The Hon. Michael R. Fitzpatrick

Judge Michael R. Fitzpatrick served on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. Prior to that, he served as a Circuit Judge for nine years. He currently serves as a Reserve Judge in the Wisconsin Court System. Judge Fitzpatrick has been elected by Wisconsin’s Judges to two terms on the Wisconsin Judicial Council and two terms on the Wisconsin Civil Jury Instruction Committee. He is also a Life Member of the American Bar Foundation.

Judge Fitzpatrick is on the faculty of the Wisconsin Judicial College, teaching evidence and “Making the Record” to new and experienced trial court Judges. He frequently speaks at seminars for Judges and attorneys, including three-day workshops on evidence for Judges. In addition, in 2022, Judge Fitzpatrick  delivered the Chapman Distinguished Lecture in Law at the University of Tulsa College of Law.

Judge Fitzpatrick is a Jurist in the American Inns of Court, and is a Past President of the James E. Doyle Chapter of the American Inns of Court. He is also a Past President of the Western District Bar Association (the federal court bar association for the western half of Wisconsin). He previously served two terms on the Wisconsin State Bar Professional Ethics Committee.

Prior to taking the Bench, Michael Fitzpatrick was a partner at the Brennan, Steil & Basting Law Firm where he chaired the Litigation Practice Group and litigated intellectual property disputes, insurance coverage matters, and product liability cases in federal and state courts throughout Wisconsin and the United States. While in private practice, Michael Fitzpatrick earned the highest possible rating for legal acumen and ethics from the legal rating service Martindale-Hubbell and was three times named one of Wisconsin’s Super Lawyers in Business Litigation in the years before he took the bench. 

Judge Fitzpatrick received his undergraduate degree from Drake University and his law degree from the Drake Law School. He serves on the Drake Law School Board of Counselors. Judge Fitzpatrick ran on the track and cross country teams at Drake and was twice an individual Missouri Valley Conference champion. In 2018, Judge Fitzpatrick received the highest award bestowed by the Drake Athletic Department, the Double D Award.