Janine P. Geske
Encyclopedia
Janine P. Geske was a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
from 1993 to 1998. She is a distinguished professor of law at Marquette University Law School
and director of the school's Restorative Justice Initiative. She served as interim dean
of the law school from 2002 to 2003.
Geske was born in Port Washington
, Wisconsin
and raised in Cedarburg
. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees from Beloit College
in 1971 and her law degree
from Marquette University Law School
in 1975.
Geske became the chief staff attorney for the Legal Aid Society
of Milwaukee, where she worked until 1979. She was an assistant professor at Marquette University Law School
from 1978 to 1981 and was the director of the Marquette University Law School's Clinic for the Elderly, which she founded. Beginning in 1981, Geske served in the Milwaukee County circuit court for 12 years, until she was appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court by Governor Tommy Thompson
in 1993. She won election to the court in 1994, and resigned from the bench in 1998. From February to May 2002, she served as the interim county executive for Milwaukee County.
She held the Association of Marquette University Women's Chair in Humanistic Studies in 2000 and 2001, and she is on the faculty of the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada
. Among her numerous awards, in both 1994 and 2002 the Milwaukee Bar honored Geske with its Lawyer of the Year award.
Wisconsin Supreme Court
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is the highest appellate court in the state of Wisconsin. The Supreme Court has jurisdiction over original actions, appeals from lower courts, and regulation or administration of the practice of law in Wisconsin.-Location:...
from 1993 to 1998. She is a distinguished professor of law at Marquette University Law School
Marquette University Law School
Marquette University Law School is the professional school for the study of law at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and one of only two law schools in Wisconsin. With 45 full-time professors and approximately 760 J.D. students, the law school is ranked in the top tier among American...
and director of the school's Restorative Justice Initiative. She served as interim dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the law school from 2002 to 2003.
Geske was born in Port Washington
Port Washington, Wisconsin
Port Washington is the county seat of Ozaukee County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The city is about 25 miles north of Milwaukee and 110 miles north of Chicago. In the 2000 census Port Washington had a population of 10,467...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
and raised in Cedarburg
Cedarburg, Wisconsin
Cedarburg is a city in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States with Cedar Creek running through it. The city is bordered by the Village of Grafton to the east and the Town of Cedarburg elsewhere...
. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees from Beloit College
Beloit College
Beloit College is a liberal arts college in Beloit, Wisconsin, USA. It is a member of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest, and has an enrollment of roughly 1,300 undergraduate students. Beloit is the oldest continuously operated college in Wisconsin, and has the oldest building of any college...
in 1971 and her law degree
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Marquette University Law School
Marquette University Law School
Marquette University Law School is the professional school for the study of law at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and one of only two law schools in Wisconsin. With 45 full-time professors and approximately 760 J.D. students, the law school is ranked in the top tier among American...
in 1975.
Geske became the chief staff attorney for the Legal Aid Society
Legal Aid Society
The Legal Aid Society in New York City is the United States' oldest and largest provider of legal services to the indigent. It operates both traditional civil and criminal law cases.-History:...
of Milwaukee, where she worked until 1979. She was an assistant professor at Marquette University Law School
Marquette University Law School
Marquette University Law School is the professional school for the study of law at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and one of only two law schools in Wisconsin. With 45 full-time professors and approximately 760 J.D. students, the law school is ranked in the top tier among American...
from 1978 to 1981 and was the director of the Marquette University Law School's Clinic for the Elderly, which she founded. Beginning in 1981, Geske served in the Milwaukee County circuit court for 12 years, until she was appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court by Governor Tommy Thompson
Tommy Thompson
Thomas George "Tommy" Thompson , a United States Republican politician, was the 42nd Governor of Wisconsin, after which he served as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. Thompson was a candidate for the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election, but dropped out early after a poor performance in polls...
in 1993. She won election to the court in 1994, and resigned from the bench in 1998. From February to May 2002, she served as the interim county executive for Milwaukee County.
She held the Association of Marquette University Women's Chair in Humanistic Studies in 2000 and 2001, and she is on the faculty of the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
. Among her numerous awards, in both 1994 and 2002 the Milwaukee Bar honored Geske with its Lawyer of the Year award.