A municipal court is a court with small jurisdiction over criminal charges and civil disputes within its location. These courts can be located at the county or city tier.
Town of Somers Municipal Court INformation
Court: Town of Somers Municipal Court
Address: “7511 12th Street, PO Box 197, Somers, WI 53171”
Phone: 262-859-2822
City: Somers
County: Kenosha
State: Wisconsin
What is the purpose of the Town of Somers Municipal Court?
Municipal Courts are often called “courts of limited jurisdiction.” This means that they handle minor criminal charges, civil disputes, and traffic incidents. Courts like Town of Somers 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 courts have the jurisdiction to deal with misdemeanors and civil matters that can not exceed the amount of $15,000, while the circuits courts handle felony matters and larger civil matters.
TYPES OF CASES HEARD IN A MUNICIPAL COURT in Somers, Wisconsin
Municipal courts are the entry level of courts in the U.S.. They are usually found within the jurisdiction where they are located, but some places share municipal courts with other municipalities.
This can be done to better service their people or to save money on overhead costs. The cases that may be heard by a municipal court can change based on on the municipality, but typically include traffic tickets, low level criminal charges and code infractions.
There is no set definition for what makes a misdemeanor charge 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
how are cases managed in the municipal court in Somers?
Judges administer hearings to determine:
- Probable cause for arrest
- Set bail amounts and conditions of release
- Conduct arraignment hearings when charges are filed against defendants by police officers
- Distribute search warrants to law enforcement officers in order to secure evidence from crime scenes
- Conduct preliminary inquiries to establish if there is enough evidence to mount a charge
The common process of a Municipal Court Case
Step One: Issuance of Summons
Second Step: Show Up before Judge or Magistrate
Municipal Court Penalties in Somers, WI
Penalties change often, which is why it’s good to speak with licensed attorney. The material below represents common penalties, but may not be accurate for the Town of Somers Municipal Court.
A violation is an offense that has a penalty of $500 or below, while a misdemeanor charge can possess penalties up to $1k 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 offenses in municipal courthouses vary depending on the severity of an crimes. 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.
Town of Somers Municipal Court Records
Municipal Court records from a municipal court 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 matter they have before the court, where it’s at in the process, and what type of information is required by law to be present.
Common Questions ABOUT the Town of Somers Municipal Court
What is municipal court in Somers, Wisconsin?
In Wisconsin, the municipal court is a lower court with civil and criminal matters within a town or municipality. Municipal courts have a small location and have limited authority as well, dealing only with petty charges and misdemeanor charges.
What does the municipal court handle in Somers, Wisconsin?
Depending on the area 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. More serious cases/crimes are deal with by higher authorities.
How many judges does the Town of Somers Municipal Court have?
The number of judges depends on the municipality’s population.
How are cases heard in municipal courts in Wisconsin?
A municipal courthouse judge may be either elected or appointed to serve for a set term of years or until they retire. Judges are commonly chosen by precincts with each precinct’s results judged based on population. Municipal magistrates are generally not attorneys but have some legal education and must finish several hours of ongoing education every year to maintain their credentials.