3.17 Office of the family court commissioner (8/16/83).
(1) Created. Pursuant to the provisions of section 767.13(1)(a) and (b), there is created an Office of the Family Court Commissioner to consist of a Family Court Commissioner together with such assistants and clerical support personnel as shall from time to time be authorized by the County Board of Supervisors.
(2) Appointment. Appointment of the Family Court Commissioner shall be by the Judges of the First Judicial Circuit (Kenosha County) subject to the approval of the chief judge of the 2nd Judicial Administrative District. To the extent permitted by section 767.13, the administration of the Office of the Family Court Commissioner shall be subject to the administrative procedures adopted by the County Board of Supervisors and contained in the County’s Administrative Policy Manual with respect to matters of budget, personnel and general administration and finance.
(3) Application. In the event of a vacancy in the positions of Family Court Commissioner or Assistant Family Court Commissioner, the policies and procedures contained in section 3 of the Administrative Policy Manual shall govern except that all references to “the appointing authority” contained therein shall be deemed to refer to the Circuit Court Judges of the First Judicial Circuit and not to the County Executive, County Board or Family Court Commissioner.
(4) Qualifications. The qualifications of the Family Court Commissioner shall be as follows:
(a) An attorney at law, licensed to practice before the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the Federal District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin.
(b) Not less than 5 years experience in the actual practice of law including substantial experience in litigation in the area of divorce, child custody and paternity.
(c) Experience and/or academic training in such area as psychology, social work, public administration, business administration, bookkeeping and accounting are highly desirable.
(d) Demonstrated ability and knowledge of office practices.
(5) Assistant Family Court Commissioner. The qualifications of the Assistant Family Court Commissioner shall be the same except that 5 years experience in the practice of law shall not be required.
(6) Duties. The Office of the Family Court Commissioner shall perform such judicial and administrative duties as are or shall be required by Wisconsin Statutes or assigned by the Circuit Judges of the First Judicial Circuit.
(7) Staff. The staff of the Family Court Commissioner’s Office shall consist of a Family Court Commissioner, one Assistant Family Court Commissioner, and such clerical staff as the county board shall from time to time authorize. Initially, the clerical staff shall consist of two Clerk-Typist II positions.