Sarah Harless at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Wisconsin · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Sarah Harless
Judge · Eau Claire County Circuit Court
Biography
Professional career
- Sarah M. Harless is the Branch 5 judge for the Eau Claire County Circuit Court in Wisconsin’s Tenth Judicial District, elected in 2018 and serving until April 2, 2030
- Her 2018 election marked a historic moment in Eau Claire County, as she and fellow judge Emily Long became the first two female judges to serve on the county bench at the same time
- She also held the role of a clerk for District III of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals
Education
- Rutgers Law School in — J.D. (2004)
Additional information
- Election: Elected in 2018; term runs through April 2, 2030
- Notable milestone: In 2018, she became one of the first two female judges in Eau Claire County history to serve simultaneously.
- Before joining the bench, Harless was an attorney at Hertel Law handling criminal and civil litigation, and at Herrick & Hart, S.C..
- Harless is married to Kirby Harless, and they have two sons.
- In interviews, she has shared that her experiences as a woman and a mother have shaped her judicial philosophy, emphasizing empathy, avoiding snap judgments, and valuing diverse perspectives.
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
Eau Claire 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 ↗