State of Wisconsin,
County of ....
I, the undersigned, who have been elected (or appointed) to the office of ...., but have not yet entered upon the duties thereof, do solemnly swear that I will support the constitution of the United States and the constitution of the state of Wisconsin; that I will administer justice without respect to persons and will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of said office to the best of my ability. So help me God.
....(Signature)
Subscribed and sworn to before me this .... day of ...., .... (year)
....(Signature)
757.02(2)
(2) The judge of any court of record in this state shall be ineligible to hold any office of public trust, except a judicial office, during the term for which he or she was elected or appointed.
757.02(3)
(3) The judges of such courts shall be conservators of the peace, and have power to administer oaths and take the acknowledgments of deeds and other written instruments throughout the state.
757.02(5)
(5) Except for retired judges appointed under
s. 753.075, each supreme court justice, court of appeals judge and circuit court judge included under
ch. 40 shall accrue sick leave at the rate established under
s. 230.35 (2) for the purpose of credits under
s. 40.05 (4) (b) and for premium payment determinations under
s. 40.05 (4) and
(5).
757.02 Annotation
The county board was without authority to adopt a resolution providing for the reduction and termination of its supplement to county judges' salaries on the contingency of increases in state salaries, since the resolution allowed for a mid-term reduction in compensation and constituted an unsanctioned interference with the legislature's authority to fix and increase county salaries. State ex rel. Conway v. Elvod,
70 Wis. 2d 448,
234 N.W.2d 354.
757.025
757.025
Judge to file affidavit as to work done to receive salary. 757.025(1)(1) No judge of a court of record may receive or be allowed to draw any salary, unless he or she first executes an affidavit stating that no cause or matter which has been submitted in final form to his or her court remains undecided that has been submitted for decision for 90 days, exclusive of the time that he or she has been actually disabled by sickness or unless extended by the judge under
sub. (2). The affidavit shall be presented to and filed with every official who certifies in whole or in part, the judge's salary.
757.025(2)
(2) If a judge is unable to complete a decision within the 90-day period specified in
sub. (1), the judge shall so certify in the record and the period is thereupon extended for one additional period of not to exceed 90 days.
757.025 History
History: 1977 c. 187 s.
96; Stats. 1977 s. 757.025.
757.025 Annotation
This section is intrusion by legislature into exclusively judicial area of judicial decision-making and, as such, is unconstitutional violation of separation of powers doctrine. Court adopts rule of judicial administration entitled "
SCR 70.36 Judges' Certification of Status of Pending Cases". In Matter of Complaint Against Grady,
118 Wis. 2d 762,
348 N.W.2d 559 (1984).
757.05
757.05
Penalty assessment. 757.05(1)(a)(a) Whenever a court imposes a fine or forfeiture for a violation of state law or for a violation of a municipal or county ordinance except for a violation of
s. 101.123 (2) (a),
(am) 1.,
(ar) or
(bm) or
(5) or state laws or municipal or county ordinances involving nonmoving traffic violations or safety belt use violations under
s. 347.48 (2m), there shall be imposed in addition a penalty assessment in an amount of 23% of the fine or forfeiture imposed. If multiple offenses are involved, the penalty assessment shall be based upon the total fine or forfeiture for all offenses. When a fine or forfeiture is suspended in whole or in part, the penalty assessment shall be reduced in proportion to the suspension.
757.05(1)(b)
(b) If a fine or forfeiture is imposed by a court of record, after a determination by the court of the amount due, the clerk of the court shall collect and transmit such amount to the county treasurer as provided in
s. 59.40 (2) (m). The county treasurer shall then make payment to the state treasurer as provided in
s. 59.25 (3) (f) 2.
757.05(1)(c)
(c) If a fine or forfeiture is imposed by a municipal court, after a determination by the court of the amount due, the court shall collect and transmit such amount to the treasurer of the county, city, town or village, and that treasurer shall make payment to the state treasurer as provided in
s. 66.0114 (1) (b).
757.05(1)(d)
(d) If any deposit of bail is made for a noncriminal offense to which this section applies, the person making the deposit shall also deposit a sufficient amount to include the assessment prescribed in this section for forfeited bail. If bail is forfeited, the amount of the assessment shall be transmitted monthly to the state treasurer under this section. If bail is returned, the assessment shall also be returned.
757.05(2)
(2) Use of penalty assessment moneys. 757.05(2)(a)(a)
Law enforcement training fund. Twenty-seven fifty-fifths of all moneys collected from penalty assessments under
sub. (1) shall be credited to the appropriation account under
s. 20.455 (2) (i) and utilized in accordance with
ss. 20.455 (2) and
165.85 (5). The moneys credited to the appropriation account under
s. 20.455 (2) (i), except for the moneys transferred to
s. 20.455 (2) (jb), constitute the law enforcement training fund.
757.05(2)(b)
(b)
Other purposes. The moneys collected from penalty assessments under
sub. (1) that remain after crediting the appropriation account specified in
par. (a) shall be credited to the appropriation account under
s. 20.505 (6) (j) and transferred as provided under
s. 20.505 (6) (j).
757.08
757.08
Vacancy in judgeship not to affect suits. No process, proceeding or action, civil or criminal, before any court of record shall be discontinued by the occurrence of any vacancy in the office of any judge or of all the judges of such court, nor by the election of any new judge or judges of any such court, but the persons so elected shall have power to continue, hear and determine such process, proceedings or action as their predecessors might have done if no new election had been held.
757.08 History
History: 1977 c. 187 s.
96; Stats. 1977 s. 757.08.
757.10
757.10
Failure to adjourn. No omission to adjourn any such court may vitiate any proceedings in the court.
757.10 History
History: 1977 c. 187 s.
96;
1977 c. 449; Stats. 1977 s. 757.10.
757.12
757.12
Adjournment to another place. Whenever it is deemed unsafe or inexpedient, by reason of war, pestilence or other public calamity, to hold any court at the time and place appointed therefor the justices or judges of the court may appoint any other place within the same county and any other time for holding court. All proceedings in the court may be continued at adjourned times and places and be of the same force and effect as if the court had continued its sessions at the place it was held before the adjournment. Every such appointment shall be made by an order in writing, signed by the justices or judges making the appointment, and shall be published as a class 1 notice, under
ch. 985, or in such other manner as is required in the order.
757.12 History
History: 1977 c. 187 s.
96;
1977 c. 449; Stats. 1977 s. 757.12.
757.13
757.13
Continuances; legislative privilege. When a witness, party or an attorney for any party to any action or proceeding in any court or any commission, is a member of the Wisconsin legislature, in session, that fact is sufficient cause for the adjournment or continuance of the action or proceeding, and the adjournment or continuance shall be granted without the imposition of terms.
757.13 History
History: 1977 c. 187 s.
96; Stats. 1977 s. 757.13;
1979 c. 34.
757.14
757.14
Sittings, public. The sittings of every court shall be public and every citizen may freely attend the same, except if otherwise expressly provided by law on the examination of persons charged with crime; provided, that when in any court a cause of a scandalous or obscene nature is on trial the presiding judge or justice may exclude from the room where the court is sitting all minors not necessarily present as parties or witnesses.
757.14 History
History: 1977 c. 187 s.
96; Stats. 1977 s. 757.14.
757.14 Annotation
Any citizen has the right to attend immunity hearings arising out of a John Doe proceeding. State ex rel. Newspapers, Inc. v. Circuit Court,
65 Wis. 2d 66,
221 N.W.2d 894.
757.14 Annotation
Court abused discretion by excluding public from voir dire of potential jurors. State ex rel. La Crosse Tribune v. Circuit Ct.
115 Wis. 2d 220,
340 N.W.2d 460 (1983).
757.14 AnnotationClosure of voir dire was abuse of discretion. State ex rel. Storer v. Gorenstein,
131 Wis. 2d 342,
388 N.W.2d 633 (Ct. App. 1986).
757.14 Annotation
Commitment hearings under s. 51.20 (12) are open unless the court grants the subject individual's motion for closure. State ex rel. Wisconsin State Journal v. Dane County Circuit Ct.,
131 Wis. 2d 515,
389 N.W.2d 73 (Ct. App. 1986).
757.14 Annotation
Public access to criminal trials in particular is protected by First Amendment. Globe Newspaper Co. v. Superior Court,
457 U.S. 596 (1982).
757.15
757.15
Holding court, effect of holidays. A court may be open to transact business on the first day of the week and on a legal holiday in like manner and with like effect as upon any other day.
757.15 History
History: 1975 c. 159;
1977 c. 54;
1977 c. 187 s.
96;
1977 c. 449; Stats. 1977 s. 757.15;
1989 a. 261.
757.17
757.17
Reporting by certain organizations and agencies. Every organization or agency specified in
s. 973.06 (1) (f) 1. that receives contributions under
s. 753.40,
755.20,
973.06 (1) (f) or
973.09 (1x) shall submit a report annually by February 1 to the clerk of the court that ordered the contribution. The report shall be on a form designed and provided by the director of state courts and shall include all of the following information for the calendar year preceding the submittal of the report:
757.17(1)
(1) The amount of contributions received.
757.17(2)
(2) The names of the persons who made the contributions.
757.17(3)
(3) The expenditures made with the contributions.
757.17(4)
(4) The balance of the contributions remaining.
757.17(5)
(5) The name of the organization or agency that received the contribution and the names of the officers of the organization or agency.
757.17 History
History: 1999 a. 58,
186.
757.18
757.18
Process, etc., to be in English. All writs, process, proceedings and records in any court within this state shall be in the English language, except that the proper and known names of process and technical words may be expressed in the language heretofore and now commonly used, and shall be made out on paper or parchment in a fair, legible character, in words at length and not abbreviated; but such abbreviations as are now commonly used in the English language may be used and numbers may be expressed by Arabic figures or Roman numerals in the usual manner.
757.18 History
History: 1977 c. 187 s.
96; Stats. 1977 s. 757.18.
757.19
757.19
Disqualification of judge. 757.19(1)
(1) In this section, "judge" includes the supreme court justices, court of appeals judges, circuit court judges and municipal judges.
757.19(2)
(2) Any judge shall disqualify himself or herself from any civil or criminal action or proceeding when one of the following situations occurs:
757.19(2)(a)
(a) When a judge is related to any party or counsel thereto or their spouses within the 3rd degree of kinship.
757.19(2)(b)
(b) When a judge is a party or a material witness, except that a judge need not disqualify himself or herself if the judge determines that any pleading purporting to make him or her a party is false, sham or frivolous.
757.19(2)(c)
(c) When a judge previously acted as counsel to any party in the same action or proceeding.
757.19(2)(d)
(d) When a judge prepared as counsel any legal instrument or paper whose validity or construction is at issue.
757.19(2)(e)
(e) When a judge of an appellate court previously handled the action or proceeding while judge of an inferior court.
757.19(2)(f)
(f) When a judge has a significant financial or personal interest in the outcome of the matter. Such interest does not occur solely by the judge being a member of a political or taxing body that is a party.
757.19(2)(g)
(g) When a judge determines that, for any reason, he or she cannot, or it appears he or she cannot, act in an impartial manner.
757.19(3)
(3) Any disqualification that may occur under
sub. (2) may be waived by agreement of all parties and the judge after full and complete disclosure on the record of the factors creating such disqualification.
757.19(4)
(4) Any disqualification under
sub. (2) in a civil or criminal action or proceeding must occur, unless waived under
sub. (3), when the factors creating such disqualification first become known to the judge.
757.19(5)
(5) When a judge is disqualified, the judge shall file in writing the reasons and the assignment of another judge shall be requested under
s. 751.03.
757.19(6)
(6) In addition to other remedies, an alleged violation under this section or abuse of the disqualification procedure shall be referred to the judicial commission.
757.19 Note
Judicial Council Note, 1977: Section 256.19 [757.19] has been repealed and recreated to more comprehensively set out the procedure in Wisconsin for a judge to disqualify himself or herself. The new provisions apply to courts of record and municipal courts and define those situations in which a judge should in the interest of justice disqualify himself or herself from hearing a matter. Subsection (2) (g) is a catch-all provision to be used in those situations where a particular set of circumstances dictates that a judge disqualify himself or herself.
757.19 Annotation
The new judge disqualification section contains provisions for assuring that a disqualification is timely made and also provides for waiver of a statutory disqualification upon agreement of all interested parties and the judge. Alleged violations of this section will be brought to the attention of the judicial commission for appropriate review. [Bill 74-S]
757.19 Annotation
Judges are disqualified only where they have acted as counsel for a party in the matter to be heard or determined. Sturdevant v. State,
49 Wis. 2d 142,
181 N.W.2d 523.
757.19 Annotation
Where a judge represented the defendant as counsel in another phase of a criminal matter, he had no power to act as judge in hearing the related postconviction motion and should have, sua sponte, disqualified himself. Rainey v. State,
65 Wis. 2d 374,
222 N.W.2d 620.
757.19 Annotation
Although judge was apparently partial against defense counsel, refusal to recuse self was harmless error. State v. Walberg,
109 Wis. 2d 96,
325 N.W.2d 687 (1982).
757.19 Annotation
Under (2) (g) self-disqualification decision is subjective, and review is limited to determining whether judge concluded disqualification was necessary. State v. American TV & Appliance,
151 Wis. 2d 175,
443 N.W.2d 662 (1989).
757.19 Annotation
That a judge's spouse was employed in the office of the district attorney, but had no connection to a particular case, did not require the judge's disqualification. State v. Harrell,
199 Wis. 2d 654,
546 N.W.2d 115 (1996).
757.19 Annotation
The fact that the trial judge "witnesses" the actions of the jurors, witnesses, lawyers and parties does not transform the judge into a "material witness" under sub. (2) (b). State v. Hampton,
217 Wis. 2d 614,
579 N.W.2d 260 (Ct. App. 1998).
757.22
757.22
Judge not to act as attorney, etc.; attorneys not to have office with judge. 757.22(1)
(1) No judge, while holding office, may be in any manner engaged or act as attorney or counsel; and no judge or his or her clerk or any person employed by the judge in or about his or her office, court commissioner or other judicial officer shall be allowed to give advice to parties litigant in any matter or action pending before the judge or officer, or which the judge has reason to believe will be brought before him or her for decision, or draft or prepare any papers, including wills, or other proceedings relating to any such matter or action except when expressly authorized by law; and no court commissioner or other judicial officer may be allowed to demand or receive any fees or compensation for services as such commissioner or judicial officer, except those expressly authorized by law, upon penalty, for any violation hereof, of removal from office.
757.22(2)
(2) No practicing attorney may hold office in the office of the clerk of any court in which he or she practices nor may he or she hold office in the same room with a judge.
757.22(3)
(3) No practicing attorney may have his or her office in the same room with any district attorney, municipal judge or court commissioner, unless he or she is a partner of the district attorney, municipal judge or court commissioner, in which case he or she shall not practice as an attorney before the municipal judge or court commissioner nor act as attorney in any case in which it is the duty of the district attorney to appear or prosecute for the state; except that the law partner of any district attorney may, at the request of the district attorney, without fee or compensation therefor, assist the district attorney in the prosecution of any case on the part of the state.
757.22(4)
(4) No law partner of any district attorney may act as a municipal judge or court commissioner in any case in which the state may be a party or defend in any court any person charged with any offense, or appear in any civil action against the state in which it is the duty of the district attorney to prosecute or appear for the state.
757.22(5)
(5) Any attorney who violates
sub. (2),
(3) or
(4), and any municipal judge or court commissioner who violates or knowingly permits any such violation, may be fined not to exceed $100 for each such offense.
757.22 History
History: 1977 c. 187 s.
96;
1977 c. 305 ss.
52,
64; Stats. 1977 s. 757.22.
757.22 Annotation
Under (1), a judge may not draft or prepare legal papers even on a gratuitous basis. In re Van Susteren,
82 Wis. 2d 307,
262 N.W.2d 133.
757.22 Annotation
A probate registrar is an official of the court. An attorney who serves as probate registrar is prohibited from practicing law in the court. 63 Atty. Gen. 55.
757.22 Annotation
757.23
757.23
Court commissioner, when disqualified. A municipal court commissioner, a court commissioner, or any judge acting as a court commissioner, shall not act or take part in the decision of, or make any order in any matter or proceeding in which he or she is a party, or in which his or her rights would be in any manner affected by his or her decision or order thereon, or in which he or she is interested, or in which his or her law partner, or any person connected with him or her as employer, employee or clerk, or in the law business in any manner, shall be interested or appear as a party, agent, attorney or counsel. Any municipal court commissioner, court commissioner or judge, acting as a court commissioner, violating this section shall forfeit $25 for each violation, and shall also be subject to removal from office.
757.23 History
History: 1977 c. 187 s.
96; Stats. 1977 s. 757.23;
1997 a. 27.
757.24
757.24
Liability of judicial officers. Circuit judges and court commissioners shall be held personally liable to any party injured for any wilful violation of the law in granting injunctions and appointing receivers, or for refusing to hear motions to dissolve injunctions and to discharge receivers if the motions are made in accordance with law or such rules as are promulgated by the supreme court.
