Winnebago County Judge to be suspended for seven days for conduct violations

Winnebago County Judge Scott Woldt who was accused of conduct violations will be suspended for seven days, Wisconsin Supreme Court announced on Tuesday. The judge will be suspended for six violations of the judicial Code of Conduct. The penalty which begins on August 2, will also include a loss of pay.

In its 64 page decision, the court said: “ Having considered all of the facts of this proceeding, including all of the appropriate aggravating and mitigating factors, we conclude that a short suspension is necessary in this situation to assure the members of the public that judges will treat them with dignity, fairness, and respect when they enter the courtrooms of this state.”

It further added, “Given Judge Woldt’s lengthy history of service on the bench, the fact that he has not previously been the subject of a disciplinary complaint, and the fact that five years have passed since the last incident at issue here, we conclude that a seven-day suspension will be sufficient to ensure that there will not be a repetition of this misconduct by Judge Woldt.”

According to Fox11 News, a complaint was filed against Woldt in June for six months, which included displaying a handgun during a visit by high school students, use of crude language when speaking to a victim, and use of crude language during a criminal hearing.

Woldt has been a judge since 2004.