In 1996, Donald was appointed by Governor Tommy Thompson, a Republican, to a vacant seat on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court.[2] His oath was administered by his mentor, Judge Cudahy.[1] Donald was elected to a six-year term on the court in 1997 and reelected in 2003, 2009, and 2015, without opposition. Judge Donald was instrumental in establishing the Milwaukee County Drug Treatment Court in 2009 and served as its first judge. The Drug Treatment Court was designed to use a system of rewards and penalties to redirect more people from jail toward treatment and recovery.[1]
From 2015 to 2019, Donald served as a deputy chief judge of the court under chief judge Maxine Aldridge White.[3]
^Barish, Lawrence S., ed. (1997). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1997-1998 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 875. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
^Barish, Lawrence S., ed. (2003). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 2003-2004 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 896. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
^"Elections". Wisconsin Blue Book 2009-2010 (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. 2009. p. 899. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
^"Elections". Wisconsin Blue Book 2015-2016 (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. 2015. p. 884. Retrieved January 1, 2020.