Enhanced penalties for fleeing police, judicial security bills approved by Assembly

 

MADISON Wis. (CBS 58) -- Lawmakers approved bills that would stiffen penalties against those who flee police and add more safeguards to protect judges as threats against them spiked in recent years.

One bill would make prison time mandatory if a driver causes serious death or injury while attempting to escape law enforcement. Rep. Bob Donovan, R-Milwaukee, authored the proposal and said it has broad support from Milwaukee leaders as the city continues to grapple with reckless driving incidents.

"Our streets have never been more dangerous," Donovan said. "Enough is enough."

Doven said the proposal is in honor of Erin Mogensen, a Milwaukee woman who died after police say a driver fled a Wauwatosa police officer, ran a red light, killing Mogensen and her unborn child.

Judicial Protections

With threats against judges on the rise, lawmakers also approved a package of bipartisan bills that would further protect them by adding extra layers of security.

One bill would shield some of their personal information from the public. Another measure creates a new penalty for individuals who protest outside a judge's home "with the intent to interfere with, obstruct, or impede the administration of justice."

Over the last year, there have been 142 threats made against Wisconsin judges, according to the Wisconsin Supreme Court Marshal’s Office.

In 2022, Juneau County Circuit Court Judge John Roemer was shot and killed in his home by a man he sentences to six years in prison in 2005.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said these proposals were introduced after justices on the state's high court requested them.

"We still of course have the right to a robust protest policy where people can express their views all those kinds of things, but the idea of trying to make someone's personal information that can be used for threats or having protests at people's homes probably goes too far," Vos said.