State v. Brown

Richard Brown and Donald Williams appeal from trial court orders holding that there is no right to judicial substitution in Chapter 980 civil commitment proceedings. Brown and Williams argue that, under a proper interpretation of Chapter 980 and § 801.01(2), STATS., the right to judicial substitution afforded by § 801.58, Stats., does apply to Chapter 980 civil commitment proceedings. Alternatively, Brown and Williams argue that without a right to judicial substitution, Chapter 980 violates constitutional guarantees of equal protection. We conclude that Chapter 980, containing the civil…