Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin
The growing number of federal cases and their complexities in northeastern Wisconsin have renewed a push to add a U.S. District judge in Green Bay. U.S. Sens. Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold have co-sponsored a bill in the Senate that would add a judge in Green Bay. U.S. Rep. Mark Green has sponsored a similar measure in the House and has made it his top priority. Green, a Republican, represents northeastern Wisconsin. He said putting a federal judge in Green Bay would also make it easier for members of the Menominee who live on the reservation to attend criminal court proceedings. The federal government has jurisdiction over many criminal cases on the reservation. Currently, a part-time federal judge hears cases in Green Bay. U.S. Attorney Thomas P. Schneider said law enforcement budgets are strained by the costs associated with hearing cases in Milwaukee. "It takes basically a whole day to come to court to testify for a few minutes,'' Schneider said. U.S. District Chief Judge J.P. Stadtmueller said the number of federal cases is growing. There were 10 percent more criminal defendants and 22 percent more civil cases through June 30 than at the same point last year, he said.
