An Assemblyman from Manitowoc County is joining forces with a Brown County representative in filing a budget motion to the Joint Finance Committee.
Rep. Shae Sortwell and De Pere Rep. Ben Franklin worked together on the motion, which they say will “expand operations for the Brown County courts by adding multiple judges, assistant district attorneys, and state public defender support staff.”
The duo noted that, at the end of 2024, Brown County had 2,858 pending felony criminal cases with a median age of 296 days, and that both of those numbers have continued to climb each year since 2020.
Rep. Sortwell said, “Enough is enough. The state legislature needs to provide aid to Brown County’s court system… Over time, we believe this will create safer communities.”
In total, the filed budget motion would add two judges, three assistant district attorneys, and two state public defender support staff positions.
