Hon. M. Joseph Donald is a judge for District I of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. He was appointed to the seat by Governor Tony Evers in 2019, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Kitty Brennan (Ret.).
Donald began his judicial career as a judge for the Milwaukee County Circuit Court after being appointed to the bench by former Governor Tommy Thompson in 1996. On the Circuit Court, he served as Deputy Chief Judge (2015 to 2019) and is credited with helping to create the Drug Treatment Court in Milwaukee County in 2009. Donald was also the presiding judge of the Vel Phillips Juvenile Justice Center Children’s Court and presided over the Healthy Infant Court.
Prior to beginning his judicial career, he worked for seven years as an assistant city attorney with the Office of the City Attorney in Milwaukee (1989 to 1996). As such, Donald handled tax foreclosures, bankruptcies, property tax assessments, unemployment compensation and order violations. He also handled disciplinary hearings before the Fire and Police Commission.
Donald received a B.A. in philosophy from Marquette University in 1982. He went on to complete a J.D. at Marquette University Law School in 1988.
After graduating from law school, Donald began his legal career as a law clerk for the Milwaukee County Circuit Court (1988 to 1989).
He was appointed to the Milwaukee Child Welfare Partnership Council and also served as a member of the Governor Task Force to Enhance Probation and Parole. In addition, Donald sat on the Judicial Selection Committee, the Milwaukee County Historical Society Board, and the Marquette University Law School Alumni Board.
A lifelong resident of Milwaukee, he attended Shorewood High School. Donald counts the Hon. Richard D. Cudahy (deceased), a former judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, as a mentor. Growing up, his mother, Dorothy, had worked as a housekeeper for Cudahy. The judge later administered the oath of office to Donald when he was sworn into the Milwaukee County Circuit Court.
Donald and his wife, Ann, have three children. When not presiding over legal matters, he enjoys theater, reading, basketball, local history, and cooking.