Judge Sykes was nominated to the Seventh Circuit by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the Senate in 2004. Prior to her appointment to the federal bench, Judge Sykes served as a justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Governor Tommy G. Thompson appointed her in September 1999 to fill a mid-term vacancy on the state supreme court, and she was elected to a full ten-year term in April 2000. From 1992-1999, Judge Sykes served on the state trial bench in Milwaukee County (elected in 1992 and re-elected in 1998). From 1985-1992, Judge Sykes practiced law with the Milwaukee firm of Whyte & Hirschboeck, S.C., and from 1984-1985, was a law clerk to Federal Judge Terence T. Evans.
Born and raised in the Milwaukee area, Judge Sykes earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University in 1980 and a law degree from Marquette University Law School in 1984. Between college and law school, Judge Sykes worked as a reporter for The Milwaukee Journal.
Judge Sykes has two sons.
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A Presentation on Election Law by Chief Judge Diane Sykes
Marquette Student Chapter
Marquette Law School1215 W Michigan St, Milwaukee, WI 53233
Milwaukee, WI 53233
2022 Judge Rudolph T. Randa Lecture and Award
Milwaukee Lawyers Chapter
Milwaukee Athletic Club758 North Broadway
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Discussion with Judge Diane Sykes
Madison Lawyers Chapter
Madison Club5 East Wilson Street
Madison , WI 53703
Does Title VII Prohibit Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation: A Discussion on the Principles of Statutory Interpretation
Wisconsin Student Chapter
University of Wisconsin Law School, Room 3250975 Bascom Mall
Madison, WI 53703
Title VII at the Supreme Court
Stanford Student Chapter
Stanford Law School559 Nathan Abbott Way
Stanford, CA 94305
Stare Decisis in Civil Rights Cases
2019 National Lawyers Convention
On November 15, 2019, the Federalist Society's Civil Rights Practice Group hosted a panel for...
Stare Decisis in Civil Rights Cases
2019 National Lawyers Convention
On November 15, 2019, the Federalist Society's Civil Rights Practice Group hosted a panel for...
Independent Agencies: How Independent is Too Independent?
2018 National Lawyers Convention
Justice Scalia put it bluntly in Morrison v. Olson: “There are now no lines.” Morrison,...
Independent Agencies: How Independent is Too Independent?
2018 National Lawyers Convention
Justice Scalia put it bluntly in Morrison v. Olson: “There are now no lines.” Morrison,...
Reconstructing First Principles: The Fourteenth Amendment and the Constitution
2018 National Student Symposium
The Fourteenth Amendment dramatically changed constitutional law. How are we to understand these changes? Did...