Judge Lisa Neubauer Announces Retirement

RACINE, WI—Wisconsin Court of Appeals District II Presiding Judge Lisa S. Neubauer announced today she will retire from the court at the end of her current term on July 31, 2026, after 18 years of service on the appellate court. She will not be a candidate for re-election.

“I have been so honored and humbled to serve on the court, to have worked with many gifted colleagues and good friends, and to have attempted to make a difference for the bench, the bar, and the public by providing prompt and fair decisions and treating all who come before our court with respect,” said Judge Neubauer. “In these trying and divided times, our courts must protect our democracy, our liberty, and our rights, by maintaining judicial independence and upholding the constitution and the rule of law. I have attempted to do that with every single decision.”

“Judge Lisa Neubauer has served with distinction, and she is a scholar who recognizes that each case requires our undivided attention,” said Wisconsin Court of Appeals Chief Judge Maxine White. “We will miss her leadership. She is a true friend.”

“I had the privilege of working with Lisa Neubauer for many years,” said former Wisconsin Court of Appeals Chief Judge Richard Brown. “I knew she would be good. That’s why I asked her to consider leaving Foley & Lardner for the bench when there was an opening on our court. We had a reputation as being one of the best district courts of appeals in the country and I wanted that degree of excellence to continue,” continued former Chief Judge Brown. “It did, and Lisa had so much to do with it. I salute her on her retirement. Well done, Lisa.”

“Congratulations to Judge Lisa Neubauer on an exemplary judicial career,” said fellow Presiding Judge Lisa Stark, Court of Appeals, District III. “She has served the citizens of the state on the Court of Appeals fairly, impartially and with integrity. It has been an honor to work with such a dedicated and talented leader and jurist,” continued Judge Stark. “Judge Neubauer will be greatly missed on our court, but her legacy will live on through her clear, thoughtful and well-reasoned opinions.”

Judge Neubauer was Chief Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals from 2015 to 2021, and prior to that, she was the Presiding Judge of District II for six years and was reappointed as Presiding Judge in 2025. Judge Neubauer was elected to the court in 2008, 2014, and 2020. She is an honors graduate from the University of Chicago Law School, and she earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Judge Neubauer is a member of the Order of the Coif.

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.