Gretchen Schuldt

No Unemployment Benefits For Worker Making Homophobic Remarks

Appeals court rules Meijer store employee fired for cause for derogatory remarks.

US Supreme Court Throws State Election Into Chaos

Decision on Wisconsin maps part of national Republican push to undermine democracy.

80% of State’s Judicial Races Uncontested

39 of 49 judges in state’s circuit and appellate courts face no opposition.

Budget Gives Judges An 11% Raise

Topped by increase of $18,732 in annual salary for state Supreme Court judges.

Nearly Half of State’s Prison Population Vaccinated

Despite incarcerated people becoming eligible early on, vaccinations lagged in prisons.

High Court Upholds Gun Possession Ban for Felons

But state research used to push for this criticized in Supreme Court decision.

Federal Stimulus Law Funds War on Pot

COVID-19 relief law includes billions of dollars for drug enforcement efforts.

2,000 Object to Redistricting Proposal

272 pages of comments compiled by Fair Maps Coalition oppose state Supreme Court drawing legislative districts.

Beware the GOP Redistricting Proposal

Republicans want 10 more years of gerrymandering. To do this they would hand all power to state Supreme Court.

Court Rules for Patients on Medical Records

State appeals court says companies cannot overcharge for copies of medical records.

Appeal Seeks to Block Election Grants

Conservative group opposes $6.3 million in private grants helping pay for elections in five Wisconsin cities.

8% of State’s Prisoners Have COVID-19

1,703 active cases and 6,781 inmates in quarantine or isolation.

State Prisons Too Secretive About COVID-19

Department of Corrections took months to release numbers, still trying to hide information.

Chisholm Calls Marsy’s Law ‘Unfunded Mandate’

County budgeting $224,000 for new staff to comply with requirements.

State Prisons See Biggest Weekly Outbreak

Positive cases up 41%, by 662 cases, in one week.

Municipal Court Attendance Way Up

Huge reduction in no shows in Zoom era. Even a court appearance from Saudi Arabia.

40% of Kettle Moraine Inmates Have COVID-19

1,612 positive coronavirus tests in state prisons since the beginning of the pandemic.

City Leadership Weak on Police Reforms?

Serious reform of race-based stops by Milwaukee police not happening, report on federal court settlement finds.

DAs Seek 26% State Budget Increase

District Attorneys want more staff and 10% raise for eligible employees.

Why Defunding Police Is Tough To Sell

Minneapolis politicians are abandoning the idea. What will happen in Milwaukee?

Police Stops Still Biased, Report Shows

Milwaukee Police stop Blacks eight times more often than whites, Crime and Justice Institute finds.

WI Public Defenders Office Wants 40 More Employees

Needs $7.6 million budget hike to handle “exponential increase” in video evidence.

State Prisons Charging Inmates for Masks

Corrections officials say inmates each got three washable masks, must pay after that.

COVID-19 Cases Up 70% in State Prisons

907 positive cases, up from 373 on August 21, prisons in Dodge and Racine counties have worst outbreaks.

Judge’s Comments on Guns Sustained

Defendant claims Judge Donald’s sentencing shows bias against gun owners, Appeals Court upholds judge.

Republican Senators Offer 8 Police Bills

One requires cities in Wisconsin to maintain current police funding or lose state aid.

COVID-19 Outbreak at Green Bay Prison

More than 250 inmates tested positive at the maximum-security prison.

Court Ruling Limits Expungement

Even minor violations of state corrections' supervision rules make ex-offenders ineligible.

Milwaukee Police Gobble Up City Budget

MPD got 62 cents of every new city budget dollar over last ten years.

Police Cuts Could Hit Minority Officers

Milwaukee Police Department’s Black and Hispanic officers tend to have less seniority.

12 Years Behind Bars, Now Released

Milwaukee DA will not retry Ladarius Marshall after federal judge finds his constitutional rights violated at age 16.

Court Upholds MPD Officers’ Suspensions

FPC suspended two Milwaukee cops who swore at and manhandled a man walking in the street.

Council Okays Funding for Indigent Defense

Many Milwaukee Municipal Court defendants are poor and lack an attorney.

Prison Admissions to Rise Amid Pandemic

Pause in admissions ends this month, even as COVID-19 numbers rise.

Appeals Court Nixes Post-Polygraph Confession

Officers repeatedly told suspect he failed lie detector but didn’t explain results can't be used in court.

Ruling Limits Involuntary Medication of Inmates

WI Supreme Court says prisoners can’t be forcibly medicated unless they are dangerous.

Court Overturns 2010 Homicide Conviction

Milwaukee police clearly violated suspect’s Miranda rights, federal judge rules.

Karofsky Won 17 Milwaukee County Municipalities

Lost only Hales Corners and Franklin by small margins, got 86% in Shorewood.

What’s Life Like Inside State’s Prisons?

Contrasting state's official description vs. inmate’s account of prison life during pandemic.

Milwaukee County Circuit Court – Branch 5

Blomme vs Dedinsky in one of two contested Milwaukee County circuit court races.

We Urge Release of Aged, Infirm Inmates

Advocacy groups urge Evers, DOC to expand compassionate release during outbreak.

Deputy City Attorney Accused of Racism

Defense attorney calls for investigation of Deputy City Attorney Jan Smokowicz.

Committee Demands Stop-and-Frisk Plan

18 months after court settlement, Judiciary committee wants Fire & Police Commission plan with specific timelines.

Kelly, Karofsky Divide the County

Karofsky wins Milwaukee and North Shore, Kelly wins southern suburbs in high court race.

Police Officer Denies Stepping on Sterling Brown

But video shows he did. More testimony from controversial 2018 arrest of Bucks player

Morales Hides Policies on Public Protests?

Police procedures offered to Fire & Police Commission on handling demonstrations, rallies are heavily redacted.

Fire & Police Commission Okays Probe

To investigate leak of police department video. But who will do investigation and how will it be funded?

Bill to Impound Cars Costly for Cities

Republican bill could cost local governments $50 million per year and charge owners of autos that are stolen.

Most Muni Court Pot Cases Charged Blacks in 2019

39% of city’s population is charged with 77% of Municipal Court’s pot possession cases.

Q&A With Circuit Court Candidates Part Two

Blomme, Dedinsky and Whitney make their case for election to Branch 5. Part Two

League of Women Voters February 8 Public Issues Forum: Pathways to Criminal Justice Reform

Free program will be held in the 1st Floor Conference Center at Summit Place, 6737 W. Washington Street, West Allis.

Officer Threatened to Tow Brown’s Car

In testimony police sergeant admits no legal basis for threats against Bucks player Sterling Brown.

The Mess at Fire & Police Commission

Key city agency seems to be in very big trouble. Why?

FPC Leader Submitted Inaccurate Resume

Aldrete falsely stated she taught a criminal justice course for three years at MATC.

Blacks More at Risk for Pot Prosecution

7% of state population but 21% of charges. Cannabis “the drug of the privileged”?

More Details on Tasing of Bucks Player

Officer Bojan Samardzic says he understands why Sterling Brown got upset by police treatment.

Morales Blames ACLU Suit for Traffic Ticket Drop

Police Chief says stop-and-frisk settlement caused decline. But some question this.

‘Could Have Been Dead People in Walgreens.’

One year later police officer still defends his handling of Bucks player Sterling Brown.

Milwaukee Traffic Tickets Down 46%

Ticket-writing jumped in 2018 amid outrage about reckless driving, but way down in 2019.

Jailed Shorewood Cop Has New Police Job

Officer Cody Smith falsified documents, lied repeatedly after inmate hung himself in jail.

State Defends Juvenile Life Sentences

DOJ lawyers seek to dismiss ACLU suit calling this cruel and unusual punishment.

Shorewood Sued Over Inmate’s Suicide

Suit alleges unlawful detention, wrongful death of mentally ill man.

85% of County’s Pot Cases Arrest Blacks

And 95% were men. Dane County arrests are even more disproportionate racially.

Racial Disparity in U.S. Attorney’s Cases

Local gun cases they pick from District Attorney for federal prosecution slant toward black defendants.

Court Finds County Not Liable For Assaults

Polk County Jail officer sexually assaulted female inmates but Appeals Court tosses out $2 million verdict.

Absentee Dad Can’t Collect from Son’s Estate

Court rules father won’t get share of $1.4 million legal settlement in death of his son.

Cops Can Use Lying, Trickery, Court Rules

Judges Gundrum, Neubauer approve police deceit to get confession from cognitively challenged man.

Pot Arrests Vary Wildly By County

Some outstate counties have far more marijuana charges and felony charges per resident.

The Race to Curb Speeding in Milwaukee

Despite recent dangerous crashes, Milwaukee Police are not making changes to the department’s vehicle pursuit policy, officials say.

City Will Borrow for Police Settlement

Milwaukee has borrowed many millions to pay off police legal settlements in last decade.

Will Victoriano Heredia Die In Prison?

Prison for life for crime at age 17. ACLU suit challenges life sentences for teens.

Appeals Court Expands Legal Searches

Suspected drunk driver's car can be searched for other drugs. Hagedorn joins ruling.

City Carries Shelton to Victory

Candidate for circuit court judge lost the suburbs, but won city by huge margin.

City Stayed Home In Election

Milwaukee turnout low, its suburbs much higher, helping Hagedorn.

Appeals Court Rules Sperm DNA Relevant

Reverses lower court decision disallowing DNA not from defendant found on bed in sexual assault case.

Shelton Discusses Past Police Encounters

Circuit Court candidate’s experiences point to possible racial bias in the suburbs.

Shelton, Jones Pick Best and Worst Cases

Milwaukee Circuit Court candidates pick best and worst Supreme Court decisions.

Why Shelton, Jones Want To Be Judge

Candidates for Branch 40 Circuit Court talk about their motivations.

Evers Funds Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility

Budget has $8.1 million for upgrades, so he won’t close facility as critics have demanded.

Contribution to Bob Peterson of $500

Judge Gabler Provided False Information

Appointed to bench by Walker after his application falsely described municipal court violations.

WJI supports Gov. Evers’ cannabis initiative

"Wisconsin's refusal so far to adopt a medical marijuana program is hurting the state's residents and its economy."

Why They’re In Prison

Offenses for men and women inmates in state prisons.

Tougher Drunk Driving Laws Proposed

Criminalized first offenses and fines that could devastate the poor, ACLU says.

WJI supports expunction reform initiative

"It is much-needed and positive legislation."

County Wins $2.3 Million Grant for Jail Reform

MacArthur grant funds effort to address overcrowding at county jail, House of Corrections.

City’s Pot Cases Down 17% Last Year

Milwaukee Municipal Court sees decline in marijuana cases in 2018.

Study Calls for Probation, Parole Reform

Wisconsin’s system is “wasting money and wasting lives,” should learn from other states.

Trip Down the Aisle Is Very Lo-o-o-ng

Fox Lake inmate has tried for nearly a year to get prison officials to approve his marriage.

1.8 Million Hours of State Prison Overtime

Cost $51 million in 2018, system badly short staffed, Evers seeks reform.

Chisholm Supports Fully Legal Pot

But only with adequate implementation and regulatory structures, he says.

Everyone Wants Legal Pot!

A majority in all 19 Milwaukee communities favored legal pot in November referendum.

41% of State Inmates Have Mental Health Issues

Critics decry use of prisons as dumping grounds for people with mental health problems.

State Investigators Leave Teachers in Limbo

DPI investigations may present due process problems, appeals court judge writes.

Wood County Defendants Go Without Lawyers

Common practice in county is to hold preliminary hearings without a defense attorney.

Will Referendums Lead to Legal Pot?

Some legislators hope for change after medical or fully legai pot approved in 18 local referendums.

Borowski Vacates Contempt Order, Recuses Himself

Judge backs off from case where he had defense attorney handcuffed and imprisoned.

Borowski Under Pressure on Contempt Order

Public Defenders Office calls on judge to vacate controversial order and jailing of lawyer.

A Sweep for Marijuana Referendums!

On 18 county and city ballots, all approved by up to 88% of voters.

Apologize or Resign, Lawyers Tell Judge

Judge Borowski had defense lawyer handcuffed and jailed; state attorneys group outraged.

225 Substitution Requests Against One Judge!

All filed in last year against new Circuit Judge Kristy Yang, elected in April 2017.