Scott R. Needham at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Wisconsin · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Scott R. Needham
Judge · St. Croix County Circuit Court
Biography
Professional career
- Leadership: Chief Judge of the Tenth Judicial District, first appointed in 2011 and reappointed by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2015
- Judge of the St. Croix County Circuit Court in Wisconsin’s Tenth Judicial District, serving in Branch III
- Previous roles: Deputy Chief Judge, Presiding Judge for St. Croix County for six years
- While now a judge, Needham’s prior legal work included areas such as intellectual property, commercial and construction law
Education
- University of Wisconsin–Madison Law School — J.D. (1978)
- Carthage College — B.A. (1975)
Additional information
- Elected to the bench: 1994; re-elected in 2000, 2006, and 2012.
- Notable recognition: Named Trial Judge of the Year by the American Board of Trial Advocates in 2010.
- Admitted: Wisconsin Bar (1978) and U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin (1978).
- Private practice: 16 years before joining the court.
- Committee service: Former chair of the Criminal Jury Instruction Committee; served on the STOP Grant Committee.
- Judge Needham and his wife, Jean, have three grown children.
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
St. Croix 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 ↗