Kitty Brennan earns "Judge of the Year" Award

MADISON, February 28, 2006 – The Bench and Bar Committee of the State Bar of Wisconsin announces Milwaukee County Circuit Court Chief Judge Kitty K. Brennan as the recipient of the State Bar of Wisconsin's 2005 Judge of the Year Award. The annual award recognizes a jurist who has improved the judicial system during the past year by providing leadership in advancing the quality of justice, judicial education, or innovative programs. The award will be presented at the State Bar's Annual Convention, May 3-5 at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison.

"This award recognizes Judge Brennan's exceptional efforts in preserving the integrity of the judiciary," said Hon. Daniel M. Floeter, Bench and Bar Committee Chair. "She has exhibited leadership, courage and conviction to achieve change and promote the quality of justice in the Milwaukee court system and raise the public's awareness about the critical role our court system plays in society."

The Judge of the Year Award recognizes a jurist who has improved the judicial system during the past year by his or her leadership in advancing the quality of justice, judicial education, or innovative programs. High ideals, personal character, judicial competence, and community involvement are hallmarks of the Judge of the Year Award recipient.

Brennan currently serves as chief judge for Milwaukee County Circuit Court, assigned to the civil division where she presides over large claims civil and probate cases. Last fall Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker announced a proposal to cut the Milwaukee County Circuit Court staff by 25%. Judge Brennan understood the significance of the threatened cuts and spent countless hours working with local government officials, the local bar association, media outlets and various community organizations to raise awareness of the dangers of the cuts. She successfully worked with these groups to significantly decrease the amounts ultimately cut from the courts budget. As a result, over 45,000 people using the Milwaukee Small Claims Court this year and next year will have their claims processed in a timely manner; businesses and personal injury victims will have access to timely civil jury trials; citizens will be able to continue to receive resources ensuring their access to justice; and the public will continue to be able to access the court system safely.

Prior to her election to the bench, she was a partner in the Murphy & Brennan law firm in South Milwaukee from 1984-1994, handling a general practice. She was an assistant district attorney for Milwaukee County from 1977-1984. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1972 and the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1977. She has been an active member of the State Bar of Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Bar Association, and the Association for Women Lawyers. She is a member of the Wisconsin and Milwaukee Trial Judges Associations.

For more information about the Judge of the Year Award, contact State Bar Committee Project Coordinator Patricia Morgan at (800) 444-9404, ext. 6107 or visit www.wisbar.org.

The State Bar of Wisconsin is the mandatory professional association, created by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, for attorneys who hold a Wisconsin law license. With more than 21,000 members, the State Bar aids the courts in improving the administration of justice, provides continuing legal education for its members to help them maintain their expertise, and assists Wisconsin lawyers in carrying out community service initiatives to educate the public about the legal system and the value of lawyers.

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