Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-02-13
PROPOSED CHANGES
IN CIRCUIT SESSION

MADISON, Wis, Feb. IA COM
prehensnve REVISION OF circuit court
procedure, to shorten the laws de-
lay, according to Revisor of the
Statutes l.. ]. Nash, is attempted in
a bill consolidating and amending
all of the statutes relating to cir
cult courts. The bill has been filed
oy the revisor with the senate conn
mittee on Judiciary.
Among the important provisions
that are new are the following:
A Board OF Circuit Judges is
created and given power, to elect and
fix the salary of a secretary. This
board must meet at least once a yea
Its purpose seems to be 10 even up
the amount of work on the calendars
of the different circuits among the
judges, so that unnecessary delay
of cases may be prevented, and to Sc
cure cooperation for further reform
of procedure.
The salary of the circuit judges is
raised from $4,000 a year and an al
lowance of $500 for expenses, to
$4,000 and expenses, and to the
six circuit judges in Milwaukee
County, $1,000 additional to be paid
by the county.
Criminal cases arising during the
term OF the court are to be placed up
on the calendar of that term, and otf
er actions may also be noticed at any
time, and after ten days notice shall
be placed upon the calendar of the
then term of court.
The advancing of causes arising
IN one county while the court is sit
ting in another county OF the cir
cult, is facilitated by making every
regular term in each county a special
term for each other county of that
circuit.
Two CiIcuit judges may sit at the
same time in the same city, each with
full powers of the circuit court of
that circuit.
The proceedings for change of ven
ue are simplified, and it is sought
to make fewer changes of venue by
requiring that the affidavit be filed
at the opening of the term.
Powers of court commissioners are
increased to include the power to is
sue writs of certiorari and aIterna-
tive writs OF mandamus.
Various changes are made in the
dates for the regular terms of the
circuit in different counties.
In the seventh circuit the March
term of Portage county is changed
the first Monday in May, and the
November tenn is changed from the
third Monday in November to the first
Monday in December; in Waupaca
county the October term is changed
from the fourth Monday in October
to the first Monday in November; in
Wood county the May term is chang
ed from the second Monday in May
to the second Monday in March;
so that the terms in the seventh cir
cult will be, under the bill, as fol-
lows: Portage County, first Monday
IN May. first Monday in December;
Waupaca County, second Monday in
Jure. tirSt Monday in November;
Waushara County, third Monday in
April, third Monday in September;
Wood County, second Monday in
March, first Monday in October.
A great many minor changes are
made by the bill. the general pur-
pose of which, according to Revisor
Nash, is to shorten the period and
lessen the cost of litigation.
Mr. Nash says that the bill car
ries out the recommendations OF the
circuit judges in a meeting held here
last summer.
The bill will probably be introduc-
ID in the form drafted by the rsyis-