800.14 Appeal from municipal court decision.

(1) Appeals from judgments, decisions on motions brought under s. 800.115, or determinations regarding whether the defendant is unable to pay the judgment because of poverty, as that term is used in s. 814.29 (1) (d), may be taken by either party to the circuit court of the county where the offense occurred. The appellant shall appeal by giving the municipal court and other party written notice of appeal and paying any required fees within 20 days after the judgment or decision. No appeals may be taken from default judgments.

(2m) Upon receipt by the municipal court of the notice of appeal and any required fees and, if a trial has been held, after the 20 day time period under sub. (4) has passed, the appeal is perfected. Within 30 days after perfection, the municipal court shall transmit the case to the circuit court as provided under sub. (5) and shall comply with the requirements of s. 343.325, if applicable.

(3) Upon perfection of the appeal under sub. (2m), execution on the judgment of the municipal court or enforcement of the order of the municipal court shall be stayed until the final disposition of the appeal, unless otherwise ordered by the municipal court prior to transmittal to the circuit court or unless ordered by the circuit court thereafter. An order lifting a stay may be reviewed by the circuit court at any time following transmittal to the circuit court, upon motion and good cause shown.

(4) An appeal from a judgment where a trial has been held shall be on the record unless, within 20 days after notice of appeal has been filed with the municipal court under sub. (1), either party requests that a new trial be held in circuit court. The new trial shall be conducted by the court without a jury unless one of the following applies:

(a) If the defendant is charged with a violation of an ordinance that is in conformity with s. 346.63 (1) or (5) and did not proceed under s. 800.035 (5) (c), the municipality requests a 6-person jury trial and posts the jury fee under s. 814.61 (4) within 10 days after the order for a new trial.

(b) If par. (a) does not apply, either party requests a 6-person jury trial and posts the jury fee under s. 814.61 (4) within 10 days after the order for a new trial.

(5) If there is no request under sub. (4), or if the appeal is from a judgment or decision in which a trial has not been held, the appeal shall be based upon a review of the proceedings in the municipal court, and the municipal court shall transmit to the circuit court a copy of the entire record, including any electronic recording created under s. 800.13 (1). If there is a request under sub. (4), the municipal court shall transmit to the circuit court as much of the record as deemed appropriate by the municipal court, but the transmission shall include, at the minimum, a copy of the citation or complaint and the judgment. The municipal court may supplement the transmission upon request of either party or the circuit court. The circuit court may order the preparation of a transcript of the proceedings by any qualified court reporter at the cost of the appellant. The transcript shall be deemed accurate unless determined otherwise by the municipal court, by request of either party or the circuit court.

(5m) A defendant claiming an inability to pay with regard to the transcript fee, the appeal fee, or the jury fee may petition the circuit court for a waiver.

(6) The disposition of the appeal shall be certified to the municipal court by the circuit court within 30 days of the judgment of the circuit court. If the disposition requires payment of a forfeiture by the defendant, the forfeiture and all costs, fees, and surcharges shall be payable to the municipality.

History: 1977 c. 305; 1979 c. 32 ss. 68, 92 (17); 1979 c. 237; Stats. 1979 s. 800.14; 1981 c. 317 s. 2202; 1987 a. 389; 2005 a. 191; 2009 a. 402; 2019 a. 70; s. 35.17 correction in (2m), (5).

Review under sub. (5) is analogous to appellate review of a trial to the court under s. 805.17 (2). Village of Williams Bay v. Metzl, 124 Wis. 2d 356, 369 N.W.2d 186 (Ct. App. 1985).

When a municipal court found the defendant guilty of OWI and dismissed a blood alcohol count charge without finding guilt, the defendant's appeal of the OWI conviction did not give the circuit court jurisdiction to hear the BAC charge absent an appeal of the dismissal. Town of Menasha v. Bastian, 178 Wis. 2d 191, 503 N.W.2d 382 (Ct. App. 1993).

There is no statutory or constitutional requirement that a circuit court must hold a hearing or request briefs when conducting a transcript review under sub. (5). This section, when considered as a whole, affords municipal court appellants a meaningful right to be heard. City of Middleton v. Hennen, 206 Wis. 2d 347, 557 N.W.2d 818 (Ct. App. 1996), 95-3054.

Appealing Municipal Court Judgments to Circuit Court. Andregg. Wis. Law. March 2006.