LRB-1209/1
TKK:wlj
2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE
December 10, 2015 - Introduced by Representatives Hebl, Wachs, Berceau,
Billings, Johnson, Kahl, Kessler, Kolste, Ohnstad, Pope, Spreitzer,
Subeck, C. Taylor and Zepnick, cosponsored by Senators Ringhand,
L. Taylor
and Vinehout. Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
AB589,1,3
1An Act to create 757.19 (4m) of the statutes;
relating to: authority of the
2Wisconsin Supreme Court to review a decision of a justice to deny a motion to
3disqualify the justice.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Current law requires a supreme court justice and a judge in the court of appeals,
in circuit court, and in municipal court (judge) to disqualify himself or herself from
a civil or criminal action or proceeding (action) under certain circumstances,
including when a judge is related to any party or counsel to the action, when a judge
is a party or a material witness in the action, when a judge has a significant financial
or personal interest in the outcome of the action, and when a judge determines that
he or she cannot, or it appears he or she cannot, act in an impartial manner. This
bill provides that, if a Wisconsin Supreme Court justice denies a motion to disqualify
himself or herself from an action, the supreme court may review that decision to deny
the motion, and may either affirm or reverse the justice's decision.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB589,1
4Section
1. 757.19 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB589,2,25
757.19
(4m) Upon motion of any party, the supreme court may review the
6decision of a supreme court justice to deny a motion to disqualify himself or herself
1from a civil or criminal action or proceeding, and may affirm or reverse the decision
2of the justice to deny the motion for disqualification.
