Gov. Evers Appoints Amber Raffeet August, Raphael Ramos, and Anderson Gansner to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court

Gov. Tony Evers announced today his appointments of Amber Raffeet August, Raphael Ramos, and Anderson Gansner to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court. Raffeet August is being appointed to Branch 14, filling the vacancy being created by Judge Christopher Foley’s retirement. Ramos is being appointed to Branch 24, filling the vacancy being created by Judge Janet Protasiewicz’s election to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Gansner is being appointed to Branch 46, filling the vacancy being created by Judge David Feiss’ retirement. All three appointees will complete terms ending July 31, 2024.

“Amber Raffeet August, Raphael Ramos, and Anderson Gansner are well-respected attorneys in Milwaukee who bring a diversity of experiences to the bench,” said Gov. Evers. “All three will be exemplary judges who will make a difference in the lives of both the people before them and Milwaukee County as a whole.”

Amber Raffeet August has been an Assistant Family Court Commissioner for Milwaukee County since August 2022, where she presides over family court proceedings. She began her legal career at the Milwaukee-based immigration law firm, Grzeca Law Group, before transitioning to RISE Law Center, where she represented survivors of violence in family law and immigration proceedings. In 2018, Raffeet August joined the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, where she advocated for the best interest of children from indigent families during family court litigation.

“Amber will work diligently to serve the citizens of Milwaukee County and make rulings that support justice not only in individual cases before her but also in her community,” said Chief Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals Maxine A. White. “I am so proud of Amber’s service thus far to families in need and know that she will keep the same energy and passion for others as she takes on her new role as a Circuit Court Judge.”

Raffeet August is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the University of Wisconsin Law School. She has served as the president of the Wisconsin Association of African-American Lawyers, as an Executive Committee member of the State Bar of Wisconsin Board of Governors, and on the board of directors of the Community Immigration Law Center.

“I am deeply honored to accept this appointment,” said Raffeet August. “I look forward to helping create the court system all members of our community strive for, one that values and respects the dignity of all who seek access to justice. As a woman of color from Milwaukee, I have a profound understanding of the challenges and strengths of our great community. I will work tirelessly to earn the trust and respect of those who appear before me. I want to thank all those who have supported me, especially my parents, Sharon and Marcus. They overcame rural poverty, racism, and systemic inequalities to be together and create a bi-racial family that emphasized service to others and equality for everyone. Their sacrifices throughout my life have helped me on my path and continue to inspire me as I move forward in my journey.”

Raphael Ramos is currently Legal Action of Wisconsin’s Milwaukee Housing Law Unit Supervisor and, since 2016, has been the director of LAW’s Eviction Defense Project. The Eviction Defense Project, which he developed and implemented, expanded access to legal services available for low-income tenants and helped reshape the landscape of housing law in Milwaukee. Ramos began his legal career as an attorney at Quarles & Brady LLP, where he provided compliance-related regulatory counsel to corporate clients, principally in the area of brownfield redevelopment, and also worked on the in-house legal team at GE Healthcare.

“I have had the great pleasure of witnessing Attorney Raphael Ramos’s sharp intellect and unwavering compassion hard at work over the past several years as he led the team at the Eviction Defense Project,” said Milwaukee County Circuit Court Deputy Chief Judge William Pocan. “I am confident that he will be an absolutely outstanding judge dedicated to both following the law and serving the people of Milwaukee.”

Ramos is a graduate of Drake University and Marquette University Law School. He is active in a variety of professional and community organizations, including the Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinic, the Philippine Cultural and Civic Center Foundation, and the Wisconsin Justice Initiative.

“I am truly honored and grateful to accept this appointment as a Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge, and I look forward to serving a community I adore,” said Ramos. “Milwaukee has been my home since my family immigrated from the Philippines when I was two years old, and my parents, Gerry and Jojo Ramos, instilled in me the importance of hard work, sacrifice, and service to others as they built a new life for our family. I am humbled by the opportunity to follow their lead and serve Milwaukee County as a judge. I will work diligently to uphold the rule of law, increase access to justice and equal justice in the court system, and ensure that my courtroom treats all people and proceedings with the respect and dignity that they deserve.”

Anderson Gansner has been an associate federal defender in Milwaukee since 2013, representing indigent clients facing federal felony charges. He started his legal career as an assistant attorney general in the criminal appeals division of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, then clerked for federal judges in Indiana and on the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. After his clerkships, he spent three years practicing civil litigation at Gass Weber Mullins LLC.

“Over the last decade, I had the privilege of working with Anderson Gansner as both a law student and colleague,” said Associate Federal Defender Gabriela Leija. “Anderson is a dedicated, passionate, and experienced attorney, who works tirelessly to ensure that the legal system never overlooks the humanity of his clients. He not only holds himself to the highest standards of practice, he also strives to elevate the legal profession by running an internship program that trains future lawyers to do the same. I am so excited that he will continue to serve our community in his new role as a Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge.”

Gansner is a graduate of Pomona College and the Northwestern University School of Law. He serves on the Local Rules Committee for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, volunteers with Friedens Food Pantries, and enjoys helping improve Milwaukee’s natural environment.

“Our laws grant judges great authority, and so judges have equally serious responsibilities: to apply the law fairly, to uphold the Wisconsin and United States Constitutions, and to care about the people in their courtrooms and in their communities,” said Gansner. “Every day, I will work to make Milwaukee County safer, kinder, and more just. I am truly grateful to Governor Evers and to the Judicial Selection Advisory Committee for the faith and confidence they have shown in me, and for the love and support of my family and friends. Finally, I would like to thank all of the mentors, colleagues, and clients who have taught me so much during my career.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.