| James A. Rutkowski | |
| Office: | Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly |
| Constituency: | 82nd district |
| Term Start: | January 7, 1985 |
| Term End: | December 7, 1997 |
| Predecessor: | Gervase Hephner |
| Successor: | Jeff A. Stone |
| Constituency1: | 28th district |
| Term Start1: | January 3, 1983 |
| Term End1: | January 7, 1985 |
| Predecessor1: | David E. Paulson |
| Successor1: | David E. Paulson |
| Constituency2: | 82nd district |
| Term Start2: | January 1, 1973 |
| Term End2: | January 3, 1983 |
| Predecessor2: | District established |
| Successor2: | Gervase Hephner |
| Constituency3: | Milwaukee 23rd district |
| Term Start3: | January 4, 1971 |
| Term End3: | January 1, 1973 |
| Predecessor3: | Jerry J. Wing |
| Successor3: | District abolished |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Birth Date: | 6 April 1942 |
| Birth Place: | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Residence: | Greenfield, Wisconsin |
| Spouse: | Jean |
| Children: | None |
| Allegiance: |  United States |
| Branch: | U.S. Army Reserve |
| Serviceyears: | 1966 - 1972 |
| Unit: | Army Security Agency Judge Advocate General's Corps |
James A. Rutkowski (born April 6, 1942) is a retired American attorney and Democratic politician. He served 27 years in the Wisconsin State Assembly (1971 - 1997) representing southwest Milwaukee County.
Rutkowski was born on April 6, 1942, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[1] He graduated from Bay View High School and Marquette University.[2] In 1966, Rutkowski joined the United States Army Reserve. After initially serving in the United States Army Security Agency, he transferred to the Judge Advocate General's Corps in 1969. He remained with the Reserve until 1972. Additionally, Rutkowksi was a member of the faculty at Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the United States Junior Chamber.
Rutkowski was elected to the Assembly in 1970. That same year, he was elected to be a trustee of Hales Corners, Wisconsin. He was reelected to the Assembly 13 times and resigned in December 1997 to accept an appointment to the state Labor and Industry Review Commission.[3]