EVM&PJH:eev&wlj:rs
2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE
December 10, 2013 - Introduced by Law Revision Committee. Referred to
Committee on Judiciary and Labor.
SB425,1,3 1An Act to repeal 756.06 (2) (am); and to amend 59.40 (2) (j), 756.06 (2) (a),
2972.02 (2) and 972.04 (1) of the statutes; relating to: juries in criminal cases
3and contents of registers of officials.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
In State v. Hansford, 219 Wis. 2d 226, 580 N.W.2d 171 (1998), the Wisconsin
Supreme Court held that the Wisconsin Constitution requires a twelve-person jury
in all criminal cases and that the law providing for a six-person jury in misdemeanor
cases was unconstitutional.
This bill eliminates an inconsistency in current law governing the number of
jurors in a criminal case. The bill eliminates a provision that allows a six-person jury
in misdemeanor cases and provides that a jury in any criminal case shall consist of
12 persons, unless the parties agree to a smaller number and the court approves the
agreement.
Under current law, the clerk of circuit court for each county must keep a record
called "registers of officials" containing the names of circuit and supplemental court
commissioners, deputy sheriffs, notaries public, and municipal judges. Under this
bill, the clerk of circuit court is not required to keep the names of notaries public in
the registers of officials.

For further information, see the Notes provided by the Law Revision
Committee of the Joint Legislative Council.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
Law Revision Committee prefatory note: This bill is introduced by the Law
Revision Committee under s. 13.83 (1) (c) 1. and 5., stats., as a result of the Legislative
Reference Bureau's case and opinion review under s. 13.92 (2) (j), stats. After careful
consideration of the various provisions of the bill, the Law Revision Committee has
determined that this bill makes minor substantive changes in the statutes, and that these
changes are desirable as a matter of public policy.
SB425,1 1Section 1 . 59.40 (2) (j) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB425,2,72 59.40 (2) (j) Keep a record called registers of officials and write or copy in the
3record in tabular form the names of circuit and supplemental court commissioners,
4deputy sheriffs, notaries public and municipal judges. The clerk shall list the
5officers' names, the dates of their qualification, and the commencement and
6termination, if any, of their terms. The names shall be in alphabetical order or there
7shall be an index in alphabetical order to the names.
Note: Section 1 eliminates the requirement that the clerk of circuit court
maintain the names of notaries public in the registers of officials.
SB425,2 8Section 2 . 756.06 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB425,2,109 756.06 (2) (a) A jury in a felony criminal case shall consist of 12 persons unless
10both parties agree on a lesser number as provided in s. 972.02.
SB425,3 11Section 3. 756.06 (2) (am) of the statutes is repealed.
SB425,4 12Section 4. 972.02 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB425,2,1613 972.02 (2) At any time before the verdict in a felony case, the parties may
14stipulate in writing or by statement in open court, on the record, with the approval
15of the court, that the jury shall consist of any number less than 12. If the case is a
16misdemeanor case, the jury shall consist of 6 persons.
SB425,5 17Section 5 . 972.04 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB425,3,9
1972.04 (1) The number of jurors selected shall be prescribed in s. 756.06 (2) (a)
2or (am), whichever is applicable, unless a lesser number has been stipulated and
3approved under s. 972.02 (2) or the court orders that additional jurors be selected.
4That number, plus the number of peremptory challenges available to all the parties,
5shall be called initially and maintained in the jury box by calling others to replace
6jurors excused for cause until all jurors have been examined. The parties shall
7thereupon exercise in their order, the state beginning, the peremptory challenges
8available to them, and if any party declines to challenge, the challenge shall be made
9by the clerk by lot.
Note: Sections 2 to 5 eliminate a provision in current law that allows a six-person
jury in misdemeanor cases and modify provisions relating to twelve-person juries so that
they apply to all criminal cases. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has held that the
Wisconsin Constitution requires a twelve-person jury in all criminal cases and that the
law providing for a six-person jury in misdemeanor cases is unconstitutional.
SB425,3,1010 (End)
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