Chief justice establishes statewide COVID-19 courts task force (UPDATE)

Listen to this article

Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Patience Roggensack has established a statewide COVID-19 courts task force to recommend how the courts can safely continue jury trials and other court proceedings.

The Wisconsin Courts COVID-19 Task Force will bring together participants from across the state to develop criteria meant to promote safe dealings in all courts and court proceedings. Circuit courts will then devise up their own written plans that apply the criteria to their specific sites and county resources.

The task force’s first meeting is on Wednesday. Roggensack said the members of the task force include judges, medical consultants from UW Medical School, clerks of circuit court, county corporation counsel, district attorneys, public defenders and county sheriffs. The complete membership list is as follows:

• Diane Fremgen, Chair
  Deputy Director for Court Operations
• Ann Olson, Staff
  Policy Analyst, Office of Court Operations
• Chief Justice Patience Roggensack
  Wisconsin Supreme Court
• Kitty Brennan
  Retired Court of Appeals Judge
• Patrick Brummond
  District Court Administrator, LaCrosse County
• John DiMotto
  Retired Milwaukee County Judge
• Guy Dutcher
  Waushara County Judge
• Carlo Esqueda
  Dane County Circuit Court Clerk
• Dr. Robert Golden, Consultant
  UW Medical School Dean
• Tim Gruenke
  District Attorney, LaCrosse County
• Joseph Guidote
  Corporation Counsel, Outagamie County
• Patrick Haughney
  Retired Waukesha County Judge
• Karen Hepfler
  Chippewa County Circuit Court Clerk
• Tammy Jo Hock
  Brown County Judge
• Dr. Dennis Maki, Consultant
  UW Medical School Prof. Emeritus
• Scott Needham
  St. Croix County Judge
• Suzanne O’Neill
  State Public Defender’s Office, Trial Div. Director
• James Pouros
  Washington County Judge
• Chris Rogers
  Private Attorney
• John Storck
  Retired Juneau County Judge
• Maury Straub
  Retired Sheriff
• Mary Triggiano, Consultant
  Milwaukee County Circuit Court Chief Judge
• Sara Ward-Cassady
  State Public Defender’s Office, Adm. Services Director
• Eric Weidig
  Corporation Counsel, Waukesha County