Trempealeau County officials press for more prosecutors and judges as caseloads rise

Judge Ryan Radke and County District Attorney John Stacia told visiting legislators that Trempealeau County—s court workload has grown and current staffing falls short of need.

"We're at a high, high caseload need," said Judge Ryan Radke, noting a 2021–2023 three-year average placed Trempealeau among the state—s highest caseloads. Radke said another state caseload study is planned for this fall and could support future judgeship consideration.

Stacia, the district attorney, said the office is roughly at 52% of appropriate staffing and that an additional prosecutor position included in the current budget proposal would move the office toward 78% staffing.

"Practically speaking, that means that a two-person office, me and my assistant, should be a four-person office if we were to be roughly a 100%. In order to get to 78% staffing, we need one additional position, and that's what's allocated for in this budget," Stacia said.

Speakers described staffing shortages that also affect the public defender system. Radke said public defender availability has declined and that counties often rely on outside counsel when the office cannot cover cases.

County officials tied the staffing need to recent population growth — Trempealeau was described in the presentation as the state's second-fastest-growing county — and to a rise in court filings. They asked legislators to support funding that appears in the current budget process for prosecutor and collateral public-defender positions and to keep future judgeship needs on policymakers' radar.

No formal action was taken during the briefing; speakers asked legislators to maintain requested appropriations in the Joint Finance Committee process and to consider future resources based on caseload-study findings.