N. Patrick Crooks
Encyclopedia
Justice N. Patrick Crooks (born May 16, 1938) is a justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court
. Justice Crooks was elected to the Supreme Court in 1996 and re-elected in 2006.
Justice Crooks is a native of Green Bay
, Wisconsin
. After graduating from Premontre High School
in 1956, Crooks received his bachelor’s degree from St. Norbert College
in 1960 and his law degree
from the University of Notre Dame
in 1963.
From 1963 to 1966, Justice Crooks served as an officer in the United States Army
at the Pentagon
, in the Office of the Judge Advocate General
. He worked in private law practice in 1963, and again from 1966 to 1977. While in private practice, he taught business law at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay.
From 1977 to 1996, Justice Crooks served as a circuit court judge in Brown County, and was named Trial Judge of the Year in 1994 by the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He is a member of the American Bar Association
and serves as a law school evaluator for the American Bar Association’s Legal Education and Admissions Section. He is also a member of the Wisconsin Law Foundation Board, the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Media-Law Relations Committee and a past member of the Wisconsin Judicial Council. He is a director of the Notre Dame Law Association, and a member of the James E. Doyle Chapter of the American Inns of Court.
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:...
. Justice Crooks was elected to the Supreme Court in 1996 and re-elected in 2006.
Justice Crooks is a native of Green Bay
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
, 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...
. After graduating from Premontre High School
Notre Dame Academy (Green Bay, Wisconsin)
Notre Dame de la Baie Academy is a co-educational Roman Catholic high school in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The name is French for "Our Lady of the Bay"...
in 1956, Crooks received his bachelor’s degree from St. Norbert College
St. Norbert College
St. Norbert College is a private Catholic liberal arts college in De Pere, Wisconsin. Founded in October 1898 by Abbot Bernard Pennings, a Norbertine priest and educator, the school was named after Saint Norbert of Xanten. In 1952, the college became coeducational and today enrolls about 2,175...
in 1960 and his 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 the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
in 1963.
From 1963 to 1966, Justice Crooks served as an officer in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
at the Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
, in the Office of the Judge Advocate General
Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Army
The Judge Advocate General's Corps of the United States Army is composed of Army officers who are also lawyers and who provide legal services to the Army at all levels of command. The Judge Advocate General's Legal Service includes judge advocates, warrant officers, paralegal noncommissioned...
. He worked in private law practice in 1963, and again from 1966 to 1977. While in private practice, he taught business law at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay.
From 1977 to 1996, Justice Crooks served as a circuit court judge in Brown County, and was named Trial Judge of the Year in 1994 by the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He is a member of the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
and serves as a law school evaluator for the American Bar Association’s Legal Education and Admissions Section. He is also a member of the Wisconsin Law Foundation Board, the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Media-Law Relations Committee and a past member of the Wisconsin Judicial Council. He is a director of the Notre Dame Law Association, and a member of the James E. Doyle Chapter of the American Inns of Court.