--- title: "Thomas McAdams | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-mcadams-judge-milwaukee-county-circuit-court-wi" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Thomas McAdams Milwaukee County Circuit Court · Judge ## Profile - Court: Milwaukee County Circuit Court - State: Wisconsin - Role: Judge - Service status: former - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## 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) - [2026 Judicial Noncandidacy](https://www.wicourts.gov/news/thirdbranch/dec25/noncandidacy.htm) - [2026 Judicial Election Results](https://www.wicourts.gov/news/thirdbranch/apr26/electionresults.htm) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-mcadams-judge-milwaukee-county-circuit-court-wi", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-mcadams-judge-milwaukee-county-circuit-court-wi", "name": "Thomas McAdams | KnowJudges", "description": "Thomas McAdams, Milwaukee County Circuit Court. 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McAdams is a retired Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge in Wisconsin who now serves full-time as a mediator, arbitrator, and special master through Resolute Systems ### Education - in Taxation — DePaul University College of Law — LL.M. (1997) ### Additional information - After retiring from the bench, McAdams joined Resolute Systems in 2026 as a mediator, arbitrator, and special master - Assigned to the Family Division and, from 2022 to 2026, to the Civil Division’s Large Claims calendar, presiding over complex cases such as personal injury, construction defects, contracts, malpractice, products liability, insurance disputes, business and commercial matters, eminent domain, class actions, and landlord–tenant disputes - Appointed to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court in 2013 by former Governor Scott Walker, serving in Branch 7 until his retirement in July 2026 - Before joining the bench, he was commissioner and former acting chair of the Wisconsin Tax Appeals Commission (2008–2013), authoring hundreds of tax decisions - had a brief private practice stint (1997–1998)