800.08 Procedure at trial.
(1) At trial the plaintiff shall provide a prosecutor who is an attorney authorized or licensed to practice law in this state. The plaintiff shall first offer evidence in support of the citation or complaint. The defendant may offer evidence after the plaintiff has rested. If the plaintiff and the defendant have offered evidence upon the citation or complaint, the parties may then respectively offer rebuttal testimony only, unless the court permits them to offer evidence upon their original case. Both parties shall have the opportunity to question all witnesses.
(2)
(a) Before testifying, every witness shall be required to declare that he or she will testify truthfully, by oath or affirmation administered in a form calculated to awaken his or her conscience and impress the witness with the duty to testify truthfully.
(b) The oath may be administered by the judge or his or her designee substantially in the following form: Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you shall give in this matter shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God.
(c) Every person who declares that he or she has conscientious scruples against taking the oath, or swearing in the usual form, shall make a solemn declaration or affirmation, which may be in the following form: Do you solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that the testimony you shall give in this matter shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth; and this you do under the pains and penalties of perjury.
(d) The assent to the oath or affirmation by the person making it may be manifested by the uplifted hand.
(3) The standard of proof for conviction of any person charged with violation of any municipal ordinance shall be evidence that is clear, is satisfactory, and convinces the judge to a reasonable certainty.
(4) Except as provided in s. 938.17 (2) (h) 3., the court shall be bound by the rules of evidence specified in chs. 901 to 911.
(5) If a defendant does not appear at trial, the court may enter a default judgment under s. 800.09.
History: 1977 c. 305; 1979 c. 32 ss. 68, 92 (17); Stats. 1979 s. 800.08; 1997 a. 205; 2009 a. 402; 2013 a. 107.
Structure Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 800 - Municipal court procedure.
800.01 - Commencement of action.
800.02 - Form of citation, complaint, summons and warrant in municipal ordinance violation cases.
800.025 - Amended citation and complaint.
800.037 - Deposit amount and schedule.
800.045 - Pretrial conferences.
800.05 - Substitution or disqualification of municipal judge.
800.065 - Reserve municipal judges.
800.07 - Discovery in municipal court.
800.085 - Telephone and audiovisual proceedings.
800.095 - Nonpayment of monetary judgment.
800.10 - Fees and costs in municipal court.
800.11 - Municipal court record and transcript entries.
800.115 - Relief from judgment.
800.12 - Municipal court contempt procedure.