757.69(1)(k)
(k) Administer oaths, take, certify, and report depositions and testimony, take and certify acknowledgments, allow accounts, and fix the amount and approve the sufficiency of bonds.
757.69(1)(m)
(m) Hold hearings, make findings, and issue temporary restraining orders and injunctions under
s. 813.12 or
813.125.
757.69(1)(p)
(p) When assigned to assist in matters affecting the family:
757.69(1)(p)1.
1. Preside at any hearing held to determine whether a judgment of divorce shall be granted, if both parties state that the marriage is irretrievably broken and that all material issues, including but not limited to division of property or estate, legal custody, physical placement, child support, spousal maintenance and family support, are resolved or if one party does not participate in the action for divorce. A circuit court commissioner may grant and enter judgment in any action over which he or she presides under this subdivision unless the judgment modifies an agreement between the parties on material issues. If the circuit court commissioner does not approve an agreement between the parties on material issues, the action shall be certified to the court for trial.
757.69(1)(p)2.
2. Conduct hearings and enter judgments in actions for enforcement of, or revision of judgment for, maintenance, custody, physical placement or visitation.
757.69(1)(p)3.
3. Except when prohibited by the chief judge of the judicial administrative district, conduct hearings and enter orders and judgments in actions to establish paternity, in actions to establish or enforce a child support or a family support obligation and in actions to revise orders or judgments for child support or family support.
757.69(1m)
(1m) Circuit court commissioners assigned to assist a court in juvenile matters shall sit at the children's court center, the usual court facility for juvenile matters, or such other facility designated by the chief judge of the judicial administrative district. Those commissioners may not do any of the following:
757.69(1m)(a)
(a) Conduct fact-finding or dispositional hearings except on petitions or citations under
s. 938.125 and except as provided in
sub. (1) (g) 5.
757.69(1m)(b)
(b) Make dispositions other than approving consent decrees, ordering compliance with deferred prosecution agreements and ordering dispositions in uncontested proceedings under
s. 48.13,
48.133,
938.12, or
938.13.
757.69(1m)(c)
(c) Conduct hearings for the termination of parental rights or for adoptions.
757.69(1m)(d)
(d) Make changes in placements of children, of juveniles, or of the expectant mothers of unborn children, or revisions or extensions of dispositional orders, except pursuant to petitions or citations under
s. 938.125 and in uncontested proceedings under
s. 48.13,
48.133,
938.12, or
938.13.
757.69(2)
(2) A judge may refer to a circuit court commissioner cases in which:
757.69(2)(a)
(a) The trial of an issue of fact requires the examination of an account, in which case the circuit court commissioner may be directed to report upon any specific question of fact involved therein.
757.69(2)(b)
(b) The taking of an account is necessary for the information of the court before judgment or for carrying a judgment or order into effect.
757.69(2)(c)
(c) A question of fact other than upon the pleadings arises.
757.69(2)(d)
(d) Proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law are to be prepared pertaining to default mortgage and land contract foreclosures and mechanics liens.
757.69(2m)
(2m) Circuit court commissioners may exercise, under their own authority, all of the powers listed under
s. 757.675 (2) to
(5).
757.69(2t)
(2t) A circuit court commissioner shall cooperate with the county and the department to ensure that all dependent children receive reasonable and necessary child support.
757.69(8)
(8) Any decision of a circuit court commissioner shall be reviewed by the judge of the branch of court to which the case has been assigned, upon motion of any party. Any determination, order, or ruling by a circuit court commissioner may be certified to the branch of court to which the case has been assigned, upon a motion of any party for a hearing de novo.
757.69 History
History: 1977 c. 323,
449;
1979 c. 32;
1979 c. 89;
1979 c. 209 s.
4;
1979 c. 352,
356;
1983 a. 279;
1985 a. 126,
202,
234,
332;
1987 a. 3,
27,
71,
378,
398;
1989 a. 7,
12,
31,
246; Sup. Ct. Order, 158 Wis. 2d xxv (1990);
1991 a. 39,
269;
1993 a. 318,
451,
481;
1995 a. 77;
1997 a. 191,
192,
292;
1999 a. 32;
2001 a. 16;
2001 a. 61 ss.
93 to
109,
173,
175,
177,
180;
2001 a. 105.
757.70
757.70
Hearings before court commissioners. 757.70(1)
(1) All proceedings and hearings before a court commissioner shall be public and open to every citizen, except juvenile proceedings or when it is necessary for the court in which the action or proceeding is pending to impose by order restrictions under its inherent power to conduct proceedings in camera.
757.70(2)
(2) All hearings before a circuit or supplemental court commissioner shall be held in the county courthouse or other court facilities provided by law. This provision does not apply to nontestimonial proceedings, supplementary hearings on the present financial status of a debtor under
s. 757.675 (2) (h) or depositions taken before a circuit or supplemental court commissioner.
757.70 History
History: 1977 c. 323;
2001 a. 61.
757.81(1)
(1) "Commission" means the judicial commission created by
s. 757.83.
757.81(3)
(3) "Judge" means a judge of any court established by or pursuant to
article VII, section 2 or 14, of the constitution, or a supreme court justice.
757.81(4)
(4) "Misconduct" includes any of the following:
757.81(4)(a)
(a) Willful violation of a rule of the code of judicial ethics.
757.81(4)(b)
(b) Willful or persistent failure to perform official duties.
757.81(4)(c)
(c) Habitual intemperance, due to consumption of intoxicating beverages or use of dangerous drugs, which interferes with the proper performance of judicial duties.
757.81(5)
(5) "Panel" means a judicial conduct and disability panel constituted under
s. 757.87.
757.81(6)
(6) "Permanent disability" means a physical or mental incapacity which impairs the ability of a judge or circuit or supplemental court commissioner to substantially perform the duties of his or her judicial office and which is or is likely to be of a permanent or continuing nature.
757.81 Annotation
The provisions for judicial disciplinary proceedings under ss. 757.81 to 757.99 are constitutional. In Matter of Complaint Against Seraphim,
97 Wis. 2d 485,
294 N.W.2d 485 (1980).
757.83
757.83
Judicial commission. 757.83(1)(a)(a) There is created a judicial commission of 9 members: 5 nonlawyers nominated by the governor and appointed with the advice and consent of the senate; one trial judge of a court of record and one court of appeals judge appointed by the supreme court; and 2 members of the State Bar of Wisconsin, who are not judges or court commissioners, appointed by the supreme court. The commission shall elect one of its members as chairperson.
757.83(1)(b)
(b) The term of a member is 3 years, but a member shall not serve more than 2 consecutive full terms. A vacancy is filled by the appointing authority for the unexpired term. Members of the commission shall receive compensation of $25 per day for each day on which they were actually and necessarily engaged in the performance of their duties and shall be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred as members of the commission.
757.83(2)
(2) Quorum; voting. A majority of the commission constitutes a quorum. The commission may issue a formal complaint or a petition only upon a finding of probable cause by a majority of the total membership not disqualified from voting. A member must be present to vote on the question of probable cause. A member shall not participate in any matter if a judge similarly situated would be disqualified in a court proceeding.
757.83(3)
(3) Rules. The commission shall promulgate rules under
ch. 227 for its proceedings.
757.83(4)
(4) Staff. The judicial commission shall hire an executive director, and may hire one staff member, in the unclassified service. The executive director shall be a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin and shall provide staff services to the judicial commission and the judicial council.
757.83 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also
JC, Wis. adm. code.
757.85
757.85
Investigation; prosecution. 757.85(1)(a)(a) The commission shall investigate any possible misconduct or permanent disability of a judge or circuit or supplemental court commissioner. Misconduct constitutes cause under
article VII, section 11, of the constitution. Except as provided in
par. (b), judges, circuit or supplemental court commissioners, clerks, court reporters, court employees and attorneys shall comply with requests by the commission for information, documents and other materials relating to an investigation under this section.
757.85(1)(b)
(b) The judge or circuit or supplemental court commissioner who is under investigation is not subject to the request procedure under
par. (a) but is subject to the subpoena procedure under
sub. (2).
757.85(2)
(2) The commission may issue subpoenas to compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses and to command the production of books, papers, documents or tangible things designated in the subpoena in connection with an investigation under this section.
757.85(3)
(3) The commission may notify a judge or circuit or supplemental court commissioner that the commission is investigating possible misconduct by or permanent disability of the judge or circuit or supplemental court commissioner. Before finding probable cause, the commission shall notify the judge or circuit or supplemental court commissioner of the substance of the complaint or petition and afford the judge or circuit or supplemental court commissioner a reasonable opportunity to respond. If the judge or circuit or supplemental court commissioner responds, the commission shall consider the response before it finds probable cause.
757.85(4)
(4) The commission may require a judge or circuit or supplemental court commissioner who is under investigation for permanent disability to submit to a medical examination arranged by the commission.
757.85(5)
(5) The commission shall, upon a finding of probable cause that a judge or circuit or supplemental court commissioner has engaged or is engaging in misconduct, file a formal complaint with the supreme court. Upon a finding of probable cause that a judge or circuit or supplemental court commissioner has a permanent disability, the commission shall file a petition with the supreme court. If the commission requests a jury under
s. 757.87 (1), the request shall be attached to the formal complaint or the petition.
757.85(6)
(6) The commission shall prosecute any case of misconduct or permanent disability in which it files a formal complaint or a petition.
757.85(7)
(7) Insofar as practicable, the procedures applicable to civil actions apply to proceedings under
ss. 757.81 to
757.99 after the filing of a complaint or petition.
757.85 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also
JC, Wis. adm. code.
757.87
757.87
Request for jury; panel. 757.87(1)
(1) After the commission has found probable cause that a judge or circuit or supplemental court commissioner has engaged in misconduct or has a permanent disability, and before the commission files a formal complaint or a petition under
s. 757.85 (5), the commission may, by a majority of its total membership not disqualified from voting, request a jury hearing. If a jury is not requested, the matter shall be heard by a panel constituted under
sub. (3). The vote of each member on the question of a jury request shall be recorded and shall be available for public inspection under
s. 19.35 after the formal complaint or the petition is filed.
757.87(2)
(2) If a jury is requested under
sub. (1), the hearing under
s. 757.89 shall be before a jury selected under
s. 805.08. A jury shall consist of 6 persons, unless the commission specifies a greater number, not to exceed 12. Five-sixths of the jurors must agree on all questions which must be answered to arrive at a verdict. A court of appeals judge shall be selected by the chief judge of the court of appeals to preside at the hearing, on the basis of experience as a trial judge and length of service on the court of appeals.
757.87(3)
(3) A judicial conduct and permanent disability panel shall consist of either 3 court of appeals judges or 2 court of appeals judges and one reserve judge. Each judge may be selected from any court of appeals district including the potential selection of all judges from the same district. The chief judge of the court of appeals shall select the judges and designate which shall be presiding judge.
757.89
757.89
Hearing. A record shall be kept of any hearing on a formal complaint or a petition. The allegations of the complaint or petition must be proven to a reasonable certainty by evidence that is clear, satisfactory and convincing. The hearing shall be held in the county where the judge or circuit or supplemental court commissioner resides unless the presiding judge changes venue for cause shown or unless the parties otherwise agree. If the hearing is by a panel, the panel shall make findings of fact, conclusions of law and recommendations regarding appropriate discipline for misconduct or appropriate action for permanent disability and file the findings, conclusions and recommendations with the supreme court. If a jury hearing is requested under
s. 757.87 (1), the presiding judge shall instruct the jury regarding the law applicable to judicial misconduct or permanent disability, as appropriate. The presiding judge shall file the jury verdict and his or her recommendations regarding appropriate discipline for misconduct or appropriate action for permanent disability with the supreme court.
757.91
757.91
Supreme court; disposition. The supreme court shall review the findings of fact, conclusions of law and recommendations under
s. 757.89 and determine appropriate discipline in cases of misconduct and appropriate action in cases of permanent disability. The rules of the supreme court applicable to civil cases in the supreme court govern the review proceedings under this section.
757.91 History
History: 1977 c. 449;
1983 a. 378 s.
11m.
757.93
757.93
Confidentiality of proceedings. 757.93(1)(a)(a) All proceedings under
ss. 757.81 to
757.99 relating to misconduct or permanent disability prior to the filing of a petition or formal complaint by the commission are confidential unless a judge or circuit or supplemental court commissioner waives the right to confidentiality in writing to the commission. Any such waiver does not affect the confidentiality of the identity of a person providing information under
par. (b).
757.93(1)(b)
(b) Any person who provides information to the commission concerning possible misconduct or permanent disability may request that the commission not disclose his or her identity to the judge or circuit or supplemental court commissioner prior to the filing of a petition or a formal complaint by the commission.
757.93(2)
(2) If prior to the filing of a formal complaint or a petition an investigation of possible misconduct or permanent disability becomes known to the public, the commission may issue statements in order to confirm the pendency of the investigation, to clarify the procedural aspects of the disciplinary proceedings, to explain the right of the judge or circuit or supplemental court commissioner to a fair hearing without prejudgment, to state that the judge or circuit or supplemental court commissioner denies the allegations, to state that an investigation has been completed and no probable cause was found or to correct public misinformation.
757.93(3)
(3) The petition or formal complaint filed under
s. 757.85 by the commission and all subsequent hearings thereon are public.
757.93(4)
(4) This section does not preclude the commission, in its sole discretion, from:
757.93(4)(a)
(a) Referring to the director of state courts information relating to an alleged delay or an alleged temporary disability of a judge or circuit or supplemental court commissioner.
757.93(4)(b)
(b) Referring to an appropriate law enforcement authority information relating to possible criminal conduct or otherwise cooperating with a law enforcement authority in matters of mutual interest.
757.93(4)(c)
(c) Referring to an attorney disciplinary agency information relating to the possible misconduct or incapacity of an attorney or otherwise cooperating with an attorney disciplinary agency in matters of mutual interest.
757.93(4)(d)
(d) Disclosing to the chief justice or director of state courts information relating to matters affecting the administration of the courts.
757.93 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also s.
JC 3.01, Wis. adm. code.
757.94
757.94
Privilege; immunity. 757.94(1)(1) A complaint or communication alleging judicial misconduct or permanent disability with the commission, executive director, commission staff or panel and testimony in an investigation under this section is privileged.
757.94(2)
(2) A presiding judge, executive director or a member of the commission, commission staff or panel is immune from civil liability for any conduct in the course of the person's official duties under
ss. 757.81 to
757.99.
757.94 History
History: 1977 c. 449;
1983 a. 27,
378.
