Recognizing Ms. Anna Maria Hodges

Floor Speech

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Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Anna Maria Hodges who became the first woman of color and Afro-Latina to hold the position of Clerk of Circuit Court of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. Ms. Hodges is a consummate professional with decades of hard-earned experience, leadership abilities, impressive work ethic, and commitment to justice and innovation.

Elected by the people of Milwaukee County on November 8, 2022, Ms. Hodges assumed office on January 2, 2023, and directs the administrative, recordkeeping, and clerical services that support the Milwaukee County Circuit Court.

Ms. Hodges leads a staff of nearly 300 employees, supervises the management of approximately 150,000 annual cases, and administers a budget exceeding $42 million. In addition to her statutory duties as the Clerk of Circuit Court, Ms. Hodges serves pursuant to the Milwaukee County General Ordinances as Director of the Milwaukee County Division of Court Services, supervising additional fiscal and administrative services supporting court operations, and provides direction to Milwaukee County's Jury Management Office.

As the Clerk of Circuit Court, Ms. Hodges continues upon her nearly three decades of work expanding public access to our justice system and ensuring efficient court operations. Ms. Hodges' priorities include achieving excellence in customer service, increasing professional development and training opportunities for her office's dedicated personnel, and responsibly administering the records and funding entrusted to her office. Ms. Hodges' service as Clerk of Circuit Court marks only the most recent step in a three-decade career in public service.

A public servant for nearly 30 years, Ms. Hodges previously served as Acting Clerk of Circuit Court in early 2022, Chief Deputy Clerk of Circuit Court from 2018 to 2022, and as Assistant Chief Deputy Clerk of Circuit Court and Civil Division Administrator from 2006 to 2018. She has also served as Court Coordinator and Deputy Director of Litigation Services for the First Judicial Administrative District, as Deputy Director of the Milwaukee Office of former Governor Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin, and as Constituent Services Specialist in the office of former Milwaukee County Executive Francis Thomas Ament.

A resident of Brown Deer, Wisconsin, Ms. Hodges graduated magna cum laude from Cardinal Stritch University with a Bachelor of Science in Management. She is a proud mother and grandmother and is active in her community and church.

Mr. Speaker, for these reasons, I am honored to recognize Anna Maria Hodges and her lifelong commitment to public service and Wisconsin. I look forward to seeing Ms. Hodges' contributions and accomplishments as Clerk of Circuit Court.

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