Meet Chief Judge Lisa Neubauer
“I’m running because I care about making sure our courts keep our communities safe and uphold the rule of law.
“Now, more than ever, we need our courts to protect the rights of all Wisconsinites and the fundamental principles of our democracy.”
As Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, Judge Neubauer has spent more than a decade protecting women and children from abusers, and making sure that victims and their families receive justice.
With more than 30 years as a leader in the law, Lisa Neubauer has the proven track record of competence and experience we need.
Judge Neubauer was elected in 2008 and re-elected in 2014. She was the Presiding Judge in her district of the Court of Appeals from 2009 through 2015. The Wisconsin Supreme Court appointed her to serve as the Chief Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals in 2015, and re-appointed her in May 2018.
Judge Neubauer also has decades of experience as a Wisconsin litigation attorney prior to becoming a judge. She was a partner at Foley and Lardner LLP and chair of the firm’s Insurance Dispute Resolution Practice Group. She co-chaired the firm’s national recruiting committee.
Before joining the Court of Appeals in 2008, Judge Neubauer was named to 2007 and 2008 editions of The Best Lawyers in America, and named to 2006 and 2007 lists of Wisconsin Super Lawyers.
Judge Neubauer served as a law clerk for Barbara Crabb, then-Chief Judge of the United States District Court, Western District of Wisconsin.
A graduate of the University of Chicago Law School with honors, Judge Neubauer received her degree in 1987. She is a member of the Order of Coif. In 1979, Judge Neubauer received her B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she majored in political science.
Judge Neubauer is a leader in her community. She is a recipient of the Lynford Lardner Community Service Award in recognition of her volunteer work and civic involvement and a recipient of the Association for Women Lawyer’s Community Service Award. She also was named a Woman of Influence for her mentoring work by The Business Journal.
Judge Neubauer has served as a board member of the Racine Area United Way, After Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD), the Equal Justice Coalition n/k/a Wisconsin Equal Justice Fund and Legal Action of Wisconsin. She has been a reading tutor in the Racine public elementary schools through the United Way Schools of Hope program, a big sister with a Big Sisters of Greater Racine.
Judge Neubauer battled breast cancer over a decade ago with the help of her family, friends and incredibly supportive colleagues at her former law firm, Foley & Lardner. She understands the critical importance of high quality and affordable health care. She helped the After Breast Care Diagnosis (ABCD) mentoring organization as a board member to develop their strategic plan, and became a mentor for breast cancer survivors through ABCD.
Judge Neubauer lives in Racine with her husband, Jeff, where she and her family are members of Holy Communion Lutheran Church. She is the proud mother of three children.
