Women District Attorneys

Dorothy Walker: First Women District Attorney

This progress builds on a long legacy of pioneering women in Wisconsin law, including Dorothy Walker, elected at age 23 as Wisconsin’s first female District Attorney. Walker served Columbia County for four years and became known for her exceptionally high rate of successful prosecutions. She secured special funding to “aid her in wiping out moonshine,” handled cases before notable figures—including trying a case before Judge Joseph McCarthy—and was even mentioned as a possible appointee to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Beyond her public service, she served as President of the Wisconsin Women’s Bar Association and continued her legal career in private practice through retirement. Her leadership helped open the door for future generations of women to serve in prosecutorial and judicial roles across the state.

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Women Serving as District Attorneys in Wisconsin

This chart shows the steady rise in the number of women serving as District Attorneys across Wisconsin over the past two decades. After remaining relatively flat from 2005 to 2015—hovering around 11%—women's representation began to increase significantly.

By 2021, the percentage of women District Attorneys had climbed to nearly 20%. The upward momentum continues in 2025, when women hold 24% of District Attorney positions—the highest level to date.

Alongside the percentage trend, the number of women serving as DAs has also grown. After remaining level for several election cycles, the number of women in these roles more than doubled between 2015 and 2025.

Overall, the data illustrates slow but meaningful progress in gender representation within Wisconsin's prosecutorial leadership, indicating expanded opportunities for women in the justice system and continued movement toward greater gender equity in elected legal offices.