Gov. Evers Appoints Malinda Eskra to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court
Malinda Eskra. Photo courtesy of the Office of the Governor.
MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers announced today his appointment of Malinda Eskra to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court – Branch 9. The appointment will fill the vacancy being created by Judge Paul R. Van Grunsven’s retirement. Eskra will complete a term ending July 31, 2027.
“Malinda Eskra is an experienced and respected attorney who brings legal excellence, sound judgment, and a deep commitment to the community to the bench,” said Gov. Evers. “She will be an excellent judge for the people of Milwaukee County.”
Since 2023, Eskra has been the managing attorney of the Milwaukee office of Legal Action of Wisconsin, the state’s largest nonprofit law firm. In this role, she represents and supervises the representation of low-income individuals and families facing civil legal issues affecting housing, family stability, income, public benefits, and access to employment opportunities. Previously, she was a shareholder at Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren S.C., where she represented businesses of all sizes, as well as government and multiemployer pension funds. Her practice focused on commercial litigation, with a specialization in appellate advocacy and employee benefits litigation. Earlier in her career, she clerked for Judge William Callahan of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin and for Judge Kitty K. Brennan of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.
“Malinda Eskra will be an outstanding judge for the people of Milwaukee County, bringing an exceptional breadth of legal and life experience to the bench,” said retired Wisconsin Court of Appeals Judge Brennan. “Raised on a dairy farm in rural Wisconsin and now raising two children with her husband in the city of Milwaukee, Malinda understands Wisconsin communities from many different perspectives. I have known and worked with Malinda for many years and have seen firsthand her intelligence, judgment, integrity, and commitment to the law. Her experience in judicial clerkships, as a shareholder in private practice, and at Legal Action of Wisconsin gives her a rare understanding of both the legal system and the people it serves. I am confident she will be an outstanding judge and a tremendous asset to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court.”
Eskra lives in Milwaukee and is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Marquette University Law School. She is active in both community and professional organizations, including having served as a board member of the Milwaukee Coalition on Housing and Homelessness and the Board of Governors for the Seventh Circuit Bar Association, board secretary of the Neighborhood House of Milwaukee, and board president of the Association for Women Lawyers.
“I am deeply honored by Gov. Evers’ appointment to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court and grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Milwaukee County,” said Eskra. “My career has given me a deep appreciation for the role courts play in people’s lives and for the importance of ensuring that everyone who comes before the court is treated with fairness, dignity, and respect. I look forward to bringing my experience and commitment to public service to the bench, and to approaching the work with care, humility, and an open mind.”
A photo of Eskra is available here.
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.
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