Michelle Ackerman Havas

About Michelle Ackerman Havas

Judge Michelle Ackerman Havas presided over Branch 45 of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court. Judge Havas managed a calendar of more than 500 cases. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Havas served as an Assistant District Attorney for Milwaukee County where she prosecuted hundreds of cases keeping our community safe and strengthening families. As a prosecutor, Judge Havas worked with numerous victims of crime to make sure their needs were addressed and their perpetrators held accountable. In October 2016 she rejoined the District Attorney\'s office in the Child Protection Advocacy Unit.Prior to becoming a prosecutor, Judge Havas worked at White Hirschboeck Dudek S.C, one of Milwaukee\'s most respected law firms, where she practiced in the areas of commercial litigation, insurance defense, consumer transactions, and professional liability matters.Judge Havas has extensive courtroom and litigation experience having litigated numerous motions and trials in her career. She has also litigated cases on the appellate level and has successfully argued in the Wisconsin Supreme Court.Judge Havas has lectured at law enforcement conferences on issues pertaining to the protection of at risk children and has extensive experience working in the Milwaukee County Children\'s Court Center. She has firsthand knowledge of the struggles and challenges many of Milwaukee County\'s youth and families face.In 2014, Judge Havas was honored by the Wisconsin Law Journal by being named a recipient of the \"Women in the Law Award\" which is given to leaders in Wisconsin\'s legal community.

Experience

1. Assistant District Attorney

   Milwaukee County

   Nov 2002 — Present

   Litigated hundreds of criminal and civil cases, including more than 50 jury trials• Drafted appellate briefs and petitions for review• Successfully argued before the Wisconsin Supreme Court

Education

• Concordia University

  Bachelor of Arts-Criminal Justice

  1993 — 1996

• University of Wisconsin Law School

  Juris Doctor

  1996 — 1998

• Milwaukee Area Technical College

  Associate of Applied Science

  1987 — 1989

Skills

• Civil Litigation
• Trial Practice
• Hearings
• Legal Research
• Jury Trials
• Appeals
• Courts
• Criminal Justice
• Trials
• Evidence
• Westlaw
• Motions
• Litigation