State Ex Rel. Milwaukee County v. Wisconsin Council on Criminal Justice

Milwaukee county, petitioner (hereinafter county), seeks a declaration of rights between the parties regarding certain state plans developed by the Wisconsin Council on Criminal Justice, respondent (hereinafter WCCJ), for the appointment of counsel for indigent defendants in criminal cases. The application of the county for funds for this program was denied by the WCCJ.

The action was commenced when the county filed a petition for a writ of certiorari with this court. We *239granted the writ. However, it appears the issues presented are more appropriately addressed as a declaratory judgment…