COVID and Milwaukee County courts; pandemic creates backlog of cases
MILWAUKEE - COVID-19 and the pandemic are touching all parts of society including the court system in Milwaukee County. While jury trials resumed last summer, the courts are dealing with a backlog of cases – especially the criminal variety.
"COVID’s a problem. I don’t need to belabor my situation from last week," said Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge David Borowski.
At least one homicide trial has been delayed until next week because of positive COVID cases.
Milwaukee County Courthouse
Chief Judge Mary Triggiano tells FOX6 News the court does not keep track of what caused a case to be adjourned. But of the 12 jury trials last week, only one occurred. Others could have been resolved, dismissed, or adjourned for other reasons besides COVID-19.
SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News
Triggiano said this week is better. Of 12 jury trials, four started on Monday, two on Tuesday, and a couple more are set for Wednesday. However, COVID-19 continues to clog the system.
"While our backlog is significant because we do a high volume of cases in Milwaukee, it is still attainable to clear it, if we do creative things with scheduling and bring in more resources," the chief judge said.
That includes opening up new courts with reserve judges to decrease the backlog. But that process is hampered right now because of a lack of staffing.
Staffing is also a problem at the Milwaukee County Jail – as the numbers of those in custody number more than 900. More than 200 of those are COVID-positive.
Milwaukee County Jail
"I’m handling double the number of cases I was two years ago," said Allison Ritter, Milwaukee criminal defense attorney.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android
Ritter said she knows judges, the district attorney's office, and others are doing the best they can with the hand they have been dealt. But she said the numbers are not sustainable.
"This calendar’s not going to flush itself out. It’s not going to happen. We need a plumber. Because it is stuck," Ritter said.
Ritter pointed to the district attorney's office as the one entity that can help.
The Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office stated, "When an adjournment is needed in one trial, another Assistant District Attorney is ready to do a different one, and that has proven to be the case so far in 2022."
But there is always the possibility of something, like an illness, causing a trial to be rescheduled.
Featured
Prior COVID infection as immunity? GOP lawmakers push bill
Republican lawmakers are advancing a bill that would require employers to count a prior COVID-19 infection as an alternative to vaccination and testing.
Featured
MPS COVID vaccine clinic Thursday at Riverwest school
Milwaukee Public Schools has partnered with the Milwaukee Health Department to host a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinic Thursday, Jan. 13
Featured
Milwaukee free N95 masks, libraries run out
Milwaukee public libraries are out of free N95 masks, the health department announced Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 11.