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Board backs adding a fifth circuit-court branch after judges cite heavy local caseloads
Summary
St. Croix County supervisors unanimously approved a resolution supporting legislative action to add a fifth circuit-court branch, citing high caseloads per judge and newly available courtroom capacity in the county's expanded government center.
The St. Croix County Board unanimously approved a resolution urging the state legislature to add a Fifth Circuit Court branch for the county, citing high local judicial caseloads and new courtroom capacity created by the county’s recent government center expansion.
Judge Scott Nordstrand told the board the legislature typically creates circuit branches by statute and noted Assembly Bill 514 (and companion Senate language) currently proposes judges for other counties while also adding staff positions statewide; he said St. Croix County shows caseload metrics and courtroom availability that make it a reasonable candidate. Judge Nordstrand recommended placement of the position on the 2027 election cycle so a new judge could take office on Aug. 1, 2027, if the bill is amended to include the county.
County staff walked the board through fiscal implications: the state pays judge and court reporter salaries and provides a per-branch support payment that partially offsets county costs, but the county likely would need to fund additional county positions (staffing estimated at roughly $100,000 per position), leaving a modest net levy impact of about $100,000 annually based on current estimates. Board members repeatedly described the vote as a timely appeal to state lawmakers rather than a final local commitment to staffing or other specifics.
The resolution passed unanimously; the county will send its support to lawmakers and monitor the legislative schedule and hearings noted by the judge.
