Citizen Portal
Sign In

Committee backs resolution seeking fifth circuit-court branch for St. Croix County

Committee · February 4, 2026

Loading...

AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

A committee approved a resolution supporting creation of a fifth circuit-court branch for St. Croix County after judges and a longtime local attorney outlined caseload and facility pressures; the committee will forward the resolution and accompanying materials to the county board.

A committee voted to approve a resolution urging creation of a fifth circuit-court branch for St. Croix County after testimony from local judges and practitioners who said rising caseloads and county growth warrant an additional judgeship.

Chief Judge Needham told the committee that recent legislation adding judges in neighboring counties could be amended to include St. Croix County and that "the timing is critical" because the Senate scheduled a hearing the following day. He urged local officials to show county support for the change.

Needham summarized county-level funding for courts and said court-support funds to the county last year were "about $402,000." He also relayed a projection from the director’s office that, pending a finalized formula, support "could be closer to the $47,480,000 of support for 4 branches" (the director’s formula was not yet finalized, according to Needham). He noted judges' salaries and court reporters are paid by the state while counties cover other court-related costs.

Judge Nordstrom described the moment as an opportunity to press the legislature, saying the usual process requires updating the statutory number of branches listed for a county and that such changes arise only rarely. Longtime local attorney Hugh Gwynn told the committee the county has been one of the state’s fastest-growing and that expanded court services are needed so matters can be handled "in a timely way."

Supervisor Leif moved to approve the resolution; Supervisor Amber seconded. The chair called for a vote, an 'Aye' was recorded and the chair declared the resolution adopted. The transcript does not include a roll-call tally of individual votes; the committee indicated the resolution will be presented to the county board that evening.

The committee's action signals formal local support should state lawmakers consider an amendment to pending judicial-legislation; the committee said it may also send volunteers to Madison to testify if needed.