--- title: "Stephen Ehlke | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/stephen-ehlke-judge-dane-county-circuit-court-wi" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-22" --- # Stephen Ehlke Dane County Circuit Court · Judge ## Profile - Court: Dane 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/stephen-ehlke-judge-dane-county-circuit-court-wi", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/stephen-ehlke-judge-dane-county-circuit-court-wi", "name": "Stephen Ehlke | KnowJudges", "description": "Stephen Ehlke, Dane County Circuit Court. 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Ehlke is a nonpartisan judge for Branch 15 of the Dane County Circuit Court in Madison, Wisconsin, appointed in 2009 and re‐elected in 2022, with a career that includes service as Assistant U.S. Attorney and Dane County District Attorney - Stephen E. Ehlke was appointed to the Dane County Circuit Court by former Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle in 2009, filling a vacancy after the retirement of Judge Stuart Schwartz. - He previously held the role of Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin from 2000 to 2009 - Before that, he was Assistant District Attorney for Dane County (1988–1991) and later worked in private practice in insurance defense at Bell, Metzner & Gierhart. ### Education - B.A. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1984 and a J.D. in 1987 from the same school. ### Additional information - In May 2026, the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates named Ehlke Trial Judge of the Year, citing his professionalism and preservation of the civil jury trial. - handling both civil and criminal matters. - Room: 7109, Dane County Courthouse, 215 S. Hamilton St., Madison, WI 53703 - He resides in Madison with his wife, Rachelle Weber. ## 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.