LRB-3964/1
MLJ:kjf
2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE
February 11, 2020 - Introduced by
Law Revision Committee. Referred to
Committee on Rules.
AB879,1,3
1An Act to amend 753.26 of the statutes;
relating to: records retained by circuit
2courts (suggested as remedial legislation by the Office of the Director of State
3Courts).
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, with the exception of certain circuit court branches of the
Rock County circuit court, circuit court records are required to be kept at the
courthouse offices located at the county seat. At one time there were circuit court
branches located in Beloit, which is not the county seat for Rock County. There are
no longer any circuit court branches located in Beloit.
This bill eliminates the exception for Rock County to reflect the fact that all
branches of the Rock County circuit court are now located in Janesville, which is the
county seat for Rock County.
For further information, see the Notes provided by the Law Revision
Committee of the Joint Legislative Council.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
Law Revision Committee prefatory note: This bill is a remedial legislation
proposal, requested by the Office of the Director of State Courts and introduced by the
Law Revision Committee under s. 13.83 (1) (c) 4. and 5., stats. After careful consideration
of the various provisions of the bill, the Law Revision Committee has determined that this
bill makes minor substantive changes in the statutes, and that these changes are
desirable as a matter of public policy.
AB879,1
1Section
1
. 753.26 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB879,2,10
2753.26 Office and records to be kept at county seat. Except in branches
3Nos. 4, 5, and 7 of the circuit court for Rock County, every
Every circuit judge in this
4state shall maintain in his or her office, at the county seat of the county in which the
5judge holds office, all of the books, papers, and records of the court. The office and
6the books, papers, and records of the circuit judge shall at all reasonable times be
7open to access and inspection by any person having any business with the books,
8papers, and records of the court, except as otherwise provided by law.
Originals of
9judgments or orders made under circuit court jurisdiction of branches Nos. 4, 5, and
107 of the Rock County circuit court in Beloit, shall be kept at the county seat.
Note: Section 1 eliminates a current law exception allowing the records of certain
branches of the Rock County Circuit Court to be held in Beloit, rather than in the county
seat of Janesville. These court branches were located in Beloit prior to 1999, but all
branches are now located in Janesville. The bill makes the requirement to hold court
records at the county seat consistent throughout the state.
