St. Croix County Criminal Court handles all criminal cases that are filed in St. Croix County. See below for more information about criminal cases in St. Croix County.
St. Croix County Criminal Court hearings
Criminal hearings in St. Croix County will take place at the St. Croix County Criminal Courts. Please see here for a list of the St. Croix County Criminal Court Locations.
What is Jury Deliberation?
After both the prosecution and defense have presented their cases, the judge in the case will provide instructions to the jury about what they must decide. The jury will be dismissed to the jury room where they will deliberate about the guilt or innocence of the defendant. After reaching a unaminous decision, they return their decision to the court where it is read aloud in the courtroom. If the jury is unable to reach a unaminous decision, the jury is deadlocked, also known as a hung jury, in which a mistrial will be declared.
St. Croix County Criminal Court
I need help for my St. Croix County criminal case
The best place to get information about your criminal case is from an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, the court will appoint one to represent you which will assist in your case. For general information about your case the St. Croix County court clerk is able to provide general information about your specific case (e.g. date/time hearings, mandatory appearance, what will take place and what you will be required to do). The court clerk for St. Croix County will NOT be able to provide legal advice for your case, only an attorney can provide legal advice. The court clerk can provide legal information (like the information found on this website) about your case but cannot provide advice about what you should do in your legal manner.
Right to an attorney
The US Constitution’s Sixth Amendment ensures the right to an attorney regardless of whether or not you can afford one. In St. Croix County a public defender will be appointed by the judge if you cannot afford private representation.
Mandatory Appearances in St. Croix County Criminal Court
At a mandatory or required court appearance in St. Croix County, the defendant must appear before the court. In the event of a “Failure to Appear” the judge may issue a warrant for the arrest of the defendant. Note: not all criminal hearings are mandatory, in a non-mandatory hearing an attorney may appear on your behalf without you being in court.
Sentencing in St. Croix County
In St. Croix County if the defendant is found guilty (by trial or plea), the defendant will be sentenced. This sometimes occurrs immediately after being found guilty, but can also take place at a later date. In most instances, a judge will impose the sentence that is requested by the prosecution, but they also have the descretion to impose a different sentence.
What is the Burden of Proof?
The term “Burden of Proof” means that the prosecutor is required to prove the guilt of the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt. If the prosecutor cannot provide proof of the defendants guilt, then the judge or jury in a trial must find the defendant not guilty. In the United States the principle innocent until proven guilty derives from this that the defendant is assumed innocent and the prosecution has the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty.
St. Croix County Arraignments
An arraignment is a court hearing. In St. Croix County this is the first thing that will happen in a criminal case. The defendant will be brought before a judge in St. Croix County Criminal Court and the judge will read the charges that were filed against the defendant. The judge will also read the rights the defendant has and ask the defendant if they understand both the charges filed against them and their rights as a defendant in the case. In St. Croix County a plea of Guilty, Not Guilty or No Contest may be entered. In a guilty or no contest plea the sentencing of the defendant may take place at the same arraignment hearing or a later date may be scheduled for sentencing. For a not guilty plea, a date will be set for a trial.
Can I appeal a guilty verdict?
If found guilty, a defendant may decide to appeal his case to an appelate court. The appellate court will not retry the case, they will examine the proceedings in the lower court to make sure they were done in a legal manner. The appellate court can either uphold the original conviction, or determine that due to errors made in the original trial, that there must be a retrial, resentencing or a complete dismissal of the charges.
St. Croix County Prosecutor
For criminal cases in St. Croix County, the prosecutor will be a representative of St. Croix County. The St. Croix County prosecutor reviews all evidence and ultimately decides whether to file or dismiss charges in the case. Most of the time, the prosecutor has leeway in plea negotiations and determines how the case will be prosecuted.
Jury by Trial Right
The US Constitution (Article 3 along with the 6th Amendment) ensures an accused defendant the right to a jury trial. This applies to crimes that have a $500 fine or a potential sentence of six months in jail (aka Serious Crimes). This right to trial by jury can also be waived by a defendant.
What is a Plea Agreement?
A plea agreement is a deal made between the prosecution and the defendant in a case, where the defendant agrees to plea guilty to a particular charge in exchange for some concession from the prosecutor. In practice, more than 90% of criminal cases end with a plea agreement.
St. Croix County Criminal Court Locations
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St. Croix County Circuit Court
Address: 1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson WI 54016
Phone: 715-386-4630 Fax: 715-381-4396 -
City of Hudson Municipal Court
Address: 505 3rd Street, Hudson WI 54016
Phone: 715-386-5929 Fax: 715-377-0765 -
City of New Richmond Municipal Court
Address: 156 East 1st Street, New Richmond WI 54017
Phone: 715-243-0410 Fax: 715-246-7129 -
Glenwood City Municipal Court
Address: 113 West Oak Street, PO Box 368, Glenwood City, WI 54013
Phone: 715-565-3213 Fax: 715-265-7307 -
Village of Baldwin Municipal Court
Address: 400 Cedar Street, PO Box 118, Baldwin WI 54002
Phone: 715-684-4930 Fax: 715-684-2490 -
Village of Hammond Municipal Court
Address: 455 Davis Street, PO Box 299, Hammond WI 54015
Phone: 715-796-2562 Ext. 129 Fax: 715-796-5454 -
Village of North Hudson Municipal Court
Address: 400 7th Street North, Hudson WI 54016
Phone: 715-377-7989 Fax: 715-386-7011 -
Village of Roberts Municipal Court
Address: 107 East Maple Street, Roberts WI 54023
Phone: 715-749-3108 Fax: 715-749-3108 -
Village of Somerset Municipal Court
Address: 110 Spring Street, PO Box 158, Somerset WI 54025
Phone: 715-247-3319 Fax: 715-247-5987 -
Village of Star Prairie
Address: 207 Bridge Avenue, PO Box 13, Star Prairie WI 54026
Phone: 715-248-1502 Fax: 715-248-7501 -
Village of Woodville Municipal Court
Address: 102 South Main Street, PO Box 205, Woodville WI 54028
Phone: 715-698-2355 Fax: 715-698-2697