Fehrenbach installed as Lincoln County’s first female judge

Merrill native Jessica Fehrenbach was sworn in on Aug. 1, 2025, as the first female judge in Lincoln County, surrounded by family and close friends. She was elected in April to fill the vacant seat left by the Honorable Rob Russell’s retirement.
The formal investiture was held Sept. 12, 2025, where Fehrenbach was surrounded by family, friends, and her peers. The event, with Merrill native Attorney Alec Nocco serving as master of ceremonies, featured recently retired Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Ann Walsh Bradley as the main speaker, and Fehrenbach’s husband, Travis, also spoke.
Numerous moments helped cement the investiture day in now-Judge Jessica Fehrenbach’s memory. “An investiture is a once-in-a-lifetime event,” she said. “I was overwhelmed by how many people took time out of their lives to attend.”
“My three children helped put my robe on me before I took the bench to give my speech.” That added to the emotion of the moment for Fehrenbach. Family is immensely important to her, as is community.
“I am extremely honored to be the first female judge in Lincoln County,” Fehrenbach said. “I bring a unique and diverse background and set of life experiences with me to the bench. In addition to being a wife and a mother, you can also find me coaching soccer, serving on nonprofit boards and the PTO, speaking to organizations in the community, and attending events that benefit children.” Fehrenbach is on the MAC Home Board and volunteers her time with Trinity PTO, Backpacks for Kids, and Food for Kids.
“I would not be where I am today or be who I am today without the support of my parents, Linda and the late Gary Schuster, and my husband, Travis Fehrenbach,” she said. “I look forward to serving our community for many years to come.”
“I grew up in Merrill, and only left while I attended college and law school,” Fehrenbach said. “I never thought I would build a career here, but I am grateful that I have. I was able to help thousands of individuals through my work as a public defender attorney, but my ability to effectuate change was limited.”
“This position also allows me to reform the system from within through programs like a mediation program and a family treatment court. It will take some time to get a family treatment court started in our county, and it will require resources, but long term, it will help end intergenerational cycling of families through the system. Those families’ successes will benefit our whole community. Most importantly, a family treatment court will greatly benefit children in our community.”
In her response to the newspaper in advance of the April election, Fehrenbach stated that she is committed to the fair administration of justice.
In her investiture speech, Fehrenbach challenged listeners in attendance “to be curious, to connect, and to celebrate.”
“Regarding being curious, I urged them to ask questions, research answers, to never assume they know everything, and to not be judgmental,” she said.
“Regarding connecting, I urged them to connect to others and to nature. To connect with people they already know and people they don’t know yet. Additionally, to enjoy all the beautiful nature we have here in our county,” Fehrenbach said.
“Regarding celebrating, I urged them to celebrate others and themselves,” she said.
“My girls (ages 7 and 5) once wisely told me, ‘Dulling someone else’s shine does not make you shinier, it makes you shadier.’” Fehrenbach said. “Overall, I hope I conveyed a sense of community, optimism, and connectedness.”