Campaign Launched to Retain Jon Richards as Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge

MILWAUKEE COUNTY — Attorney, community leader and former state legislator Jon Richards announced today he is running to retain his seat as Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge in Branch 30. Richards was appointed to the seat on September 21 by Governor Tony Evers and will be officially sworn in on November 9.

Richards has been an attorney for 25 years and has most recently been a partner with Ziino, Germanotta, Knoll & Christensen in Milwaukee. He is also a volunteer attorney for the Eviction Defense Project and for victims of human trafficking through Lotus Legal Clinic. From 1999 to 2014, Richards shaped the law as a lawmaker representing Milwaukee in the Wisconsin State Assembly, serving on committees that impact the people of Milwaukee County including the Joint Committee on Finance and chairing the Assembly Health Committee.

“Throughout my career as an attorney and a public servant, I have worked to improve our justice system,” said Richards. “Governor Evers shares my belief that judges need to be involved with the community and that judges should play a role in making our justice system more transparent, more equitable and less racially divided.

“With this election, I have the opportunity to do so with a mandate from my neighbors, who want to see judges who treat everyone in our legal system with dignity and respect,” said Richards.

Through his public service, Richards worked with individuals and organizations on policies that addressed racial disparities in the criminal justice system as well as domestic violence, gun violence, equal access to quality health care and education, poverty, and housing. He was the lead Assembly author of the statewide smoking ban and worked with families of victims of gun violence to expand background checks for gun purchases. His work has been recognized by the State Bar of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, Association of State Prosecutors, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Planned Parenthood, and Equality Wisconsin.

Richards is also currently the director of the Take Back Your Meds coalition to prevent drug abuse and the contamination of Lake Michigan, and volunteers as a ‘big brother’ with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Milwaukee and as a member of the American Constitution Society and the Milwaukee County Substance Abuse and Prevention Coalition. He served on the boards of the Medical Society of Milwaukee County, Woodlands School, Immanuel Presbyterian Church, and the Brady Street Area Association.

As a resident of Milwaukee for more than 25 years, Richards has deep roots in the community through his public service, neighborhood involvement and volunteerism. He and his wife Andrea live near Brady Street with their son Alex.

Learn more about Jon Richards’ campaign at www.richardsforjudge.com or follow us on social media @Richards4Judge.

Richards for Judge

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.