A municipal court is a court with limited jurisdiction over criminal offenses and civil matters inside its area. These courts can be found at the city or county tier.
Coulee Region Joint Municipal Court INformation
Court: Coulee Region Joint Municipal Court
Address: “415 Main Street, Room 150, Onalaska, WI 54650”
Phone: 608-781-9558
City: Onalaska
County: La Crosse
State: Wisconsin
What is the role of the Coulee Region Joint Municipal Court?
Municipal Courts are often called “courts of limited jurisdiction.” Which means that they work with minor criminal charges, civil matters, and traffic incidents. Courts like Coulee Region Joint Municipal Court are the first level of court for these types of cases.
In other situations, the role of a county court is to deal with a large number of civil disputes within the respective region. Most cases involve family matters, personal injury, more serious criminal charges, or breaches of contract.
County courthouses have the jurisdiction to deal with misdemeanors and civil actions that can not exceed the amount of $15,000, while the circuits courts handle felony matters and more expansive civil cases.
TYPES OF Legal Matters adjudicated IN A MUNICIPAL COURT in Onalaska, Wisconsin
Municipal courts are the bottom rung of courthouses in the U.S.. They are usually found within the jurisdiction where they are located, but some jurisdictions share municipal courts with other municipalities.
This can be done to better help their population or to save money on costs. The matters that will be heard by a municipal court can change based on on the municipality, but typically include traffic tickets, low level crimes and code violations.
You will not see a set definition for what constitutes a misdemeanor versus a felony, but generally speaking felonies would require more time in jail than misdemeanors and fines may also be higher for felonies. Traffic violations usually result in points against your driver’s license as well
what is the procedure for cases in the municipal court in Onalaska?
Magistrates manage hearings to determine:
- Probable cause for arrest
- Set bail amounts and conditions of release
- Conduct arraignment hearings when charges are filed against suspects by police officers
- Distribute search warrants to law enforcement officers in order to protect evidence from crime scenes
- start preliminary examinations to establish if there is enough evidence to issue a charge
The typical process of a Municipal Court Case
First Step: An Issuance of Summons
Second Step: Appearance before Judge or Magistrate
Municipal Court Penalties in Onalaska, WI
Penalties change often, which is why it’s best to speak with licensed attorney. The information below represents common penalties, but may not be 100% accurate for the Coulee Region Joint Municipal Court.
A violation is an offense that carries a penalty of $500 or below, while a misdemeanor can carry penalties up to $1,000.00 or one year in local jail. A person’s driving privileges may be suspended for six months if they receive three speeding tickets within 12 months.
The penalties for different charges in municipal courts vary depending on the severity of an offenses. For example, if you are caught with marijuana without having a prescription for it then you will be fined up to $2k or spend up to six months in jail.
Coulee Region Joint Municipal Court Records
Municipal Court records from a municipal government may be difficult to find because they are not always stored in one place or system. The records that an individual might need to depend on the type of charge they have before the court, where it’s at in the process, and what type of information is required by law to be available.
FAQs ABOUT the Coulee Region Joint Municipal Court
What is municipal court in Onalaska, Wisconsin?
In Wisconsin, the municipal court is a lower level with civil and criminal jurisdiction within a town or municipality. Municipal courts will have a small jurisdiction and have limited authority as well, dealing only with petty charges and misdemeanor charges.
What does the municipal court handle in Onalaska, Wisconsin?
Depending on the size of the municipality, a municipal court can handle a civil division (cases with less than $15,000 at issue), a traffic/criminal division, or a housing and environmental division. Serious cases/crimes are handled by higher authorities.
How many judges does the Coulee Region Joint Municipal Court have?
The number of judges depends on the municipality’s size.
How are cases heard in municipal courts in Wisconsin?
A municipal court judge may be either elected or appointed to serve for a set duration or until they retire. Judges are commonly elected by the people with each precinct’s results weighted based on the number of people. Municipal magistrates are generally not attorneys but have some legal education and must finish many hours of ongoing education every period to maintain their credentials.