John Chisholm

John Chisholm was the Milwaukee County District Attorney from 2007 until 2025. He served as a prosecutor in Wisconsin for over 30 years. During his tenure John expanded the nationally recognized Community Prosecution Unit, helped develop the Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission, was a founding member of the Milwaukee County Community Justice Council, and advocated for the establishment of the Sojourner Family Peace Center. In collaboration with the Courts and Public Defender, he launched the Milwaukee Early Intervention Program in 2007. Within his office he created the Child Protection Advocacy Unit and worked closely with academic partners to closely evaluate prosecutorial functions and data, including groundbreaking work in examining racial disparity in the criminal justice system. He served on the Executive Board for the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, the Institute for Innovation in Prosecution at John Jay College and the State Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.

John graduated from Marquette University in 1986 with an English Literature degree, served in the United States Army as an Infantry Officer from 1986-1990 and graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1994. He is married to Colleen and has a son Ted.