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Judge Cimpl stands by statements in response to sheriff’s complaint

By: Jack Zemlicka, [email protected]//June 10, 2011//

Judge Cimpl stands by statements in response to sheriff’s complaint

By: Jack Zemlicka, [email protected]//June 10, 2011//

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A disagreement over the proper courtroom security needed for a defendant led to an ethics complaint against a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge.

Dennis Cimpl

On Thursday, Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke filed a formal complaint with the Wisconsin Judicial Commission against Judge Dennis Cimpl.

Clarke argued that substantial security measures, including a remote stun gun, were justified for alleged serial rapist Johnathan Kirk’s June 8 arraignment before Cimpl.

But, according to Clarke, Cimpl disagreed with the extreme measures taken for Kirk and threatened to hold the sheriff in contempt of court if the high-risk security procedure remains in place.

Cimpl said he stood by what he said on the record during the arraignment, which included an order that Kirk not be required to be shackled in a wheelchair or wear a stun belt in the future.

In a statement attributed to Clarke, the sheriff said, “Apparently Judge Cimpl knows more about inmate control and behavior than I do, even with my 33 years of law enforcement experience. The public and court personnel have a right and a need to know about this security risk.”

Cimpl declined to comment on the merits of Clarke’s complaint.

“I will answer the complaint filed with the Judicial Commission at the appropriate time,” he said.

Clarke said he believed the threat of contempt was in retaliation for his criticism of judges in Milwaukee County who hand down lenient sentences to repeat violent offenders.

The complaint comes in the wake of criticism by Clarke of what he called a lenient sentence against convicted felon Catrell Cloyd this month.

In a June 1 release, Clarke criticized Judge Rebecca Dallet for levying only an eight-month sentence on Cloyd for illegal possession of a firearm, instead of a more severe punishment.

In statements attributed to the sheriff, Clarke said “she chose to go light, as she and too many other judges in Milwaukee County do with repeat violent criminal offenders.”

The agency will review the complaint and determine whether to investigate it or dismiss it, said Jim Alexander, Judicial Commission executive director.

“If the commission finds probable cause that misconduct occurred, then it will file a complaint with the Supreme Court seeking discipline,” Alexander said.

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