Lake Mills' New Judge?

Historically, the electors of the city elect the Municipal Court Judge. The judge appointed the Municipal Court Clerk, who served and will probably continue to serve at the direction and pleasure of the Judge.

The Municipal Court was and still will be convened at such times as the judge determines, and it enters judgment or dismisses matters that come before it as the court deems just. Ordinance violations cited by police officers, the building inspector or fire inspector are all referred to the jurisdiction of the Municipal Court. Most traffic law violations are also matters for the Court’s determination. All judgments entered by the court are reviewable by the Circuit Court if an appeal is brought within twenty days of any judgment.

The City Attorney represents the City as Prosecutor in all matters brought before the Municipal Court.

The big difference is that after forty years Judge Kiessling is retiring and a new Judge will be elected. Combine this with the fact that the City has also joined with the Town to form a joint court system and there is potential for substantial change in Lake Mills judicial system. Ordinance 1053B established the Municipal Court of the City and Town of Lake Mills. The Ordinance states:

Municipal Judge: Such Court shall be under the jurisdiction of and presided over by a Municipal Judge, who shall be an attorney licensed to practice law in Wisconsin, and who shall reside in either the City of Lake Mills or the Town of Lake Mills at the time of his or her election and throughout his or her term of office.

1. Such Munici­pal Judge shall be elected at large in the spring election for a term of two (2) years commencing on May 1. All candidates for the position of Municipal Judge shall be nominated by nomination papers as provided in § 8.10, Wis. Stats., and selection at a primary election if such is held as provided in § 8.11, Wis. Stats.

2. The City Council of the City of Lake Mills and the Board of Supervisors of the Town of Lake Mills s­hall provide for a primary election in the event that more than two candidates file nomination papers for such position of Municipal Judge, as provided in § 8.11(1)­(a), Wis. Stats., and such primary election shall be held on the third Tuesday of February as provided in § 5.02(22), Wis. Stats.

3. Because a Municipal Court has previously been established by the City of Lake Mills, and because the Judge presiding over the Court has been elected to a term of office until May 1, 2010, the Judge of the previously established Municipal Court shall preside over the newly organized Municipal Court for the City and Town of Lake Mills until the end of the existing term.
This is the end and beginning of a new era!