Current:Home > MarketsWisconsin regulators file complaint against judge who left court to arrest a hospitalized defendant -Wealth Empowerment Academy
Wisconsin regulators file complaint against judge who left court to arrest a hospitalized defendant
View
Date:2025-04-13 13:08:34
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin judicial regulators have filed a misconduct complaint against a Dane County judge who allegedly left court to try to arrest a hospitalized defendant and got into an argument with a defendant in a child sexual assault case.
The state Judicial Commission filed the complaint against Ellen Berz on Thursday, the Wisconsin State Journal reported. The state Supreme Court on Friday ordered Maxine White, chief judge of the state appellate courts, to set up a judicial panel to review the complaint and make discipline recommendations to the justices.
According to the complaint, Berz was presiding over an operating-while-intoxicated case in December 2021. The defendant did not show up in court on the day the trial was set to begin. His attorney told Berz that the defendant had been admitted to a hospital.
Berz had a staff member investigate and learned that he was in a Sun Prairie emergency room. The judge tried to order her bailiff to leave the courthouse and go arrest him, but she was told the bailiff couldn’t leave, according to the complaint.
She then declared that she would retrieve the defendant herself and if something happened to her people would hear about it on the news, according to the complaint. She then left court and began driving to the emergency room with the defendant’s attorney in the passenger seat, the complaint says. No prosecutor was present in the vehicle.
She eventually turned around after the defense attorney warned her that traveling to the hospital was a bad idea because she was supposed to be the neutral decision-maker in the case, according to the complaint. She went back into court and issued a warrant for the defendant’s arrest.
The complaint also alleges that she told a defendant in a child sexual assault case who had asked to delay his trial for a second time that he was playing games and he should “go to the prison and talk to them about all the games you can play.”
When the defendant said that her sarcasm was clear, she told him: “Good. I thought it would be. That’s why I’m saying it to you that way, because I thought you would relate with that.”
The complaint accuses Berz of violating state Supreme Court rules that require judges to act in such a way that promotes public confidence in judicial impartiality, treats people they deal with professionally with patience, dignity and courtesy and perform their duties without bias.
It wasn’t clear if Berz has an attorney. The complaint was addressed to attorney Steven Caya, but it does not say who he represents and Caya did not return a phone message that The Associated Press left at his office on Friday afternoon.
Berz’s judicial assistant said Friday that the judge would not comment on pending litigation. The assistant declined to identify herself.
veryGood! (8)
Related
- 'We're reborn!' Gazans express joy at returning home to north
- Loungefly's Sitewide Sale Includes Up to 75% Off on New Releases & Fan Favorites: Disney, Pixar & More
- Psst! West Elm Just Added an Extra 40% off Their Clearance Sale Section, With Home Decor Starting at $20
- Rihanna Reveals the “Stunning” Actress She’d Like to Play Her in a Biopic
- Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
- Glen Powell learns viral 'date with a cannibal' story was fake: 'False alarm'
- Federal judge strikes down Florida's ban on transgender health care for children
- iOS 18 unveiled: See key new features and changes coming with next iPhone operating system
- Appeals court scraps Nasdaq boardroom diversity rules in latest DEI setback
- Shop Old Navy Deals Under $15, 75% Off Yankee Candles, 70% Off Kate Spade Bags & Today's Top Deals
Ranking
- Costco membership growth 'robust,' even amid fee increase: What to know about earnings release
- Traffic resumes through Baltimore’s busy port after $100M cleanup of collapsed bridge
- Caitlin Clark and Zendaya are inspiring 2024 baby name trends
- These July 4th-Inspired Items Will Make You Say U-S-A!
- The Daily Money: Spending more on holiday travel?
- ICE arrests 8 with suspected ISIS ties
- ICE arrests 8 with suspected ISIS ties
- Alabama seeks more nitrogen executions, despite concern over the method
Recommendation
Juan Soto praise of Mets' future a tough sight for Yankees, but World Series goal remains
Truck hauling 150 pigs overturns on Ohio interstate
The internet's latest crush is charming – and confusing – all of TikTok. Leave him alone.
Fire kills hundreds of caged animals, including puppies and birds, at famous market in Thailand
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
Gabby Petito implored boyfriend who later killed her to stop calling her names, letter released by FBI shows
12-year-old boy hospitalized after sand hole collapsed on him at Michigan park
Kristin Cavallari says she was 'skin and bones' during 'unhappy' marriage to Jay Cutler