Wynne Laufenberg at a glance
- Current role
- Chief Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Wisconsin · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Wynne Laufenberg
Chief Judge · Racine County Circuit Court
Biography
Professional career
- Chief Judge for Racine County’s Branch 1 of the Circuit Court, a position she has held since 2017
- Wynne P. Laufenberg is the Chief Judge of Branch 1 at the Racine County Circuit Court in Wisconsin, appointed in 2016 by former Governor Scott Walker
- Early Career: 7 years as an attorney with the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office
- Adjunct criminal justice professor at Carthage College
Education
- B.S., University of Wisconsin–La Crosse (1986) J.D., Marquette University Law School (1989)
Additional information
- focusing on family, guardianship, and juvenile law. held the role of court-appointed guardian ad litem since 1997.
- Appointed: December 5, 2016, by Gov.
- Sole practitioner in Racine (1997–2016)
- Scott Walker to replace the retired Hon. Gerald Ptacek.
- handling juvenile, misdemeanor, felony, and probate cases.
- In summary, Judge Wynne P. Laufenberg is a seasoned Wisconsin jurist with a background in public defense, private practice, and judicial service, now leading Branch 1 of the Racine County Circuit Court and handling a broad spectrum of cases.
- Admissions: Wisconsin State Bar, U.S. District Court (Eastern & Western Districts of Wisconsin).
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
Racine 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 ↗