Judge Peter Grimm Releases 2-Year Court Report

Fond du Lac County Circuit Court Judge Peter Grimm has released the 2020 and 2022 Circuit Court details.

According to Judge Grimm, 2020 was a record low number of jury trials, 14, due to Covid restrictions.

The Courts never closed and remained open to fulfill the Constitutional duty for trial by jury, especially for defendants in jail on cash bail, for rights of victims, and for community safety.

Judge Grimm noted that “We would not have been able to do that without our responsible and civic minded citizens. I am very proud of the jurors who reported for jury duty and was impressed with their cooperation. There were only a couple no-shows.”

Written requests by jurors to be excused due to Covid were granted.
Judge Grimm also noted that “County Executive, the late Allen Buechel, was firm that county services are vital in times of crisis, and the City-County Building remained open. The clerks, court reporters, bailiffs, and judges all came to work.

In 2020, the 14 jury trials were: 7 felony; 3 criminal OWI; 1 misdemeanor; 1 traffic OWI tickets; 1 civil forfeiture; and 1 termination of parental rights case.

There were 28 jury days, and the longest jury trial was 3 days. $39,499 was spent on juror fees, mileage, and meals, with $77,000 budgeted.

There were 5430 notices mailed to jurors to report.

2021 was a catch up year with 34 jury trials: 18 felony; 3 criminal OWI; 4
misdemeanor; 5 traffic OWI tickets; 2 civil; 1 child protection; and 1 termination of parental rights case.

There were 64.5 jury days, and the longest trial was 7 days. $68,255 was spent on juror fees, mileage, and meals, with $77,000 budgeted. There were 6139 notices mailed to jurors to report.

Jurors are paid $40 per day, $20 per half day, 51 cents a mile, and meals are provided.

Judge Grimm said, “In the face of Covid our jurors are commended for their fulfillment of an important Constitutional right, trial by jury. Jurors make sacrifices being away from their job or family. They work hard listening to evidence, attorney’s arguments, and the judge’s legal instructions. Then they must make difficult decisions with fellow jurors. For these reasons, we owe all jurors a debt of gratitude.”