Recent Successes:
- Won at the trial court a ruling that a 2020 amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution is invalid because it misled voters and failed to fully and fairly inform them regarding the amendment's effect on those accused of crime
- Lobbied the City of Milwaukee to continue funding for lawyer for indigent defendants in Municipal Court
- Published a “Know Your Rights” card, municipal court version, in partnership with other organizations and translated it into Spanish
- Successfully urged Milwaukee County municipal judges to stop jailing individuals at the House of Correction due to failure to pay municipal court forfeitures
- Played a key role in organizing cannabis legalization advisory referendums in Wisconsin
Continuing Work:
- Holding monthly luncheons, open to the public, where guest speakers address legal issues of general interest and concern (see our Events page)
- Producing a Spanish-language video about how to navigate municipal court
- Advocating for the use of professional interpreters in municipal courts
- Providing voter education regarding elected judges
- Providing the public with news and information about the justice system through the WJI blog, newsletter, social media, and public speaking
- Pressing for bail reform to eliminate unnecessary and unjust pretrial detention while ensuring public safety
- Advocating for cannabis legalization
- Calling attention to the abuse of felony bail jumping charges to force guilty pleas from defendants
- Advocating for returning 17-year-olds to the juvenile justice system
- Advocating for the humane and equitable treatment of individuals incarcerated in state and local institutions