- Podcasts
Podcasts - Videos
Videos - Policy Issues
Policy Issues - About
About
Wisconsin lawmakers are expected to talk about school funding, more money for the University of Wisconsin, and Gov. Tony Evers’ demand for more child care funding, but one county leader says the state needs to pay some attention to its court system.
Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann on Tuesday told News Talk 1130 WISN that counties need help with their court systems.
“For county government in particular, court funding is super important. It's a public safety issue. The state court system is operated through county government, but county government funds you know 70% plus of that that operation you know I think at least it should be a 50/50 proposition,” Schoemann explained.
He’s not saying just how much counties as a whole needs, but it would certainly be millions and millions of dollars.
Schoemann’s thoughts echoed Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler, who said back in November that many counties outside of the Madison and Milwaukee areas are falling behind, and don’t have the resources to deliver basic justice.
“We face a very serious lawyer shortage. It's particularly acute in rural areas. Access to justice is seriously impacted when those who wish to be represented remain unrepresented,” Ziegler said at the time. “When we cannot provide members of the public who are exercising their constitutional right to be represented by counsel with an attorney, access to justice is seriously compromised."
Schoemann agreed.
“Justice delayed is justice denied, and we're seeing that in some cases,” Schoeman said. “There's still backups from 2020 and COVID that need to get cleared. Whether it's Waukesha County, or Brown County, or places all across the state of Wisconsin. You know this becomes a public safety issue.”
Schoemann on Tuesday went to Madison to talk with lawmakers about what may be included in the new state budget.
Gov. Evers is set to deliver his spending plan to the legislature next month. Republicans are expected to gut that budget and introduce theirs.
It remains to be seen, however, if there will be any agreement or common ground. The legislature is supposed to deliver a new state budget sometime in June.
Interested in the content of this Article?
Reach out to the MacIver Institute to aquire more information
