The Honorable Patrick Willis | |
|---|---|
| Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Manitowoc Circuit, Branch 1 | |
| In office July 1997 – October 5, 2012 | |
| Appointed by | Tommy Thompson |
| Preceded by | Allan J. Deehr |
| Succeeded by | Mark R. Rohrer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Patrick Lee Willis February 1, 1950 Manitowoc, Wisconsin, U.S |
| Education | Marquette University University of Wisconsin Law School |
| Occupation | Lawyer, Judge |
Patrick Lee Willis (born February 1, 1950) is an American lawyer and retired judge. He was a Wisconsin Circuit Court judge in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, from 1997 until 2012.[1] Willis gained national recognition when he presided over the highly publicized Steven Avery homicide trial in 2007; his rulings regarding the admissibility of certain key pieces of evidence were frequent sources of news stories.