Wisconsin Statutes Courts (Ch. 750 to 764) § 751.03. Assignment of judges

(a) Assigning a case in which a change of judge is requested under s. 757.19(5) or is required under s. 800.05 to another municipal judge or, if none is available, transferring the case to circuit court.

(b) Assigning cases in municipal court in which a municipal judge is incompetent, unable or fails to act, to another municipal judge, former municipal judge or former circuit judge. A judge to whom cases are so assigned may serve until the chief justice determines that the incompetency, inability or failure ceases, or until the term of the municipal judge expires or the vacancy is permanently filled under s. 8.50(4)(fm), whichever occurs first. If no judge is available, the chief justice may transfer a case from municipal court to circuit court.

(4)(a) If a judge before whom a reported proceeding has commenced is unable to proceed, the judge to whom the case is assigned may proceed with it upon certifying familiarity with the record and determining that proceedings in the case may be completed without prejudice to the parties. Otherwise the judge assigned may grant a new trial or rehearing.

(b) If a judge before whom an action or proceeding has been tried is unable to proceed after a verdict is returned or findings of fact and conclusions of law are filed, the judge to whom the case is assigned may proceed with it unless satisfied that the duties cannot be performed without prejudice to the parties, in which event a new trial may be granted.