Chapter 755, MUNICIPAL COURT

755.001 Definitions. In this chapter: (1) “Judge” means municipal judge. (2) “Judicial administrative district” means the judicial administrative district having the largest portion of the population in the jurisdiction served by the judge. (3) “Records” mean all of the records s…

755.01 Option of municipality. (1) There is created and established in and for each city, town and village, a municipal court designated “Municipal Court for the .... (city, town or village) of .... (name of municipality)”. A municipal court created under this subsection is a coe…

755.02 Term. The judges shall be elected at large for a term of 4 years unless a different term, not exceeding 4 years nor less than 2 years, is provided by charter ordinance enacted under s. 66.0101. The term shall commence on May 1 of the year of the judge’s election. History: …

755.03 Oath and bond. (1) The judge shall, after election or appointment, take and file the official oath as prescribed in s. 757.02 (1) and at the same time, if required to do so by a city’s, village’s, or town’s governing body, execute and file an official bond in an amount to …

755.04 Salary. The governing body shall fix a salary for the judge. The salary may be increased by the governing body before the start of the 2nd or a subsequent year of service of the term of the judge, but shall not be decreased during a term. The salary of a municipal judge wh…

755.045 Jurisdiction. (1) A municipal court has exclusive jurisdiction over an action in which a municipality seeks to impose forfeitures for violations of municipal ordinances of the municipality that operates the court, except as follows: (a) If the action is transferred under …

755.05 Territorial jurisdiction. Every judge has statewide jurisdiction as authorized by this chapter and ch. 800. History: 1977 c. 187 s. 94; Stats. 1977 s. 755.06; 1983 a. 192 s. 303 (4); 2009 a. 402.

755.06 Sessions of court. The municipal court shall be open daily or as determined by the judge and approved by the governing body. History: 1977 c. 187 s. 94; 1977 c. 305; Stats. 1977 s. 755.03; Sup. Ct. Order, 88 Wis. 2d xiii (1979); 1983 a. 192; 1985 a. 89, 304; 2009 a. 402; 2…

755.09 Office, where kept. (1) The governing body of the city, village, or town shall provide the judge with an office or appropriate work space other than at a place prohibited under sub. (2). (2) No judge may keep his or her office or hold court in any tavern, or in any room in…

755.10 Employees. (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), the judge shall in writing appoint the personnel that are authorized by the council or board. The council or board shall authorize at least one clerk for each court. Except as provided in sub. (2), the hiring, termination, hou…

755.11 Records. Every judge shall file and keep together all records in an action separate from all other records. The judge shall store all records in the office of the court clerk or in another appropriate facility designated by the council or board. Access to the records shall…

755.12 Delivery of books to municipal clerk. When a municipal court ceases to operate, the court records, books of account, case files, moneys and bonds belonging to the court shall be delivered to the municipal clerk within 10 days after the vacancy occurs by the person who is i…

755.13 Books demanded by municipal clerk. If any materials which should be delivered to the municipal clerk under s. 755.12 are not delivered within the time specified, the municipal clerk shall demand their delivery and may by action compel delivery. History: 1977 c. 187 ss. 94,…

755.14 Duty of clerk on receipt of books. (1) When the municipal clerk receives the court records, books of account and case files of a municipal court which has ceased to operate, he or she shall within 10 days dispose of them as follows: (a) Deliver them to the clerk of the cir…

755.15 Pending actions triable by court which receives books. When any action is pending before a judge at the time his or her office becomes vacant and his or her books and records have been delivered to the circuit court, it may try the action and enter judgment as though the a…

755.16 Continuance on vacancy; notice of trial. All actions before any judge undetermined or appealable when his or her office becomes vacant are continued until the expiration of 10 days from the time when his or her books and records were delivered to the circuit court. The cou…

755.17 Municipal court decorum and facilities. (1) A municipal judge shall wear a black robe while presiding in a municipal court except when exceptional circumstances exist. (1m) The clerk of the municipal court shall be attired in appropriate clothing and may not, while perform…

755.18 Municipal judge and court clerk training. (1) Municipal court clerks and judges shall participate in a program of continuing education as required by the supreme court. (2) Municipalities shall bear the cost of programs under sub. (1) provided by the court. All moneys coll…

755.19 Municipal court commissioners. (1) APPOINTMENT. First class cities may create the office of municipal court commissioner. The municipal court commissioner shall be an attorney licensed to practice in this state and shall complete annual educational credits consistent with …

755.21 Collection. The governing body or court may contract with a collection agency for the collection of unpaid forfeitures, assessments, and surcharges under s. 66.0114 (1) (a). Collection under this section may not begin until the court refers the case to the collection agenc…