[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Watertown as § 2.07(2) to (6) of the former City Code; amended by Ord. No. 02-47. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
A. 
Pursuant to § 755.01, Wis. Stats., there is created the office of Municipal Judge for the City of Watertown. The Municipal Judge shall be elected at large at the spring election in odd-numbered years for a term of four years, or until a successor is elected and qualifies, commencing on May 1 next succeeding his or her election. Candidates for the Municipal Judge position must reside in the City of Watertown and also shall be an attorney licensed to practice law in Wisconsin.
[Amended 11-3-2015 by Ord. No. 15-37]
B. 
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 Common Council of the City of Watertown shall provide for a primary election in the event that more than two candidates file nomination papers for the position of Municipal Judge as provided for 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.
C. 
The Municipal Judge shall, after election or appointment to fill a vacancy, take and file the official oath as prescribed in § 757.02(1), Wis. Stats., and at the same time the City shall obtain a dishonesty insurance policy or other appropriate insurance policy that covers the Municipal Judge, in an amount fixed by the City, but in no case with a policy limit less than $10,000. The City shall pay the costs of the insurance policy. The Municipal Judge shall not act until the oath has been filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Dodge and Jefferson Counties, as required by § 19.01(4)(c), Wis. Stats., and the requirements of § 755.03(2), Wis. Stats., have been complied with.
[Amended 4-17-2018 by Ord. No. 18-2]
D. 
The salary of the Municipal Judge shall be fixed by the Common Council of the City of Watertown, which shall be in lieu of fees and costs. No salary shall be paid for any time during the term which the Judge has not executed the official oath, as required by § 755.03, Wis. Stats., and filed pursuant to § 19.01(4)(c), Wis. Stats.
[Amended 4-17-2018 by Ord. No. 18-2]
A. 
There is hereby created and established a Municipal Court under the provisions of Chapter 755 of the Wisconsin Statutes, to be designated as "Watertown Municipal Court." The Municipal Judge and the Municipal Court shall have such jurisdiction as provided by §§ 755.045 and 755.05, Wis. Stats., and as otherwise provided by law.
B. 
The Municipal Court shall be open at such times and at such locations as determined by the Municipal Judge, subject to the provisions of § 755.09, Wis. Stats. The City of Watertown shall provide a courtroom in the Municipal Building of the City of Watertown. The Municipal Court Clerk shall maintain his or her office in the Municipal Building of the City of Watertown and shall be under the supervision of the Municipal Judge, and his or her salary shall be part of the Municipal Court budget commencing with the 2003 budget year.
C. 
The procedure of the Municipal Court shall be as provided by Ch. 800, Wis. Stats.
D. 
The Municipal Judge may impose a sanction authorized under § 800.12(2), Wis. Stats., for contempt of court, as defined in § 785.01(1), Wis. Stats., in accordance with the procedures under § 785.03, Wis. Stats. The Municipal Judge may impose a forfeiture for contempt in an amount not to exceed $200 or, upon nonpayment of the forfeiture, penalty assessment under § 757.05, Wis. Stats.; jail assessment under § 302.46, Wis. Stats.; crime laboratories and drug law enforcement assessment under § 165.755, Wis. Stats.; any applicable consumer protection assessment under § 100.261, Wis. Stats.; and any applicable domestic abuse assessment under § 973.055(1), Wis. Stats.; with a jail sentence not to exceed seven days.
[Amended 10-4-2016 by Ord. No. 16-18]
A. 
The Municipal Judge may impose punishment and sentences as provided by Ch. 800, Wis. Stats., and as provided in the ordinances of the City of Watertown. All forfeitures, fees, assessments and costs shall be paid to the City Treasurer within 30 days after receipt of the money by the Judge or other court personnel, and at the time of payment, the Judge shall report to the City Treasurer the title of the action, the offense for which a forfeiture was imposed and the total amount of the forfeiture, fees, assessments and costs, if any, as required by § 800.10(2), Wis. Stats.
[Amended 10-4-2016 by Ord. No. 16-18; 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63]
B. 
On a monthly basis, the Municipal Judge shall also report to the Treasurer the title, nature of offenses and total amount of judgments imposed in actions and proceedings in which money was collected.
[Amended 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63]
C. 
The Municipal Judge shall account for those cases where judgment has been entered but the forfeiture has not been paid. The terms of a payment deferral shall be listed. The Municipal Judge shall also account for the suspension of operating privileges or jail sentences entered for nonpayment of forfeitures and shall list the amount due.
[Amended 10-4-2016 by Ord. No. 16-18; 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63; 8-5-2025 by Ord. No. 25-18]
The Municipal Judge shall establish and submit to the Common Council for approval a bond deposit schedule. The approved bond deposit schedule shall be kept by the City Clerk, and copies shall be kept in the offices of the Municipal Court and Police Department.
[Amended 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63]
The Municipal Judge shall, in writing, appoint such Clerks and Deputy Clerks as are authorized by the Common Council, as provided in § 755.10, Wis. Stats. Their salaries shall be fixed by the Common Council. The Clerks shall, before entering upon the duties of their offices, take the oath provided by § 19.01, Wis. Stats., and give a bond if required by the Common Council. The cost of the bond shall be paid by the municipality. Oaths and bonds of the Clerks shall be filed with the Municipal Clerk.