Court records of St. Croix County, Wisconsin, are maintained by the Clerk of Courts office and are accessible through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the office. StCroixCourt.us will help you navigate publicly available information about county court cases. Additionally, you can use the Wisconsin Court System case search, contact the St. Croix County Clerk of Courts office, or visit the courthouse in person.
St. Croix Court System Overview
St. Croix County is part of the 10th Judicial Administrative District of Wisconsin. This district includes several counties in the western part of the state, including Barron, Buffalo, Burnett, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, St. Croix, and Washburn. The Wisconsin court system is based on circuit courts — these are courts of general jurisdiction that handle all categories of cases at the state level.
The St. Croix County Circuit Court serves the residents of the county. The courthouse is located at:
The administrative judge of the 10th district coordinates the work of the courts in all counties of this area. Cases are distributed among the judges of the St. Croix County Circuit Court according to categories and workload.
Courts Serving St. Croix
Several courts of different jurisdictions serve the residents of St. Croix County:
Circuit Court
Hudson Municipal Court
Federal District Court
St. Croix County falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.
Federal Bankruptcy Court
Some cities in the county, such as New Richmond, may have their own municipal courts to handle local violations and fines.
What Types of Cases St. Croix Courts Hear
St. Croix County courts hear a wide range of cases. Here are the main categories:
- Criminal cases: felonies, misdemeanors
- Traffic violations and other infractions
- Civil lawsuits, including small claims cases
- Family law: divorce, custody, child support, paternity
- Probate, guardianship, conservatorship
- Juvenile and child protection cases
- Adoption
- DUI / OWI
The Wisconsin Circuit Court is a court of general jurisdiction, so almost all these cases fall to the circuit court.
District Court Cases in St. Croix
Wisconsin does not have separate "district courts" at the state level — the circuit court acts as the court of first instance with full jurisdiction. The St. Croix County Circuit Court handles:
- All criminal felonies from initial charge to sentencing
- Civil cases without a limit on the amount claimed
- Appeals from municipal court decisions
- Post-conviction motions
Cases are initiated by filing a criminal complaint by the prosecutor or a civil complaint by a party. A judge is automatically assigned according to internal allocation rules. The chief judge of the circuit court oversees the assignment process and manages the hearing calendar.
Magistrate Court Cases in St. Croix
Wisconsin uses a system of court commissioners rather than magistrate judges in the classical sense. St. Croix County court commissioners are authorized to conduct:
- Initial appearances in criminal cases
- Bail setting
- Preliminary hearings in felony cases
- Temporary orders in family cases (temporary custody, restraining orders)
- Small claims cases — up to $10,000
Municipal courts, such as the Hudson Municipal Court, handle violations of city ordinances and some traffic cases. Appeals from municipal court decisions are filed with the circuit court.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in St. Croix
Family Law
Divorce, custody determinations, child support, protective orders, paternity establishment, and termination of parental rights are all handled by the St. Croix County Circuit Court. Temporary decisions in family cases may be made by a court commissioner, but the final decision is made by a judge. Standard family law forms are available on the Wisconsin Court System website.
Probate and Guardianship
The circuit court handles decedent estates, the appointment of guardians and conservators, and trust matters. Standard state forms are used for filing petitions.
Juvenile Matters
Juvenile Code cases and Child in Need of Protection or Services (CHIPS) cases are confidential. Access to records is restricted by state law. For information on juvenile cases, contact the court office directly.
How Cases Move Through the St. Croix Court System
- Case Initiation: filing a criminal complaint by the prosecutor, a civil lawsuit by a party, or a petition (in family or probate cases).
- Judge Assignment: the case is automatically distributed among circuit court judges.
- Initial Hearing: in criminal cases — arraignment; in civil cases — scheduling conference.
- Pre-Trial Phase: filing motions, exchanging evidence (discovery), plea negotiations in criminal cases.
- Case Resolution: trial, verdict, plea agreement, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment: sentencing, appeal to the Court of Appeals, enforcement of the judgment.
Electronic filing is available through the eFiling system on the Wisconsin Court System portal.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in St. Croix
The administrative judge of the 10th Judicial District provides overall guidance to the county courts. Local court rules and administrative orders can be found on the Wisconsin Court System website.
Regarding public access — the Wisconsin Public Records Law (§ 19.31) establishes a presumption of openness for documents. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has recognized that public records laws apply to circuit court records. However, some categories of records — juvenile cases, sealed cases, certain family documents — have restricted access.
Hearings are generally open to the public. You can attend sessions in person at the courthouse. Some hearings may be held remotely — check with the court office.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in St. Croix
- Court Case Search: Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (CCAP) allows searching for circuit court, appellate court, and state supreme court cases. The CCAP program provides electronic access to case documents.
- Circuit Court Records: The Wisconsin State Law Library offers additional tools for searching court records and decisions.
- Court Office: The St. Croix County Clerk of Courts accepts requests for copies of court documents in person or by mail.
- Court Forms: Standard circuit court forms are available on the Wisconsin Court System website for civil, criminal, family, and other cases.
- Criminal History Check: The Wisconsin Online Record Check System (WORCS) from the Department of Justice allows online requests for criminal background checks.
- Inmate Information: The Wisconsin Department of Corrections provides a search for information about inmates. The St. Croix County Jail contains information about detainees.
- Vital Records: Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates can be ordered through Wisconsin Vital Records or request online.
- Property Records: Online access to real estate records in St. Croix County is available through the Laredo and Tapestry EON platforms.
- DMV Records: Information on driver records and accident reports can be obtained through the Wisconsin DMV.
- Sheriff's Office: The St. Croix County Sheriff's Office provides information on law enforcement activities in the county.