Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 938 - Juvenile justice code.
938.29 - Substitution of judge.

938.29 Substitution of judge.
(1) Request for substitution. Except as provided in sub. (1g), the juvenile, either before or during the plea hearing, may file a written request with the clerk of the court or other person acting as the clerk for a substitution of the judge assigned to the proceeding. In a proceeding under s. 938.12 or 938.13 (12), only the juvenile may request a substitution of the judge. If the juvenile has the right to request a substitution of judge, the juvenile's counsel or guardian ad litem may file the request. Not more than one written request may be filed in any one proceeding, and no single request may name more than one judge. This section does not apply to proceedings under s. 938.21.
(1g) When substitution request not permitted. The juvenile may not request the substitution of a judge in a proceeding under s. 938.12 or 938.13 (12), and the juvenile and the juvenile's parent, guardian, or legal custodian may not request the substitution of a judge in a proceeding under s. 938.13 (4), (6), (6m), or (7), if any of the following apply:
(a) The judge assigned to the proceeding has entered a dispositional order with respect to the juvenile in a previous proceeding under s. 48.12, 1993 stats., s. 48.13 (4), (6), (6m), (7), or (12), 1993 stats., s. 938.12, or 938.13 (4), (6), (6m), (7), or (12).
(b) The juvenile or the juvenile's parent, guardian, or legal custodian has requested the substitution of a judge in a previous proceeding under s. 48.12, 1993 stats., s. 48.13 (4), (6), (6m), (7) or (12), 1993 stats., s. 938.12 or 938.13 (4), (6), (6m), (7) or (12).
(1m) Assignment of new judge. When the clerk receives a request for substitution, the clerk shall immediately contact the judge whose substitution has been requested for a determination of whether the request was made timely and in proper form. Except as provided in sub. (2), if the request is found to be timely and in proper form, the judge named in the request has no further jurisdiction and the clerk shall request the assignment of another judge under s. 751.03. If no determination is made within 7 days after receipt of the request for substitution, the clerk shall refer the matter to the chief judge of the judicial administrative district for determination of whether the request was made timely and in proper form and for reassignment as necessary.
(2) Substitution of judge scheduled to conduct waiver hearing. If the request for substitution of a judge is made for the judge scheduled to conduct a waiver hearing under s. 938.18, the request shall be filed before the close of the working day preceding the day that the waiver hearing is scheduled. Except as provided in sub. (1g), the judge may allow an authorized party to make a request for substitution on the day of the waiver hearing. If the request for substitution is made subsequent to the waiver hearing, the judge who conducted the waiver hearing may also conduct the plea hearing.
History: 1995 a. 77, 352; 2005 a. 344; Sup. Ct. Order No. 20-07, 2021 WI 37, filed 4-23-21, eff. 7-1-21.
Section 801.58 (2) giving the chief judge authority to review a denial of a request for substitution applies when a juvenile's request for substitution is denied. Mateo D.O. v. Circuit Court for Winnebago County, 2005 WI App 85, 280 Wis. 2d 575, 696 N.W.2d 275, 05-0220.
A juvenile's request for judicial substitution, filed and signed by counsel, was in proper form. There is no requirement that the juvenile sign the substitution request. Mateo D.O. v. Circuit Court for Winnebago County, 2005 WI App 85, 280 Wis. 2d 575, 696 N.W.2d 275, 05-0220.

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