Bench Bar Committee
The Bench Bar Committee presents two awards: the Lifetime Jurist Achievement Award and Judge of the Year Award.
The
Judge of the Year Award recognizes a jurist who has improved the judicial system during the past year through leadership in advancing the quality of justice, judicial education, or innovative programs.
This year’s recipient is Monroe County District Court
Judge Richard Radcliffe. Judge Radcliffe followed his father, Robert Radcliffe, into the legal profession and graduated from law school at the University of Wisconsin in 1990. He spent 27 years in private practice in Tomah before he was appointed to the bench in 2017 by Governor Scott Walker and elected in 2018.
Two years into his judgeship, Judge Radcliffe spearheaded the creation of the Monroe County Drug Treatment Court. He has been instrumental in the success of the Drug Treatment Court program, and a vocal leader and educator on treatment court programs and the impact they have on the community. Judge Radcliffe also initiated the creation of the Monroe County Advisory Board, which includes members of the recovery community, the treatment community, attorneys, law enforcement, and other entities.
Judge Radcliffe is known for his willingness to think outside the box and for being incredibly well-prepared for any proceedings before him. In his role with the Treatment Court, he continually educates himself on addiction and trauma and treats participants with compassion and understanding. Judge Radcliffe is honored as a leader in the judicial system known for treating parties in every case with respect, patience, and fairness.
When he’s not on the bench, Judge Radcliffe gives presentations at judicial conferences, serves on the Board of Trustees for Gundersen Health System, and assists his wife with fundraising for Brighter Tomorrow, a local domestic abuse resource. He enjoys spending free time in the great outdoors of the Coulee Region, hunting deer and pheasant, tending land, fishing Canadian waters, and traveling.
According to Drug Court Team Member and Wisconsin State Public Defender Russell Hammer, Judge Radcliffe “has injected much-needed humanity back into our courtrooms. Justice in Monroe County will be better, forever, as a result".
