Judiciary meeting spotlights court backlog, mental health, criminal justice reform, security

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Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Annette Ziegler kicked off the State of Judiciary Annual Meeting of the Wisconsin Judicial Conference on Wednesday in Lake Geneva with a speech highlighting the challenges and opportunities facing Wisconsin’s legal community.

Justices Ann Walsh Bradley, Rebecca Bradley, Rebecca Dallet, Brian Hagedorn and Jill Karofsky were in attendance. Newly elected Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz, who was also in attendance, received a warm welcome. Former Director of State Courts Judge Randy Koschnick also received words of praise for his accomplishments over the years.

Several topics addressed included court system backlog, mental health, criminal justice reform and judicial security.

Security – Justice urges vigilance

“As chief justice, I continue to prioritize judicial security (personal safety and courthouse security), mental health and to improve efficiency for all of us,” Ziegler said.

“Our courthouses must also be safe places to conduct our judicial system business, protecting practitioners and members of the public alike,” Ziegler added, noting the murder of Judge Roemer and recent headlines out of Maryland.

“The recent horrific execution of a Maryland judge as he stood in his own driveway at his home continues to remind us of the need to be always vigilant and continue to enhance judicial safety,” Ziegler said.

“Security enhances our ability to adhere to the basic tenet of judicial independence: that judges should be not intimidated, influenced or threatened,” Ziegler added, noting that she has been working closely with various law enforcement entities throughout the Badger State to protect Wisconsinites.

Slamming the Wisconsin Legislature for not establishing a judicial branch law enforcement office, Ziegler said she remains optimistic her tenacity will pay off to keep public safety a priority.

“The Legislature was not willing to create a new agency. But I did not stop. I explored options with the State Patrol and Capitol Police. I had numerous meetings with any number of individuals to make the case for other security initiatives. … Not giving up has proved to be beneficial,” she added.

Cyber Security

During Wednesday’s speech, Ziegler called for “continually monitored internet surveillance in an effort to avoid and detect problems and become aware of and understand threats before they are realized.”

Several levels of law enforcement in Wisconsin are working in collaboration to intercept threats.

As previously reported by the Wisconsin Law Journal, the Wisconsin Statewide Intelligence Center (WSIC), located in the Madison area, is operated by the Wisconsin Department of Justice-Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), and is one of two fusion centers in Wisconsin. WSIC serves as the primary focal point for threat information sharing among federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, emergency management, fire service, public health, corrections, military, and private sector partners for the majority of Wisconsin.

Also as previously reported, the FBI Milwaukee Division’s field office includes a “wire tap room,” where FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) Robert Botsch said often local, state, and federal law enforcement will spend 16-20 consecutive hours in that room listening to wiretaps, emails and text messages in an effort to keep Wisconsinites and the nation safe.

Mental Health

Ziegler said mental health remains a top priority.

“Mental health affects individuals across any partisan, political, socioeconomic or other divide. Each of us has been touched by someone who has or does suffer from mental illness. We can do better,” Ziegler said.

“I know, we all know, that we in Wisconsin can do much better on treating those who suffer from mental illness. We need to reimagine mental health treatment in Wisconsin. My vision is that we can establish community-based mental health systems where people receive dignified, respectful, effective treatment,” Ziegler added.

Criminal Justice Reform

“We need to find better methods to treat low-level offenders who otherwise cycle in and out of the court system, not making any strides or improvement. In fact, these people often deteriorate in the process. We can work at the local level to collaborate and think creatively about utilizing existing resources in a way that will benefit these individuals and also society as a whole, Ziegler said.

Waxing poetic, Ziegler said expectations are high.

“Wisconsinites expect as much from us. And Wisconsinites deserve as much from us. As a member of the judiciary, please dare to take on this tough issue,” Ziegler added.

Backlogs

Progress has been made when it comes to court backlogs, but much work remains, Ziegler noted.

“We have also seen some progress in addressing backlog clearance. Ashland, Burnett, Columbia, Dane, Jefferson, Juneau, Marathon, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Taylor, Vilas and Washburn counties have all decreased their felony backlogs by 20% or more over the past two years (Oct. 1, 2021 – Oct. 1, 2023). I have been assigning additional judicial reserve judge coverage for Milwaukee County, which has allowed it to hold steady, reducing their backlog over that timeframe by 4%. Our reserve judges have been a big help for judges around the state and in helping to reduce the backlog,” Ziegler said.

As previously reported by the Wisconsin Law Journal, Milwaukee Bar Association (MBA) President Emil Ovbiagele praised the work of MBA Executive Director Sarah Maris and Past-President, Judge Ellen R. Brostrom, Milwaukee County Circuit Court, who he said help make a notable dent in solving Wisconsin’s Constitutional crisis — reducing the backlog of cases in Milwaukee County.

“Sarah worked tirelessly in reducing criminal backlogs at the Milwaukee County Courthouse,” Ovbiagele previously said during an interview with the Wisconsin Law Journal.

“Due to COVID, you had folks charged with felonies and not having preliminary hearings for months and months,” Ovbiagele noted.

“Sarah (Martis) was able to galvanize our base with the help of our past-president (Judge Brostrom) and draw from the talent pool we have of members to try resolve this issue. We had civil attorneys take on limited-term (criminal law) engagements, and it made a significant dent into the issue.” Ovbiagele added.

Back in Lake Geneva on Wednesday, Ziegler said while the progress has been notable, there is more work to be done across Wisconsin.

“But our work on the backlog is far from over. … While circuit court judges have been using a judicial dashboard for some time, the Court of Appeals has been without this valuable tool for case management. Director Koschnick and I wanted to provide them with the same tools our trial courts have so that no case gets left behind. Director Koschnick and I helped develop for implementation a judicial dashboard for the Court of Appeals to assist them with their backlog and case management. We have hard-working, dedicated jurists in our state who will rise to the challenges ahead and handle the tremendous volume of business conducted in the courts,” Ziegler said.

New Judges

Two new appellate court judges were welcomed Wednesday:
Judge Sara J. Geenen, Court of Appeals in District I.
Judge Chris Taylor, Court of Appeals in District IV.

New circuit court judges were also welcomed Wednesday:
Judge Ana M. Berrios-Schroeder, Milwaukee County
Judge William M. Bratcher, Clark County
Judge Timothy J. Gaskell, Vernon County
Judge Anderson M. Gansner, Milwaukee County
Judge Timothy S. Gebert, Wood County
Judge Cody J. Horlacher, Waukesha County
Judge Mark A. Huesmann, La Crosse County
Judge Monica M. Isham, Sawyer County
Judge Anthony A. Lambrecht, Manitowoc County
Judge George A. Limbeck, Sheboygan County
Judge Ronnie V. Murray II, Milwaukee County
Judge Anthony C. Nehls, Fond du Lac County
Judge Ryan Nilsestuen, Dane County
Judge Ann M. Peacock, Dane County
Judge Amber Raffeet August, Milwaukee County
Judge Raphael F. A. Ramos, Milwaukee County
Judge Lisa A. Riniker, Grant County
Judge Michael W. Schiek, Oneida County
Judge Natasha L. Torry, Sheboygan County