753.34 Circuit court for Menominee and Shawano counties.

(1) Menominee County shall not be organized separately for circuit court purposes, but is a part of a joint circuit court for Menominee and Shawano counties, which constitutes a single judicial district. No circuit judge for Menominee County may be elected separately, but the duly elected judges of the circuit court for Menominee and Shawano counties shall serve as judges of the circuit. The books, papers and records of the office of the judges shall be kept at the county seat of the county in which each has his or her principal office or, at the discretion of the judges, at either or both county seats.

(2) Each circuit judge for the circuit court for Menominee and Shawano counties may appoint a register in probate or may jointly appoint one register in probate to serve the court. If one register in probate serves the court, the office of the register in probate shall be in the city of Shawano.

(3) The qualified electors of Menominee County shall be eligible to vote at every election for circuit judge.

(4) The county boards of Menominee County and Shawano County shall enter into an agreement prorating the joint expenditures involved in conducting the circuit court, and for such purposes the county board of Menominee County may appropriate, levy and collect a sum each year sufficient to pay its share of the expenses; but no portion of the initial cost, or amortization of debt on the Shawano County courthouse or repair, maintenance or improvement of the same or items which are taxable costs between the parties shall be included as a joint expenditure for proration purposes. If the 2 county boards are unable to agree on prorating the joint expenditures involved, then the circuit court judges for the circuit court for Menominee and Shawano counties shall, under appropriate notice and hearing, determine the prorating of the expenditures, on the basis of the volume and character of work and responsibilities, to each county, under such procedure as they prescribe. If the circuit judges are unable to agree, the chief judge of the judicial administrative district shall make the determination.

(5) The court may order proceedings held at the county seat in Menominee County or at the county seat in Shawano County or other appropriate place. The proper place of trial of civil and criminal actions commenced in the court shall be the place in either county where the judge orders proceedings held.

(6) A single perspective juror list shall be prepared for the circuit court for Menominee and Shawano counties.

(7) All fines and all costs and fees collected in circuit court for Menominee and Shawano counties in causes of action arising out of Menominee County shall be accounted for and paid over under s. 59.40 (2) (m) to the county treasurer of Menominee County and in causes of action arising out of Shawano County shall be accounted for and paid over under s. 59.40 (2) (m) to the county treasurer of Shawano County.

(8) All process and pleadings and documents of the court shall be entitled, “Circuit Court for Menominee and Shawano Counties".

History: 1977 c. 449; 1981 c. 317; 1995 a. 201; Sup. Ct. Order No. 96-08, 207 Wis. 2d xv (1997).