Maxine Aldridge White

Maxine Aldridge White (born 1951) is a judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, serving since 2020. White previously served 18 years as a Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge in Milwaukee County, and was chief judge for the Milwaukee-based 1st Judicial Administrative District from 2015 until her appointment to the Court of Appeals in 2020. Earlier in her career, she was a federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of Wisconsin.[2]

The Honorable Maxine Aldridge White
Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District I
Incumbent
Assumed office February 7, 2020
Appointed by	Tony Evers
Preceded by	Joan F. Kessler
Chief Judge of the 1st District of Wisconsin Circuit Courts
In office August 1, 2015 – February 7, 2020
Preceded by	Jeffrey Kremers
Succeeded by	Mary Triggiano
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Milwaukee Circuit, Branch 1
In office August 1, 1994 – February 7, 2020
Appointed by	Tommy Thompson
Preceded by	Charles B. Schudson
Succeeded by	Vacant
Personal details
Born	1951 (age 68–69) Mississippi
Education	Alcorn State University (B.A.) University of Southern California (M.A.) Marquette Law School (J.D.)
Salary	$150,280[1]
Website	Judge Maxine Aldridge White

Life and career

White was born in rural Mississippi and raised in a family of cotton sharecroppers. White received her bachelor's degree from Alcorn State University in 1973 and her master's degree from the University of Southern California in 1982.[3][4] White served in the Milwaukee office of the Social Security Administration before graduating from Marquette University Law School in 1985.[4] From 1985 to 1992, White served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.[3] White was the first African-American woman to serve as a federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of Wisconsin.

In 1992, White was appointed to the Wisconsin Circuit Court in Milwaukee County by then-Governor Tommy Thompson, a Republican.[2] White served as a deputy chief judge of the court prior to 2015. In 2015, the Wisconsin Supreme Court appointed White as the court's chief judge. White is the first African-American chief judge in the court's history. As Chief Judge, White was responsible for securing a $4.5 million grant from the MacArthur Foundation for reducing jail misuse.[5]

In 2019, a minority of Milwaukee County Judges petitioned the Wisconsin Supreme Court to prevent her being re-appointed to another term as Chief Judge, but the Supreme Court reaffirmed her appointment.[6]

In 2020, White was appointed to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals by Governor Tony Evers, a Democrat, succeeding the retiring Joan F. Kessler. Upon assuming office, White became the first African-American woman to serve on the Court of Appeals.[2]

References

1. "How the courts work". Wisconsin Court System. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
2. "Tony Evers appoints Maxine White to Wisconsin Court of Appeals". Wisconsin State Journal. January 19, 2020. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
3. "Judge Maxine Aldridge White". Courts of Wisconsin. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
4. Anderson, Lindsey (November 6, 2019). "Q&A With Milwaukee County Chief Judge Maxine White". Milwaukee Magazine. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
5. Bice, Daniel (January 16, 2020). "Gov. Evers names Milwaukee County Chief Judge Maxine White to the state appeals court". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
6. Bice, Daniel (December 19, 2019). "Milwaukee County judges Pedro Colón, Maxine White among finalists for appeals court seat". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved March 29, 2020.

External links

• Judge Maxine Aldridge White at Wisconsin Court System
• Maxine White at Ballotpedia

Legal offices
Preceded by Charles B. Schudson	Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Milwaukee Circuit, Branch 1 1992 – 2020	Succeeded by Vacant
Preceded by Jeffrey Kremers	Chief Judge of the 1st District of Wisconsin Circuit Courts 2015 – 2020	Succeeded by Mary Triggiano
Preceded by Joan F. Kessler	Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District I 2020 – present	Incumbent