Expectations that Shawano County could soon have a permanent third circuit court judge appeared to evaporate when the state Senate adjourned March 17 without considering the bill.
Senators ended the legislative session, effectively killing more than 100 bills that had been passed by the state Assembly.
The Justice for All Act (AB 514/SB 546) would have assigned more prosecutors and public defenders statewide, as well as one new judgeship each in Shawano and Kenosha counties and two in Brown County.
Rep. David Steffen (R-Howard) introduced the Justice For All Act in the Assembly.
“Some senators felt an expense such as this should only be brought up during the budget process,” he said. “That’s unfortunate, because we ften address issues with a fiscal impact outside of the budget process.”
The bill would have added the four judges plus court assistants, prosecutors and public defenders. The more than 120 jobs would have an annual expense of $20 million.
Steffen said the timeline for Shawano’s third judge could still be met if the legislation is approved next spring as part of the 2027-29 budget discussion. The election for a third judge was scheduled for April 2028, with the winner taking office in August 2028.
“The bill this year helped raise awareness for the need for these positions,” he said.
State Public Defender Jennifer Bias said in a news release the Senate’s inaction will only hurt the judicial system.
“Our attorneys are drowning, and it’s Wisconsinites who pay the price when constitutional rights are treated as an optional expense,” she said. “Without additional resources, our courtrooms will continue to struggle and our legal system will continue to decay.”
Despite broad consensus that the system is at its breaking point, public defenders will have to wait almost a year and half for the next budget cycle to offer another chance at relief.
“We’re being asked to uphold the Constitution and protect liberty while being starved of the basic resources we need to do our job,” Bias said.
Steffen said he intends to reintroduce the measure in the next legislative session.
The representative said the additional judges, prosecutors and public defenders will help speed up the wheels of justice, something that affects everyone — not just the accused, the victims or court employees.
“In Brown County, which would have revived two additional judges under this plan, there are people incarcerated for two years or more waiting to go to court,” he said. “The backlog of having to hold people in jail longer waiting for trial is costing Brown County $10 million annually.”
Statewide, those backlog costs total $358 million.
“That affects all taxpayers,” Steffen said.
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
