Michael R. Fitzpatrick

Michael R. Fitzpatrick is an American lawyer who served as a judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals from 2017 to 2023. Previously, he served nine years as a Wisconsin circuit court judge in Rock County.

Michael R. Fitzpatrick
Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District IV
In office August 1, 2017 – July 31, 2023
Preceded by	Paul B. Higginbotham
Succeeded by	Chris Taylor
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Rock Circuit, Branch 3
In office 2008 – July 31, 2017
Appointed by	Jim Doyle
Preceded by	Michael J. Byron
Succeeded by	Jeffrey S. Kuglitsch
Personal details
Spouse	Sharon
Children	2
Residence	Janesville, Wisconsin
Alma mater	Drake University
Profession	lawyer, judge

Life and career

Fitzpatrick received his Juris Doctor degree from Drake University Law School and then practiced law in Janesville, Wisconsin. In 2008, Fitzpatrick was appointed to the Rock County Circuit Court by Governor Jim Doyle, a Democrat.^[1] He was subsequently elected to two six-years terms on the court, in 2009 and 2015. In April 2017, Fitzpatrick was elected without opposition to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals in District IV, to replace retiring Judge Paul Higginbotham.^[2][3]

Fitzpatrick announced he would not seek re-election to another term on the court in 2023.^[4]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Circuit Court (2009, 2015)

Wisconsin Circuit Court, Rock Circuit, Branch 3 Election, 2009^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
General Election, April 7, 2009
	Nonpartisan	Michael R. Fitzpatrick (incumbent)	13,005	99.65%
		Scattering	46	0.35%
Total votes			13,051	100.0%

Wisconsin Circuit Court, Rock Circuit, Branch 3 Election, 2015^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
General Election, April 7, 2015
	Nonpartisan	Michael R. Fitzpatrick (incumbent)	14,664	99.28%
		Scattering	107	0.72%
Total votes			14,771	100.0%

Wisconsin Court of Appeals (2017)

Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District IV Election, 2017^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
General Election, April 4, 2017
	Nonpartisan	Michael R. Fitzpatrick	161,876	99.39%
		Scattering	990	0.61%
Total votes			162,866	100.0%