African American to serve on that court, with a career spanning over two decades in Wisconsin’s judiciary ### Education - B.A. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison (1981) and his J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School (1985). ### Additional information - In 2020, Governor Tony Evers appointed him to a panel selecting members of Wisconsin’s new nonpartisan redistricting commission. - He declined to seek re‐election in 2017, retiring on July 31, 2017. - He was re‐elected in 2005 and 2011, and held the role of Presiding Judge from 2007–2009. - City of Madison (2007). - Appointed to the court by Democratic Governor James Doyle "James Doyle (Wisconsin)") in 2003 and subsequently elected to the court in 2005. - Practitioner, 2002-2002 - 1993–1994: Acting Executive Director, Madison Equal Opportunities Commission - 1992–1993: City of Madison Municipal Judge - 1988–1992: Dane County Minority Affairs Coordinator - 1985–1986: Staff attorney, Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee - Higginbotham was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to a civil rights activist father who marched with Martin Luther King Jr. during the 1963 March on Washington. - Born October 14, 1954. - Date of birth: 1954-10-14 - He has also been active in legal and civic organizations, including serving on the Wisconsin State Bar’s Individual Rights & Responsibilities Section and as chair of the Dane County Circuit Court Victim Impact Panel Committee. - During his tenure, Higginbotham authored 75 published opinions and 1 concurrence, with notable cases including United Rentals, Inc. v. - Outside the courtroom, Higginbotham enjoys gardening, reading, music, theater, photography, and travel. - Birth place: Philadelphia ## 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.courtlistener.com/person/8494/paul-b-higginbotham/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8494/paul-b-higginbotham/) - [Court of Appeals of Wisconsin current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8494/paul-b-higginbotham/) - [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) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8494/paul-b-higginbotham/) - [Wisconsin Court System - Judge Paul B. Higginbotham](https://www.wicourts.gov/courts/appeals/judges/retired/higginbotham.htm) - [Paul Higginbotham](https://ballotpedia.org/Paul_Higginbotham) - [Wikidata: Paul B. Higginbotham](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7149155) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/paul-b-higginbotham-8494", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/paul-b-higginbotham-8494", "name": "Paul B. Higginbotham | KnowJudges", "description": "Paul B. Higginbotham, Wisconsin Court of Appeals. 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/paul-b-higginbotham-8494#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/paul-b-higginbotham-8494#judge", "name": "Paul B. Higginbotham", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/paul-b-higginbotham-8494", "jobTitle": "Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Wisconsin Court of Appeals" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8494/paul-b-higginbotham/" ], "birthDate": "1954-10-14", "birthPlace": "Philadelphia", "alumniOf": [ { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1981" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "University of Wisconsin Law School in 1985" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "University of Wisconsin Law School" } ] }, { "@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": "Paul B. Higginbotham", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/paul-b-higginbotham-8494" } ] } ] } ```