[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of Rothschild 4-7-2016.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
This ordinance also repealed, as of 7-1-2016, former Ch. 26, Court, Municipal, adopted 11-17-2014 and provided that it would be in full force and effect from 7-1-2016 and after the date of passage by both the Village of Rothschild and the Village of Marathon City and its publication as required by law.
[Amended 4-10-2023; 3-11-2024]
Pursuant to the authority granted by Chapter 755 and § 66.0301 of the Wisconsin Statutes, there is hereby created and established a Joint Municipal Court to be designated "Rothschild Area Municipal Court," serving the communities of the Village of Rothschild, Village of Weston, City of Schofield, Town of Weston, Village of Marathon City and Village of Edgar to become operative and function on or around May 1, 2024.
A. 
Qualifications. The Joint 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 resides in one of the municipalities that is a party to the agreement forming this Joint Court.
B. 
Oath and bond. The Judge shall, after election or appointment to fill a vacancy, take and file the official oath as prescribed in § 757.02, Wis. Stats., and at the same time execute and file an official bond. The Judge shall not act until the oath and bond have been filed as required by § 755.03.
C. 
Salary. The salary of the Municipal Judge shall be fixed by the municipal governing bodies of the municipalities that are parties to the agreement, which shall be in lieu of fees and costs. No salary shall be paid for any time during the term during which such Judge has not executed and filed the official bond or official oath, as required by § 755.03, Wis. Stats. The municipalities may, by separate ordinance, allocate funds for the administration of the Municipal Court pursuant to § 66.0301, Wis. Stats.
[Amended 3-11-2024]
A. 
Term. The Municipal Judge shall be elected at large in the spring election for a term of four 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. The County Clerk shall serve as filing officer for the candidates.
[Amended 3-11-2024]
B. 
Electors: Electors in all municipalities that are parties to the agreement shall vote for judge.
A. 
The Municipal Court shall have jurisdiction over incidents occurring on or after July 1, 2016, as provided in Article VII, § 14, of the Wisconsin Constitution, §§ 755.045 and 755.05, Wis. Stats., and as otherwise provided in state law. In addition, it shall have exclusive jurisdiction over actions in the municipalities that are parties to the agreement seeking to impose forfeitures for violations of municipal ordinances, resolutions, and bylaws.
[Amended 4-10-2023; 3-11-2024]
B. 
The Municipal Judge may issue civil warrants to enforce matters under the jurisdiction of the Municipal Court under § 755.045(2), § 66.0119,[1] Wis. Stats.
[1]
Editor's Note: Section 66.0119 concerns special inspection warrants.
C. 
The Municipal Court has jurisdiction over juvenile offenders when a municipality that is party to the agreement enacts an ordinance under the authority of § 938.17(2)(cm), Wis. Stats.
A. 
Hours. The Municipal Court shall be open at such location and at such times as determined by the governing bodies of the municipalities that are parties to the agreement and the Municipal Judge.
B. 
Employees. The Judge shall, in writing, appoint such clerks and deputy clerks as are authorized and funded by the municipal governing bodies of the municipalities that are parties to the agreement.
[Amended 3-11-2024]
The Municipal Judge may impose punishment and sentences as provided by Chs. 800 and 938, Wis. Stats., and as provided by the municipalities that are parties to the agreement. All forfeitures, fees, assessments, surcharges and costs shall be paid to the Treasurer of the municipality within which the case arose within 30 days after receipt of the money by the Municipal Court. At the time of the payment, the Municipal Court shall report to the Treasurer the title of the action, the nature of the offenses and total amount of judgments imposed in actions and proceedings in which such monies were collected.
The Municipal Judge, after affording an opportunity to the person accused to be heard in defense, may impose a sanction authorized under § 800.12, Wis. Stats.
The Municipal Court hereby established shall not be abolished while the § 755.01(4) agreement is in effect.