Krista G. LaFave
WAUWATOSA MUNICIPAL JUDGE
ABOUT ME
Hi, I'm Krista.
WHERE I'M FROM
I grew up in Whitefish Bay, but regularly visited my grandparents who resided on Menomonee River Parkway in Wauwatosa. I always loved exploring the parkway and looked forward to every time I got to be in Wauwatosa. After high school, I decided if I ever moved back to the Milwaukee area, I would want to live in Wauwatosa, which came true in 2014. I have resided in multiple different parts of Wauwatosa. Since 2021, I made my home for my daughter and I in East Tosa. I love Tosa's different neighborhoods, and all of the events that occur throughout the year. I love how Tosans care about their city and the greater Milwaukee community.
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I attended UW-Madison for undergrad and received double-majors in French and Political Science. I worked in Madison and then moved to Chicago for a new career in legal marketing. A few years later, I decided to pursue my dream of attending law school. I attended Tulane University Law School and graduated magna cum laude. I received the prestigious Tulane 34 Award from Tulane University's president, which is given annually to only 34 graduates from all of Tulane University.
VOLUNTEER-DRIVEN MINDSET
I have volunteered my entire life, and one of my earliest memories is caroling at nursing homes in elementary school. In Wauwatosa, I joined the Sheraton Lawns Neighborhood Association Board in 2014, and was the President 2018-2020. As a recent transplant to Tosa East Towne, I am a member of the association. Mayor Kathy Ehley appointed me to the Board of Zoning Appeals in 2018 and Mayor Dennis McBride re-appointed me in 2021. In that role, I ensured that variance requests to ordinances were properly heard and determined based on the strict standards provided by case law and statute. I am proud to have served as a poll worker since the fall of 2020.​ I previously served on the board for the HOPE Network for Single Mothers for many years.
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I believe volunteering is one of the most important things a lawyer can do, as it is a way to ensure fairness and equity in our judicial system. Since 2017, I have volunteered to provide legal service and representation with the Eviction Defense Project. I was elected to the State Bar of Wisconsin's Board of Governors and served as the Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee. I am currently a member of the Nominating Committee. I served as a Wisconsin state representative to the American Bar Association's House of Delegates and represented Wisconsin at our bi-annual meetings. I have served on the Association for Women Lawyers' board of directors for many years, and currently serve as the Past Preside. I chaired AWL's Litigation Discussion Group from 2014-2019.
Legal Experience Meets Judgeship
With demonstrated experience working and litigating in a number of courts, I am ready to serve Wauwatosa as the next municipal judge.
As an attorney, I represent individuals injured due to the negligence of others at the Warshafsky Law Firm. I regularly litigate in circuit court and appellate court, both in oral arguments and written pleadings. I have appeared in various municipal courts during my practice. Before moving to private practice, I was a clerk at Milwaukee County Circuit Court. While attending Tulane University Law School, I had an externship with Honorable Lance Africk of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana and a summer internship with Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Ann Walsh Bradley.
The combination of my advocacy experience and knowledge of numerous courts and best practices gives me unique qualifications to serve as your municipal judge.