State Ex Rel. Chiarkas v. Skow

CALLOW, WILLIAM G., J.

This case is before this court on certification from the court of appeals pursuant to sec. (Rule) 809.61, Stats.

The State Public Defender petitioned the court of appeals, seeking a writ of prohibition directed to the Circuit Court for Racine County, Judge Jon B. Skow. In the alternative, the State Public Defender sought a declaratory judgment that Wisconsin circuit courts did not have the authority to appoint the Public Defender's office to represent non-indigent parties.

The court of appeals recognized its lack of jurisdiction to grant a declaratory judgment as an…