Madison Metropolitan Sch. Dist. v. Circuit Court for Dane County
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The dispute in this case involved a circuit court's order requiring a school district to develop and implement an educational plan for a juvenile who was adjudged delinquent after the district expelled him from school. The court of appeals granted the district a writ of prohibition and vacated the circuit court order, concluding that the circuit court did not act within its authority in entering the order. The Supreme Court affirmed, concluding that (1) the school district had statutory authority to expel the student from school; (2) the circuit court did not have statutory authority to order a school district to provide alternative educational services to a juvenile who had been expelled from school by a lawful and unchallenged expulsion order but was still residing in the community; and (3) the court of appeals did not err in utilizing a supervisory writ to review the district court's order to provide appropriate educational resources in this case.
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2011 WI 72 SUPREME COURT CASE NO.: COMPLETE TITLE: OF WISCONSIN 2009AP2845-W Madison Metropolitan School District, Appellant, v. Circuit Court for Dane County and the Honorable David T. Flanagan, III presiding, Respondents-Petitioners. REVIEW OF A DECISION OF THE COURT OF APPEALS OPINION FILED: SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS: ORAL ARGUMENT: SOURCE OF APPEAL: COURT: COUNTY: JUDGE: JUSTICES: CONCURRED: DISSENTED: July 14, 2011 March 1, 2011 Circuit Dane David T. Flanagan, III CROOKS, J. dissents (Opinion filed). ABRAHAMSON, C. J. and BRADLEY, J. join dissent. NOT PARTICIPATING: ATTORNEYS: For the respondents-petitioners there were briefs and oral argument by Bruce Meredith, Madison. For the appellant there was a brief and oral argument by Matthew William Bell, associate general counsel, Madison School Metropolitan, Madison. 2011 WI 72 NOTICE This opinion is subject to further editing and modification. The final version will appear in the bound volume of the official reports. No. 2009AP2845-W (L.C. No. 2009JV419) STATE OF WISCONSIN : IN SUPREME COURT Madison Metropolitan School District, Appellant, FILED v. JUL 14, 2011 Circuit Court for Dane County and the Honorable David T. Flanagan, III presiding, A. John Voelker Acting Clerk of Supreme Court Respondents-Petitioners. REVIEW of a decision and order of the Court of Appeals. Affirmed. ¶1 DAVID T. PROSSER, J. This is a review of an unpublished decision and order of the court of appeals1 granting a writ requiring of prohibition the Madison and vacating Metropolitan a circuit School court order District (the District) to develop and implement an educational plan for M.T., 1 Madison Metro. Sch. Dist. v. Circuit Court for Dane Cnty., No. 2009AP2845-W, unpublished order (Wis. Ct. App. June 30, 2010). No. 2009AP2845-W a juvenile who was adjudged delinquent after the District had expelled him from school. ¶2 The case presents important issues related to the authority of circuit courts to order educational services for students who are subject to delinquency petitions and also have been expelled from school. The principal questions presented may be stated as follows. ¶3 First, does a circuit court have authority to order a school district to provide alternative educational services to a juvenile who has been expelled from school by a lawful and unchallenged expulsion order? ¶4 Second, did the court of appeals err in utilizing a supervisory writ to review the order of the circuit court? ¶5 We conclude: (1) Wisconsin Stat. § 120.13(1)(c)1.2 gives a school district express authority to expel a student from school. (2) order a A circuit court does not have statutory authority to school district to provide alternative educational services to a juvenile who has been expelled from school by a lawful and unchallenged expulsion order but is still residing in the community. (a) board to Wisconsin cooperate with Stat. the § 120.12(18) juvenile requires court and a school the agency designated by the court to prepare an educational plan under 2 All references to the Wisconsin Statutes are to the 200708 version unless otherwise noted. 2 No. 2009AP2845-W Wis. Stat. § 938.33(1)(e) for a pupil or former pupil who is subject to a dispositional order under Wis. Stat. § 938.34 or Wis. Stat. § 938.355. (b) district Wisconsin to "[c]oordinate educational programming" services the as result Stat. § 120.12(18) and for of provide pupils a court requires for school continuity receiving order a under of educational Wis. Stat. § 938.34(7d). (c) school board Wisconsin Stat. § 120.12(18) does not require a or a school district to provide alternative educational resources to a juvenile who has been expelled from school under Wis. Stat. § 120.13(1)(c)1. (d) Wisconsin Stat. § 938.34(7d) authorizes a circuit court to order a juvenile to attend a variety of educational programs, but it does not authorize a circuit court to order a school district to create an educational program or contract for an educational program. (e) Wisconsin Stat. § 938.45 applies only to natural persons, not legal entities like school districts. (3) The supervisory court writ to of appeals review the did not Order to err in Provide utilizing a Appropriate Educational Resources in this case. ¶6 Consequently, the decision and order of the court of appeals is affirmed. I. BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY ¶7 On June 5, 2009, M.T., age 15, brought nine bags of marijuana to the campus of Madison East High School, a public 3 No. school M.T. operated was a by the student Madison at the Metropolitan school. 2009AP2845-W School When his District. conduct was discovered, M.T. was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. ¶8 The District immediately filed a complaint seeking the expulsion of M.T. from the District. The District sent all notices required by law, and an independent hearing examiner was appointed pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 120.13(1)(e). Hearing Officer Helen Marks Dicks held an abbreviated hearing on June 26, 2009, and a full hearing on July 6, 2009. presented two witnesses at the hearing; M.T. The District and his mother appeared by telephone but did not testify or present evidence. The hearing was closed to the public at M.T.'s request. ¶9 On July 12 the hearing officer issued an order concluding that M.T. engaged in conduct that constituted grounds for expulsion under Wis. Stat. § 120.13(1) and interests of the school demanded M.T.'s expulsion. that the As requested by the District, she ordered M.T. expelled for three semesters. She adopted the District's recommendations as to the conditions of expulsion, which included giving M.T. the right to apply for readmission after one semester provided certain conditions were met.3 The District Board of Education approved the order with modifications on July 21, 2009. The expulsion order denied M.T. 3 M.T. complied with early readmission requirements and was reinstated by the District as a full-time student on January 25, 2010. 4 No. any educational services from the District for 2009AP2845-W at least one semester, namely, the fall semester of 2009-10. ¶10 Dane A separate proceeding commenced on July 9, 2009, when County authorities filed a delinquency petition against M.T. in the Dane County Circuit Court. The case was assigned to Circuit held Judge David T. Flanagan who a plea hearing on August 8 and a dispositional hearing on August 26, 2009. ¶11 Prior to the dispositional hearing, Judge Flanagan ordered the Dane County Department of Human Services (DHS) to submit a predisposition report. 938.38(1)(a). Wis. Stat. §§ 938.33(1) and A predisposition report must include: "A plan for the provision of educational services to the juvenile, prepared after consultation with the staff of the school in which the juvenile is enrolled or the last school in which the juvenile was enrolled." ¶12 Wis. Stat. § 938.33(1)(e). On August 18, 2009, the DHS submitted a report that suggested 15 recommendation specific that unexcused absences." rules M.T. of attend supervision, school including regularly "with a no The report also advised the court that the District was refusing to provide education programming for M.T. because he had been expelled. ¶13 The court's August 26 dispositional order included the provision that M.T. "Attend school regularly without unexcused absences." ¶14 On September 14 Judge Flanagan sent a letter to the Superintendent of the District, Flanagan's letter reads in part: 5 Daniel A. Nerad. Judge No. 2009AP2845-W I am a Dane County Circuit Court Judge responsible for cases in the Juvenile Court. . . . I have available an impressive range of resources, including direct supervision by experienced social workers of the Dane County Department of Human Services. Remarkably, I find I do not have available what I believe to be the key resource, a bare minimum of educational opportunity and activity. I am advised that this is because the District has expelled this student and will exclude him for possibly three semesters and certainly for one semester. This young man lives with his mother. I have concluded that she is genuinely concerned for her son and willing to cooperate with efforts to get him back on the proper path. I am advised that this family cannot afford private tutoring. I have contacted several alternative educational programs and I can find nothing for him. . . . . I can understand a determination that the safety and security of East High may be well served by excluding a student from the facility. I cannot, however, fathom the need to deny to a young man all possibility of participating in some educational activity, somehow, somewhere. It need not be fun; it need not be comfortable, but some minimal opportunity should be available. . . . It certainly is not my place to supervise or second-guess the complex operation of East High or any other educational facility. . . . I simply suggest that the juvenile court and the District can and should be working together in this situation. I am confident that the legitimate interests of the District can be fully met without the potentially destructive total exclusion that has been imposed. ¶15 On September 28 social worker Maureen Murphy of the Dane County Department of Human Services sent a memorandum to Judge Flanagan, District's advising Expulsion him that Coordinator, she without had contacted avail. the Murphy reported on the various educational options she had explored and 6 No. that she had recommended that paperwork for home schooling. M.T.'s mother 2009AP2845-W fill out the Murphy's report noted, "Once this is done, she has access to resources available through the WI Dept. of Public Instruction [DPI]. resources and programs . . . . There are many free online His mother is home during the day and has a computer with internet service." Then Murphy added: I am aware that the Court has sent correspondence to the Madison School District expressing concern about the lack of education options for [M.T.] and I am appreciative of this support. . . . Unfortunately, [M.T.] is (like many students who are expelled) a young man who has already struggled in school with attendance and behavior problems. His current expulsion will only further his "disconnect" from school and getting a much needed education. ¶16 replied In to a letter Judge dated October Flanagan's 4, letter. 2009, Chief of the District Staff Steve Hartley wrote that the District's "policies and systems do not currently provide for the type of services for expelled students as envisioned in your letter." the court. He asked for an appointment with He also acknowledged receiving a draft Order to Show Cause. ¶17 Judge Flanagan issued an Order to Show Cause to the District on October 5. advised that the The order said that the court had been District "refuses to provide even minimal educational opportunity" to M.T. at any District facility "and refuses to provide even home school materials . . . to use under the supervision of his mother who is home during the day." 7 No. ¶18 2009AP2845-W The court said that, working through the Dane County DHS, it was willing to craft a supervisory plan to serve the reasonable concerns of the District "at whatever location or manner it offers . . . M.T. access to reasonably adequate educational opportunity." ¶19 Then the court added: In light of the foregoing the court concludes that the refusal on the part of the [District] to make some reasonable effort to provide minimally adequate educational resources to [M.T.] . . . has impaired the ability of the court . . . to discharge its statutory obligations pursuant to the Juvenile Code of Wisconsin. Therefore, pursuant to sec. 938.45(1), Wis. Stats., the court orders the [District] to show cause at 9:30 a.m. Friday, October 16, 2009 . . . why the court should not order it to provide [M.T.] reasonably adequate educational resources, at a location and in a manner subject to the supervision of the court. ¶20 expressed In a its letter dated objection to October the 12, order 2009, to the show District cause, and reiterated its position that the court's actions would usurp the District's statutory expulsion authority. ¶21 The show cause hearing took place on October 16, 2009, with oral arguments provided by the District and an assistant district attorney. defining the During the hearing, the District argued that terms of a student's expulsion are within its authority, and the court was attempting to usurp that authority by amending the terms of M.T.'s expulsion to provide him with educational services. In response to the court's concerns about continuity of educational services, the District offered M.T. 8 No. 2009AP2845-W access to its public curriculum, but the court found this option to be insufficient. ¶22 Accordingly, on the same day, the court issued an "Order to Provide Appropriate Educational Resources," directing the District to provide M.T. with services "not less than those provided in the Dane County Juvenile Detention Center . . . at whatever location and in whatever manner the District deems to be safe and educationally appropriate." In support of its order, the circuit court stated that the District's refusal to attempt or consider opportunity" a contributes reasonable to under Wis. Stat. § 938.45. the District § 990.01(26). is a The the delinquency "challenge of the and juvenile Judge Flanagan also concluded that "person" circuit educational under court's § 938.45 order and did Wis. not, Stat. however, oppose the District's decision to expel M.T., and it conceded that the District had a proper basis for doing so. ¶23 Following the hearing, the District developed an educational program for M.T.4 providing 10 hours per week of 4 The plan provided specifically: a. The District shall implement the provision of daily instruction one-on-one to [the juvenile] for not less than two hours with assignment of appropriate independent work to be completed by [the juvenile] outside of instructional time, beginning with two high school courses, commencing October 28, 2009. b. The District shall monitor attendance and academic progress as well as progress towards meeting early readmission conditions and shall advise Department of Human Services Social Worker . . . as to such matters. 9 No. direct instruction, proposal. At and the the same court time accepted the the District 2009AP2845-W District's submitted its educational program, it also filed a Motion for Reconsideration, a Brief in Support of Motion for Reconsideration, and a Motion to Clarify. The circuit court denied the District's Motion for Reconsideration on October 21, 2009. ¶24 The District next filed a timely Notice of Appeal and a Notice of Intent to Pursue Postdisposition Relief on November 5, 2009. On appeal, it argued that the circuit court had acted outside the authority afforded by the Juvenile Justice Code when it ordered the District educational services. to restrict future to offer an expelled student direct The District also sought a determination attempts by courts, and others, from unilaterally amending lawful expulsion orders. ¶25 On January 12, 2010, M.T. filed a motion to withdraw because he was not the real party in interest.5 in response Higginbotham to the motion, permitted M.T. court to of appeals withdraw and On February 17, Judge Paul substituted B. the Circuit Court for Dane County and Judge Flanagan as respondents, thus framing the issue around a circuit court's authority to c. The teacher assigned to provide instruction shall contact Social Worker Murphy, on a not less than weekly basis to advise as to attendance, behavior and academic progress. 5 M.T. filed a motion to dismiss in the alternative, which the court of appeals denied. 10 No. 2009AP2845-W direct the school district to provide educational services to a student who had been expelled. Judge Higginbotham also construed the District's appeal as a petition for a supervisory writ.6 ¶26 In its decision and order dated June 30, 2010, a full panel of the court of appeals determined that the circuit court could not rely on Wis. Stat. §§ 120.12(18) or 938.45 to override the District's prior determination to expel a juvenile under Wis. Stat. § 120.13(1)(c)1. Madison Metro., No. 2009AP2845-W at 7, 10-11. ¶27 In addition, the court held that the District satisfied the five criteria for granting a supervisory writ: (1) an appeal would be an inadequate remedy; (2) the duty of the circuit court is plain; (3) its refusal to act within such duty or its intent to act in violation of such duty is clear; (4) the results of the circuit court's action would not only be prejudicial, but also incur extraordinary hardship; and (5) the request for relief was made promptly and speedily. (citing State ex rel. Dressler v. Circuit Court Id. at 6 for Racine County, 163 Wis. 2d 622, 630, 472 N.W.2d 532 (Ct. App. 1991)). ¶28 Specifically, the court reasoned that "the possibility that the school district might be required in the future to provide similar educational services to an undetermined number of expelled students under the circuit court's interpretation of 6 Wisconsin Stat. § 809.51 is the appellate rule that governs petitions for a "[s]upervisory writ and original jurisdiction to issue prerogative writ." 11 No. the relevant statutes" satisfied requirement. Madison Metro., No. 2009AP2845-W at 6. ¶29 the "extraordinary 2009AP2845-W hardship" The court of appeals reasoned: In sum, the school district had the explicit statutory authority to refuse to provide educational services to a juvenile pursuant to a valid expulsion order, and the circuit court had no explicit authority to order the school district to provide any educational services which the district did not itself recommend as part of its plan. We therefore conclude that the challenged order in this case clearly violated the circuit court's plain duty to act within its authority. Id. at 11. ¶30 Accordingly, the court of appeals granted the District a writ of prohibition and vacated the circuit court's order to provide educational services to M.T. ¶31 Id. at 12. The circuit court petitioned this court for review, which we granted on October 27, 2010. II. STANDARD OF REVIEW ¶32 The first issue is whether the circuit court had the authority to order the District to provide educational services to a lawfully expelled student. This requires us to determine the scope of the circuit court's authority under the Juvenile Justice Code,7 in tandem with the District's authority and duties under the School District Government statutes.8 This analysis implicates both judicial authority and statutory analysis, both of which are questions of law. 7 Wis. Stat. ch. 938. 8 See State v. McClaren, 2009 WI Wis. Stat. ch. 120. 12 No. 2009AP2845-W 69, ¶14, 318 Wis. 2d 739, 767 N.W.2d 550; Konneker v. Romano, 2010 WI 65, ¶24, 326 Wis. 2d 268, 785 N.W.2d 432. ¶33 The second issue is whether the court of appeals properly exercised its discretion in issuing a supervisory writ. A person may supervisory court and request the jurisdiction its court to presiding of issue appeals a judge. to prerogative Wis. Stat. exercise writ its over § 809.51. a A supervisory writ is an extraordinary remedy to prevent a court from refusing to perform, or from violating, its plain duty. Dressler, 163 Wis. 2d at 630. In appeals issued a writ of prohibition. this case, the court of "A writ of prohibition is an extraordinary remedy traditionally employed to restrain an inferior tribunal from exceeding its jurisdiction." Madison v. Wis. N.W.2d 584. DWD, 2003 WI 76, ¶9, 262 City of Wis. 2d 652, 664 It may also be employed to prevent a public entity from exceeding its statutory authority. State ex rel. DPI v. DILHR, 68 Wis. 2d 677, 686-87, 229 N.W.2d 591 (1975). ¶34 exercise The decision to issue a supervisory writ involves an of discretionary discretion. Dressler, determination exercise of that discretion. ¶10. Accordingly, we is 163 Wis. 2d at reviewed for an 630. A erroneous City of Madison, 262 Wis. 2d 652, will affirm a court's discretionary decision if "the court examined the relevant facts, applied a proper standard of law, and, using a demonstrated rational process, reached a conclusion which a reasonable judge could reach." Id. III. DISCUSSION 13 No. ¶35 This case exposes the tension between 2009AP2845-W a school district and a circuit court when a juvenile has been expelled from school for delinquent conduct but has not been committed by the juvenile court to an institution or program that is required by statute to provide educational services. the issue of whether the juvenile must In this situation, receive educational services is uncertain. ¶36 The powers of a school board are enumerated in Wis. Stat. § 120.13. The first power listed is related to suspension and expulsion. School board powers. The school board of a common or union high school district may do all things reasonable to promote the cause of education, including establishing, providing and improving school district programs, functions and activities for the benefit of pupils, and including all of the following: (1) School expulsion. government rules; suspension; . . . . (c)1. The school board may expel a pupil from school whenever it finds the pupil guilty of repeated refusal or neglect to obey the rules . . . or finds that the pupil engaged in conduct while at school or while under the supervision of a school authority which endangered the property, health or safety of others . . . and is satisfied that the interest of the school demands the pupil's expulsion. Wis. Stat. § 120.13(1). ¶37 The power to expel students from a public school is not new. For instance, § 54, ch. XXIII, Revised Statutes of State of Wisconsin (1871), reads: 14 No. 2009AP2845-W The board shall have power to make all needful rules and regulations for the organization, graduation and government of the school or schools established in the district; said rules to take effect and be in force when a copy of the same, signed by a majority of the board, shall be filed with the clerk; to suspend any pupil from the privilege of the school for noncompliance with the rules established by them, or by the teacher, with their consent; and to expel from school any pupil who shall persistently refuse or neglect to obey the rules and regulations above mentioned, whenever, upon due examination, they shall become satisfied that the interests of the school demand such expulsion. (Emphasis added.) ¶38 In State ex rel. Dresser v. District Board of School District No. 1 [St. Croix Falls], 135 Wis. 619, 627-28, 116 N.W. 232 (1908), the court stated: This court . . . holds that the school authorities have the power to suspend a pupil for an offense . . . which has a direct and immediate tendency to influence the conduct of other pupils while in the school room, to set at naught the proper discipline of the school, to impair the authority of the teachers, and to bring them into ridicule and contempt. Such power is essential to the preservation of order, decency, decorum, and good government in the public schools. . . . . The school authorities must necessarily be invested with a broad discretion in the government and discipline of the pupils, and the courts should not interfere with the exercise of such authority unless it has been illegally or unreasonably exercised. ¶39 These sentiments, expressed more than a century ago, are qualified now by a student's due process protections and individual rights. Nonetheless, there is no dispute that a school district may expel students who violate certain rules, 15 No. 2009AP2845-W and there is no challenge to the propriety of the expulsion of M.T. in this case. In a real sense, the dispute here boils down to whether the legislature has modified the statutes so that expulsion today does not mean the same as it meant in the past, that is, expulsion from the entire district, without qualification, unless the district chooses otherwise. ¶40 The term "expel" is not defined in the School District Government statutes. The DPI, however, has long interpreted the term to mean that a school district bears no responsibility for providing an education to expelled students. See Remer v. Burlington Area Sch. Dist., 149 F. Supp. 2d 665, 668 n.3 (E.D. Wis. 2001) (citing Susan Marie H. v. Kenosha Unified Sch. Dist., State Superintendent of Pub. Instruction Decision and Order No. 157 (June 28, 1988); Ricardo S. v. Sch. Dist. of Wis. Rapids, Superintendent of Pub. Instruction Decision and Order No. 145 (Sept. 5, 1986)).9 ¶41 This construction is supported by the statutory scheme in the School District Government statutes. For example, no school district may be required to enroll an expelled student 9 The 2001 Remer decision followed a decision in the United States Court of Appeals, Remer v. Burlington Area School Dist., 205 F.3d 990, 997 n.2 (7th Cir. 2000), in which the Seventh Circuit also cited the two decisions of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The court said: "In one of its submissions to the district court, the School District explained that 'once a student has been expelled from a school, the district no longer has the responsibility to provide educational services to the student.'" Id. 16 No. 2009AP2845-W while an expulsion order is in effect in another district. Wis. Stat. § 120.13(1)(f). ¶42 Furthermore, while the DPI encourages school districts to provide alternative education to expelled students, it has concluded that such programming is not required, and a failure to provide such alternative education is not a violation of an expelled student's constitutional rights. See C.M. v. Kenosha School Dist. Bd. of Educ., Superintendent of Pub. Instruction Decision and Order No. 616 (April 17, 2008). ¶43 The DPI has memorialized its construction of the expulsion authority in two documents intended for the public: "My child has been responsible for finding expelled child.") expelled. and an Now educational "Answers to ("Parents what?" program Frequently for Asked are their School Discipline Questions" ("In general, expulsion from a Wisconsin public school district removes a pupil's right to receive a free public education from any Wisconsin public school."). These documents are available on the DPI's website: www.dpi.wi.gov. (last examined on July 8, 2011). The DPI's longstanding interpretation of expulsion is entitled to deference. ¶44 According to the District, the fact that an expelled student also has been adjudicated delinquent does not change a school district's authority to expel a student without educational programming. ¶45 The circuit court stakes out a different position. It contends that under the Juvenile Justice Code adopted in 1995, see 1995 Wis. Act 77, "circuit 17 courts have been given a No. 2009AP2845-W preeminent role in juvenile dispositions and are entitled to exercise their statutory or (Petitioner's discretion, constitutional brief at unless restricted limitations 19)(Emphasis on by their added.) explicit authority." This theory effectively eliminates the need to find statutory authority for the court's order in a juvenile disposition. ¶46 The circuit court adds that provisions in the code "strongly support a circuit court's authority to provide educational services to juveniles residing at home or outside of a detention expelled." center, regardless (Petitioner's of whether at 24-25) brief the juvenile This was proposition would inject the circuit court into a district's educational programming. ¶47 Finally, the circuit court asserts: The legislature needed an umpire to manage all of the distinct interests and parties, as well as to prevent agencies from unduly encroaching on each other's authority or from cost-shifting from one unit of government to another. The most logical umpire is the circuit court judge, who is in the best position to see the big picture and coordinate all of the required services. This logic applies to all juveniles, including those who have been expelled. (Petitioner's brief at 26-27) This formulation dispositions of under the Wis. circuit Stat. court's § 938.355 power is in not juvenile limited to educational services. ¶48 several To support its position, the circuit court relies on statutory provisions, §§ 938.34(7d), 120.12(18), and 938.45. 18 including Wis. Stat. No. ¶49 adjudged agency to 2009AP2845-W As noted above, before its disposition of a juvenile to be delinquent, prepare a report the circuit with court background designates information an and recommendations on various matters including a "plan for the provision of educational services to the juvenile, prepared after consultation with the staff of the school in which the juvenile is enrolled or the last school in which the juvenile was enrolled." Wis. Stat. § 938.33(1)(e). "If the court adjudges a juvenile delinquent, the court shall enter an order deciding one or more of the dispositions of the case as provided in this section under a care and treatment plan." Wis. Stat. § 938.34. ¶50 These dispositions include: (7d) EDUCATION PROGRAM. (a) Except as provided in par. (d), order the juvenile to attend any of the following: 1. A nonresidential educational program, including a program for children at risk under s. 118.153, provided by the school district in which the juvenile resides. 2. Under a contractual agreement with the school district in which the juvenile resides, a nonresidential educational program provided by a licensed child welfare agency. 3. Under a school district in educational program nonsectarian agency district in which complies with 42 USC contractual agreement with the which the juvenile resides, an provided by a private, nonprofit, that is located in the school the juvenile resides and that 2000d. 4. Under a contractual agreement with the school district in which the juvenile resides, an educational program provided by a technical college 19 No. 2009AP2845-W district located in the school district in which the juvenile resides. Wis. Stat. § 938.34(7d)(a).10 ¶51 This provision has been part of the juvenile disposition statute since 1988. See § 12, 1987 Wis. Act 285, creating (1988). Wis. Stat. added, without § 48.34(12) any written explanation, The as part provision of a was Senate substitute amendment to Assembly Bill 389. ¶52 In its decision, the court of appeals discussed subsection (7d) as follows: The circuit court points out that Wis. Stat. § 938.34(7d) authorizes it to order a delinquent juvenile to attend "[a] nonresidential educational program . . . provided by the school district in which the juvenile resides" and that Wis. Stat. § 938.355(1) authorizes it to employ "those means necessary to promote the objectives" of the juvenile justice code. It claims these provisions allow it to order a school district to provide educational services, even to an expelled student. We note . . . that the power to order a juvenile to attend a provided program is not the same as the power to order a school district to provide a program. Rather, it is implicit in Wis. Stat. § 938.34(7d) that a program must already be provided by the school district before the court can order the juvenile to attend it. Indeed, the process of having the school district recommend an educational plan for a delinquent student serves the function of identifying 10 This section governing dispositions for educational programming is not discussed in the legislative notes for 1995 Wis. Act 77. It has not been changed in any substantive fashion since its enactment, apart from the addition of a new subdivision which became effective May 2010. 2009 Wis. Act 302 § 104. We find no discussion of the legislature's intent regarding the interplay of this statute with the School District Government statutes. 20 No. 2009AP2845-W for the court exactly what program(s) the school district can provide for the juvenile. When a school district has expelled a student and ordered that no educational services be provided for a certain period of time, logic dictates that there are no programs provided by the district available to the student during that expulsion period. Madison Metro., No. 2009AP2845-W at 9. ¶53 District In sum, had the the court explicit of appeals statutory concluded authority to that the refuse to provide educational services to a juvenile who has been expelled pursuant to a valid expulsion order, and that authority is not overridden by Wis. Stat. § 938.34(7d). ¶54 The court of appeals was correct. We are unable to interpret § 938.34(7d) as broadly as the circuit court suggests because it would empower the court to order school districts to create programs subsection or enter (7d)(a) "order into the contracts. juvenile to The language attend" is in quite different from the language in subsection (7d)(b) "order the school board to disclose" The latter language is a clear directive to the school board; the former is not. ¶55 The circuit court relies upon (and disputes the court of appeals' interpretation of) Wis. Stat. § 120.12(18), which is part of the list of school board duties: The school board of a common or union high school district shall: . . . . (18) Coordinate and provide for continuity of educational programming for pupils receiving educational services as the result of a court order under s. 48.345 (12) or 938.34 (7d), including but not limited to providing a report to the court assigned to 21 No. 2009AP2845-W exercise jurisdiction under chs. 48 and 938 and the agency which is required to submit an educational plan for a child under s. 48.33 or 938.33 (1)(e). The report shall describe the child's educational status and make recommendations regarding educational programming for the child. The report shall be in writing, except that if the educational plan under s. 938.33 (1)(e) is presented orally at the dispositional hearing the report may be presented orally to the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under chs. 48 and 938 and the agency at the dispositional hearing. If written, the report shall be provided to the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under chs. 48 and 938 and the agency at least 3 days before the date of the child's dispositional hearing. Wis. Stat. § 120.12(18). ¶56 Juvenile This provision, Justice Code. though See Wis. amended, Stat. also predates § 120.12(18) the (1988), created by § 30, 1987 Wis. Act 285. ¶57 The court of appeals concluded that there is nothing in § 120.12(18) that requires a school district to provide any specific educational services to a delinquent juvenile who has been expelled. The school board does have a duty to provide assistance to the required under court Wis. and Stat. the agency § 938.33(1)(e) producing and, the report generally, to coordinate and provide for continuity of educational programming for juveniles receiving dispositional order. educational services under a Some of those pupils could be sent by a dispositional order to an institution like Ethan Allen; some could be participate sent in to a local alternative detention schooling center; provided by some could the school district; some might not be suspended or expelled at all. 22 No. ¶58 numerous The statutory situations in language which is the broad school 2009AP2845-W because there district would are be heavily involved with a juvenile's education, while there are other situations in which the juvenile would be totally removed from the school district, even without expulsion. Participation by the school district in attempting to provide for a continuity of educational programming would nearly always be in order without implying that the school district has a duty to deliver direct educational services to a student after expulsion. ¶59 We agree with the court of appeals that the circuit court erred by relying on Wis. Stat. § 938.45 as authority to bind the District and to support its Order to Provide Appropriate Educational Resources. ¶60 Wisconsin Stat. § 938.45 is titled, "Orders applicable to adults."11 In pertinent part, the statute provides: (1) Orders when adult contributed to condition of juvenile. (a) If in the hearing of a case of a juvenile alleged to be delinquent under s. 938.12 or in need of protection or services under s. 938.13 it appears that any person 17 years of age or older has been guilty of 11 The circuit court cited this section in its Order to Show Cause, issued on October 5, 2009, and in its Order to Provide Appropriate Educational Services, issued on October 16, 2009. In its reply brief to this court, the circuit court states that it is no longer claiming Wis. Stat. § 938.45 "as a significant basis for its authority," but instead is relying broadly on the Juvenile Justice Code and Wis. Stat. § 120.12(18). However, because the circuit court cited Wis. Stat. § 938.45 as the original basis for its exercise of authority over the District, we find it appropriate to address whether such exercise was proper. 23 No. 2009AP2845-W contributing to, encouraging, or tending to cause by any act or omission, such condition of the juvenile, the court may make orders with respect to the conduct of that person in his or her relationship to the juvenile, including orders relating to determining the ability of the person to provide for the maintenance or care of the juvenile and directing when, how, and where funds for the maintenance or care shall be paid. (b) An act or failure to act contributes to a condition of a juvenile . . . if the natural and probable consequences of that act or failure to act would be to cause the juvenile to come within the provisions of s. 938.12 or 938.13. Wis. Stat. § 938.45(1)(a)-(b). ¶61 An "adult" is defined in turn under § 938.02(1) as "a person who is 18 years of age or older," except for the purposes of prosecuting or investigating a crime allegedly committed by a 17-year-old. The term "person" is not defined in the Juvenile Justice Code. ¶62 Under Wis. Stat. § 990.01(26), the term "person" is generally defined to include "all partnerships, associations and bodies politic or corporate." However, Wis. Stat. § 990.01 provides that the following definitions set forth in ch. 990 "shall be construed as indicated unless such construction would produce a result inconsistent with the manifest intent of the legislature." would be (Emphasis added.) inconsistent legislature to interpret The District asserts that it with the the term manifest "person" intent to of encompass the the District in this context. ¶63 We have not previously had the opportunity to construe the meaning of the term "person" in the context of Wis. Stat. § 938.45(1). When interpreting the meaning of a statute, we 24 No. 2009AP2845-W begin with the language of the statute and give it its common, ordinary, and accepted meaning. State ex rel. Kalal v. Circuit Court for Dane Cnty., 2004 WI 58, ¶45, 271 Wis. 2d 633, 681 N.W.2d 110. further. When that meaning is plain, courts will look no Id. We interpret statutory language in context that is, in relation to surrounding or other closely related statutes and reasonably, to avoid absurd or unreasonable results. Id., ¶46. ¶64 We conclude that the plain meaning of "person" as it is used in Wis. Stat. § 938.45(1) refers to natural persons. Consequently, a school district is not capable of contributing to the delinquency of a minor under the plain language of this statute because a school district is not a natural person. Accordingly, the circuit court erred as a matter of law when it relied on this provision to obtain authority over the District. ¶65 the Section 938.45 uses the term "adult" in the title of statute ("Orders when adult contributed to condition of juvenile."), and it refers to an "adult" when it uses the phrase "any person 17 years of age" in the text in connection with alleged criminal conduct. The use of the term "adult" is significant because it is a defined term in the Juvenile Justice Code. By specifying that this section addresses "adults," not 25 No. 2009AP2845-W merely "persons," the legislature invoked the age requirements set forth in § 938.02(1).12 ¶66 Under Wis. Stat. § 938.02(1), the general principle is that an "adult" is a person who is 18 years of age or older. interpret § 938.45(1)(a) as as the including District result. Because the section governs an adult contributing to statute is subject to the age "person" an and such any render bodies entities the delinquency of a minor, would governmental To unreasonable falling requirements of within the § 938.02(1). There would be no rational justification for including entities such as the District within a circuit court's authority in a delinquency proceeding, but only if the entity had been in existence for 17 or 18 years. ¶67 As the District noted, one school district has the same rights and obligations and duties as another, regardless of how long it has been in existence. There is no rational basis for created the argument that by statute, exempted the a recently while another district that had would be been in existence for 18 years would be subject to the circuit court's authority. ¶68 The legislative intent behind establishing a minimum age for contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile is clear. 12 Wisconsin Stat. § 990.001(6) reads: "STATUTE TITLES AND HISTORY NOTES. The titles to subchapters, sections, subsections, paragraphs and subdivisions of the statutes and history notes are not part of the statutes." However, courts often examine titles and history notes because they provide valuable clues to the meaning of statutory text. 26 No. These statutes were enacted to control adults 2009AP2845-W who have contributed to, encouraged, or tended to cause the juvenile's delinquent condition. ¶69 Section 938.45(1)(a) refers to "the conduct person in his or her relationship to the juvenile." added.) of that (Emphasis The choice of the words "his or her" also indicates that the legislature contemplated the exercise of authority over a natural person, capable of description as male or female, rather than a gender-neutral entity that could be described as "it." ¶70 contended The court of appeals observed that the circuit court that the District's refusal to provide educational programming for M.T. contributed to the juvenile's delinquent condition. It noted that the District's expulsion order and its subsequent refusal to provide services occurred after the only identified delinquent conduct by the juvenile. Thus, it was not logical to suggest that the District's action contributed to, encouraged, or tended to cause the juvenile's delinquency. The court of appeals concluded that the District "cannot be said to have failed in any duty that it owed to the juvenile." ¶71 attempted future The court of appeals was correct. to gain delinquency authority if educational services. the over the District The circuit court District refused to by predicting supply direct If the statute were interpreted to apply to potential problems that might be linked to public or private entities, not just actual adults, there would be no stopping point for the circuit court's authority over third parties. 27 No. ¶72 We conclude that a plain reading of 2009AP2845-W the statutory language in Wis. Stat. § 938.45, coupled with our obligation to construe statutes in a manner that avoids unreasonable results, clearly indicates that the term "person" encompasses persons, not entities such as the District.13 natural If the District cannot be considered a "person," it cannot have contributed to M.T.'s delinquency; consequently, the circuit court could not obtain authority over the District under Wis. Stat. § 938.45. ¶73 In sum, we conclude that a circuit court does not have statutory authority to order a school district to provide alternative educational resources to a juvenile who has been expelled order. from school by a lawful and unchallenged expulsion This conclusion applies longstanding Wisconsin law and 13 As noted previously, this question of statutory interpretation of Wis. Stat. § 938.45(1) is one of first impression. We have, however, considered the crime of contributing to the delinquency of a child as it is set forth in § 948.40. Those decisions bolster our conclusions set forth above: the purpose of this section is to provide jurisdiction over and consequences for natural persons, not political entities like the District. See State v. Patterson, 2010 WI 130, ¶8, 329 Wis. 2d 599, 790 N.W.2d 909 (an adult contributed to the delinquency of a minor by providing Oxycodone to the 17-year-old victim); State v. Williams, 2002 WI 58, ¶76, 253 Wis. 2d 99, 644 N.W.2d 919 (an adult male contributed to the delinquency of a minor by allowing the child to engage in illegal gambling); In re Disciplinary Proceedings Against Martin, 112 Wis. 2d 661, 662, 334 N.W.2d 107 (1983) (an attorney's law license was suspended for contributing to the delinquency of a minor for serving alcoholic beverages to a 14-year-old); In re Disciplinary Proceedings Against Rabideau, 102 Wis. 2d 16, 19-20, 306 N.W.2d 1 (1981) (an attorney's law license was suspended for contributing to the delinquency of a minor for supplying marijuana to a 16-year-old); State ex rel. Cholka v. Johnson, 96 Wis. 2d 704, 707-08, 292 N.W.2d 835 (1980) (an adult contributed to the delinquency of a minor by furnishing alcohol to a 16-year-old girl); Jung v. State, 55 Wis. 2d 714, 716-17, 201 N.W.2d 58 (1972) (an adult male contributed to the delinquency of a minor by allowing a 15-year-old girl to stay at his apartment for approximately one month). 28 No. is in accord with decisions supervisory writ by courts in 2009AP2845-W several other jurisdictions.14 ¶74 A is "a blending mandamus and the writ of prohibition." 630. Like dedicated those to jurisdiction. ¶75 A extraordinary the of the writ of Dressler, 163 Wis. 2d at writs, discretion of a writ court the supervisory original of is Id. writ of mandamus has long been recognized as "a summary, drastic, and extraordinary writ issued in the sound discretion of the court" to direct a public officer to perform his plain statutory duties. Menzl v. City of Milwaukee, 32 Wis. 2d 266, 275-76, 145 N.W.2d 198 (1966) (internal quotations and citations omitted). Because of the extraordinary nature of this discretionary power, the officer's duty must be clear and unequivocal. ¶76 A Id. at 276. writ traditionally used of prohibition, "to keep an on the inferior other court hand, from is acting outside its jurisdiction when there was no adequate remedy by appeal Wis. 2d or otherwise." 609, 614, 143 State ex rel. N.W.2d 437 Gaynon (1966). v. Krueger, The writ 31 of prohibition also is considered an extraordinary remedy, and is 14 See Daniels v. Woodside, 396 F.3d 730 (6th Cir. 2005); RM & BC v. Washakie Cnty. Sch. Dist. No. One, 102 P.3d 868 (Wyo. 2004); D.B. v. Clarke Cnty. Bd. of Educ., 469 S.E.2d 438 (Ga. Ct. App. 1996); Doe v. Superintendent of Sch. of Worcester, 653 N.E.2d 1088 (Mass. 1995); Walter v. Sch. Bd. of Indian River Cnty., 518 So. 2d 1331 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1987); In Re Jackson, 352 S.E.2d 449 (N.C. Ct. App. 1987). 29 No. 2009AP2845-W to be issued only "with great caution and forbearance, for the furtherance of justice and to secure order and regularity in judicial Court of (1949) proceedings." Milwaukee (quoting 42 State Cnty., Am. ex 254 Jur. rel. Wis. Kowaleski 363, Prohibition, 372, § 6) 36 v. District N.W.2d (overruled 419 on other grounds by State ex rel. Jackson v. Coffey, 18 Wis. 2d 529, 537, 118 N.W.2d 939 (1963). ¶77 In Dressler the court of appeals synthesized these various precedents into five factors to be satisfied in granting a petition for a supervisory writ.15 The court stated: The petition for a writ of supervision is not a substitute for an appeal. . . . The petition for a supervisory writ will not be issued unless: (1) an appeal is an utterly inadequate remedy; (2) the duty of the circuit court is plain; (3) its refusal to act within the line of such duty or its intent to act in violation of such duty is clear; (4) the results of the circuit court's action must not only be prejudicial but must involve extraordinary hardship; and, (5) the request for relief was made promptly and speedily. Dressler, 163 Wis. 2d at 630 (internal citations omitted). 15 This test has also been articulated as consisting of four factors, by combining the third and fourth (i.e., that the duty of the circuit court is plain and the court has acted or intends to act in violation of that duty). See State ex rel. Kalal v. Circuit Court for Dane Cnty., 2004 WI 58, ¶17, 271 Wis. 2d 633, 681 N.W.2d 110; Burnett v. Alt, 224 Wis. 2d 72, 96-97, 589 N.W.2d 21 (1999). Because the court of appeals referenced the five-factor test set forth in State ex rel. Dressler v. Circuit Court for Racine Cnty., 163 Wis. 2d 622, 472 N.W.2d 532 (Ct. App. 1991), and because there is no substantive difference between the two articulations of the test, we frame our analysis in terms of these five criteria. 30 No. ¶78 2009AP2845-W The circuit court maintains that the court of appeals erred by treating the District's appeal as a petition for a supervisory writ because a provided an adequate remedy. traditional appeal would have The circuit court argues that, because M.T. had already returned to school at the time of the court of appeals' decision, there was no need for an expedited proceeding. ¶79 In its initial order, however, the court of appeals' reasoning did not rest on any need for an expedited proceeding, but on the nature of the dispute between the District and the circuit court. 2010, order, As Judge Higginbotham observed in his Feb. 17, "[R]ather than claiming that the circuit court misapplied the law or erroneously exercised its discretion in ordering educational services under the facts and circumstances of this case," the District focused its challenge on the circuit court's authority to act as it did. ¶80 The District similarly defends the court of appeals' order by pointing out that any appeal focused on a specific order related to a specific similarly situated juvenile would likely be quickly dismissed as moot. In this instance, M.T. was already re-enrolled in high school by the time of the appeal. ¶81 We agree with the court of appeals' determination. If the District had sought review of the circuit court's order to provide educational services to M.T., an appeal would have been the proper avenue. In a challenge to the circuit court's authority, however, a writ of prohibition was more appropriate than an appeal for handling the dispute. 31 No. ¶82 2009AP2845-W Accordingly, we consider whether the five criteria for a writ of prohibition were met in the instant case. ¶83 The parties do not dispute that the District promptly sought relief. This is the fifth factor. As discussed above, we agree on the first factor, that an appeal would not have provided an adequate remedy. The other three factors are in dispute. ¶84 The first of the disputed circuit court's duty was plain. factors is whether the Dressler, 163 Wis. 2d at 630. The circuit court contends that its duty was not plain, because it was faced with a novel question of harmonization of several statutory provisions. law requiring As we discussed in the previous section, and as the District has consistently argued, the circuit court did not have the authority, express or implied, to order the District to amend its lawful expulsion of M.T. to provide alternative educational resources. court's duty was plain: to keep within the The circuit scope of its statutory authority. ¶85 Turning to the next factor, we consider whether the circuit court clearly intended to act in violation of its duty.16 Id. Because we have concluded that the circuit court's duty to 16 This language should not be taken to suggest that we view Judge Flanagan's actions as a conscious, intentional overstepping of his authority. Although we conclude that he was without authority to issue the order in this case, the record is replete with evidence that he took his responsibilities under the Juvenile Justice Code very seriously and with commendable consideration. 32 No. 2009AP2845-W keep within the bounds of its lawful authority was plain, its violation of that duty was clear when it ordered the District to provide educational resources to M.T., in direct contradiction to the District's expulsion order. The circuit court's reliance on Wis. Stat. § 938.45 was plain error. ¶86 Finally, for the writ of prohibition to have been proper, there must have been a showing that the circuit court's action would result in harm to the District. 589 N.W.2d 21 extraordinary hardship or irreparable Burnett v. Alt, 224 Wis. 2d 72, 96-97, (1999). In its order, the court of appeals observed that: While providing educational services in this single case might not present an extraordinary hardship, the possibility that the school district might be required in the future to provide similar educational services to an undetermined number of expelled students under the circuit court's interpretation of the relevant statutes satisfies that criterion. Madison Metro., No. 2009AP2845-W at 6. ¶87 The circuit court dismisses this argument as mere speculation about the possible costs of future similar orders. As we pointed out in State ex rel. Lynch v. County Court, Branch III, 82 Wis. 2d 454, 460, 262 N.W.2d 773 (1978), this criterion cannot be satisfied by mere assertions. It is possible, however, for the harm to be "inherent in the situation," as was the case in Lynch. ¶88 county In court Lynch, Id. at 468. we were requiring the presented district with an attorney order to by the allow the attorneys of seven criminal defendants to review the state's 33 No. files in search of exculpatory material. 2009AP2845-W Id. at 458. The district attorney, after repeatedly offering to allow the county court to conduct an in camera review of his files, petitioned the circuit court for a writ of prohibition. Id. Upon review, we concluded that the writ was proper, because there was no constitutional or statutory basis for the county judge's order, and the harm was inherent in the situation. ¶89 was no Id. at 468. In the instant case, we have already held that there basis in law for the circuit court's assertion authority over the District in these circumstances. of We hold, as in Lynch, that the potential extraordinary harm to the District is inherent in the specter of interference by the courts. The District would be faced not only with the costs of any continued educational services ordered by the circuit court but also the prospect that such costs would interfere with the District's performance of its duties in lawfully expelling students who endanger the health and safety of others. This hardship is inherent in the circuit court's actions. ¶90 In conclusion, we find that the court of appeals properly considered the five criteria set forth in Dressler, and properly exercised its discretion in finding that a supervisory writ of prohibition was warranted in this case. IV. CONCLUSION ¶91 In light of the foregoing, we hold that the circuit court erred when it sought to obtain authority over the District under Wis. Stat. § 938.45(1)(a). A school district is not a "person" statute, as contemplated in the 34 and is therefore No. incapable of contributing to the delinquency 2009AP2845-W of a minor. Additionally, a circuit court may not require a school district to provide expelled alternative student who educational is still resources residing in to a the lawfully community. Finally, because the circuit court exceeded its authority by ordering the District to provide educational resources to M.T., the writ of prohibition issued by the court of appeals was proper. By the Court. The decision appeals is affirmed. 35 and order of the court of No. ¶92 N. PATRICK CROOKS, J. 2009AP2845-W.npc (dissenting). This case presents the question of whether a circuit court has authority, when exercising its juvenile court jurisdiction1 in a delinquency proceeding pursuant to Wis. Stat. ch. 938 (2007-08), to order a school district to submit a plan to provide educational services to a student expelled by the district pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 120.13(1)(c).2 While the majority focuses on the school district's power to expel a juvenile,3 the scope of a circuit court's statutory authority when exercising its juvenile court jurisdiction, pursuant to Wis. Stat. ch. 938, is the proper focus to resolve this issue. ¶93 In legislature enacting explicitly the 1996 conveyed Juvenile its Justice intent to Code,4 give the circuit courts ample authority to issue dispositions to effectuate the Code's purposes, one of which is to "equip juvenile offenders 1 The term "court," as used in the Juvenile Justice Code, refers to the circuit court "assigned to exercise jurisdiction under [Wis. Stat. ch. 938]." Wis. Stat. § 938.02(2m). Similarly, when I refer to the circuit court in this dissent, I am referring to the circuit court exercising juvenile court jurisdiction pursuant to Wis. Stat. ch. 938. 2 All subsequent references to the Wisconsin Statutes are to the 2007-08 version unless otherwise indicated. 3 In this case, M.T. was the juvenile whom the circuit court adjudged delinquent. 4 Wis. Stat. ch. 938. The Juvenile Justice Code was enacted on November 17, 1995, and took effect on July 1, 1996, 1995 Wisconsin Act 77, and was amended thereafter. 1 No. 2009AP2845-W.npc with competencies to live responsibly and productively."5 includes the circuit court's authority to craft This appropriate dispositional orders from "a myriad of alternatives" to carry out a primary objective rehabilitation.6 The court to plan for services to a of Code the explicitly and organize juvenile Juvenile the adjudged Justice authorizes provision the of delinquent.7 Code: circuit educational The Juvenile Justice Code also puts emphasis on accountability and protection of the public.8 ¶94 the The 1996 majority diminishes Juvenile Justice Code the had significant on a effect circuit that court's authority when exercising its juvenile court jurisdiction. The majority errs in concluding that "the dispute here boils down to whether expulsion the legislature today does has not modified mean the the same as statutes it meant so in that the past . . ." in other words, that the Juvenile Justice Code of 1996 did not serve to Majority op., ¶39. expand the circuit court's authority. I take issue with the majority's failure to recognize that the 1996 Juvenile Justice Code effected a sea 5 Wis. Stat. § 938.01(2). See also Wis. Stat. § 938.355(1) ("The disposition shall employ those means necessary to promote the objectives under s. 938.01."). 6 State v. Hezzie R., N.W.2d 660 (1998). 7 See 938.355(1). 8 Wis. Stat. 219 §§ Wis. 2d 848, 938.33(1)(e), See Wis. Stat. § 938.01(2). 2 873, 875-76, 580 938.34(7d)(a)1.; No. change in circuit courts' authority when 2009AP2845-W.npc exercising their juvenile court jurisdiction. ¶95 The Juvenile Justice Study Committee (JJSC), given the task of making recommendations to improve the Children's Code, explained in a letter introducing its report to the governor and the legislature that the Juvenile Justice Code would revolutionize the way that circuit courts deal with juvenile crime: The accompanying recommendations will significantly change the way Wisconsin treats young lawbreakers. Personal accountability and community protection will join offender rehabilitation as the primary objectives of Wisconsin's juvenile justice system. Such a balanced approach is the most effective way to respond to juvenile crime.9 In its report, the JJSC explained that the Juvenile Justice Code would "[r]eorganize and expand disposition and sanction options for juvenile courts and caseworkers."10 that the "dispositions categories," including creation of be The JJSC recommended reorganized "treatment and into education," the dispositions: . . . [p]articipation the following and following in an "the new educational program that is designed to deter future delinquent behavior . . . [and] [p]articipation in a day treatment program if the juvenile has specialized educational needs."11 doubt that the 1996 Juvenile The JJSC's report leaves no Justice 9 Code has expanded Juvenile Justice Study Committee, Juvenile Wisconsin Blueprint for Change (Jan. 1995). 10 Id. at 16 (emphasis added). 11 Id. at 16-17. 3 the Justice: A No. circuit court's authority to develop a 2009AP2845-W.npc wide dispositions to tackle juvenile crime effectively. range of The majority errs in framing its analysis around a hollow reading of the Juvenile Justice Code. ¶96 circuit According to the school district and the majority, the court's exercise of its authority conflicts with a school district's power to expel a student if the circuit court orders the school district to provide educational services to such a juvenile.12 convinced that the Even if there is such a conflict, I am circuit court's authority prevails. The school district does have the power to expel a student, but that power does educational not relieve services, if it a of its circuit obligations court orders to provide the school district to do so for a juvenile it has adjudged delinquent.13 ¶97 In this case, the Dane County Circuit Court, the Honorable David T. Flanagan presiding, exercising its juvenile court jurisdiction, appropriately used its authority in ordering the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) to submit a plan to provide some reasonable educational services to the juvenile adjudged delinquent, M.T., in whatever manner MMSD determined was appropriate. The circuit court did not, in any manner, modify or set aside MMSD's decision to expel this juvenile. 12 Compare § 120.13(1)(c). Wis. Stat. ch. 13 938, with Wis. Stat. Wis. Stat. §§ 120.12(18), 938.33(1)(e), 938.34(7d)(a)1., 938.355(1). 4 No. ¶98 Unlike the majority, I do not 2009AP2845-W.npc believe we should diminish the circuit court's authority under the 1996 Juvenile Justice Code. clearly circuit I would adhere to the Wisconsin Legislature's expressed courts with appropriate and delinquent. intent in the effective enacting necessary dispositions that Code authority to provide fashion juveniles for to adjudged I would hold that a circuit court has authority, when exercising its juvenile court jurisdiction in a delinquency proceeding, provide to order educational a school services district to a to submit student a plan to by the harmonizing the expelled district. ¶99 I, therefore, respectfully dissent. I ¶100 This case is resolved properly by circuit court's authority to create a disposition for a juvenile adjudged delinquent, pursuant to Wis. Stat. ch. 938, with the school district's power to expel a juvenile pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 120.13(1)(c). court's authority Because it is the extent of the circuit when exercising its juvenile court jurisdiction that is being questioned in this case, my focus is on interpreting the scope of the circuit court's authority. ¶101 When interpreting a statute, this court strives to give effect to the legislature's intent, as expressed through the statutory language, purpose of the statute. for Dane Cnty., N.W.2d 110. 2004 WI including the scope, context, and State ex rel. Kalal v. Circuit Court 58, ¶¶44, 48, 271 Wis. 2d 633, 681 "[S]tatutory language is interpreted in the context 5 No. 2009AP2845-W.npc in which it is used; not in isolation but as part of a whole; in relation to statutes; the results." of reasonably, and language to avoid absurd This court also Id., ¶46. surrounding or closely-related or unreasonable strives "to give reasonable effect to every word, in order to avoid surplusage." Id. As the relevant provisions of Wis. Stat. ch. 938 deal with the same subject matter, this court must interpret these provisions in pari materia, "in a manner that harmonizes them in order to give each full force and effect." of Workforce (1999) Dev., (quoting 227 State Wis. 2d 271, v. Aaron D., McDonough v. Dep't 279-80, 214 595 N.W.2d 686 Wis. 2d 56, 66, 571 N.W.2d 399 (Ct. App. 1997)). ¶102 The language of the 1996 Juvenile expressly provides its intent and purposes. began by explaining that "'[t]he Juvenile Justice Code The legislature Justice Code', [] shall be liberally construed in accordance with the objectives expressed in this section." Wis. Stat. § 938.01(1). legislature explained the relevant objectives as follows: It is the intent of the legislature to promote a juvenile justice system capable of dealing with the problem of juvenile delinquency, a system which will protect the community, impose accountability for violations of law and equip juvenile offenders with competencies to live responsibly and productively. To effectuate this intent, the legislature declares the following to be equally important purposes of this chapter: . . . (c) To provide an individualized assessment of each alleged and adjudicated delinquent juvenile, in order to prevent further delinquent behavior through the development of competency in the juvenile offender, so 6 The No. 2009AP2845-W.npc that he or she is more capable of living productively and responsibly in the community. . . . (f) To respond to a juvenile offender's and treatment, consistent with the delinquency, each juvenile's best protection of the public, by allowing utilize the most effective dispositional needs for care prevention of interest and the court to option. Wis. Stat. § 938.01(2). ¶103 To effectuate these purposes, the legislature authorized circuit courts to draw upon the resources provided by other agencies dispositional and order, delinquent. For designate an agency14 adjudged to disposition. be entities after example, to to it the has circuit submit delinquent develop a Wis. Stat. § 938.33(1). appropriate adjudged a court required report before an the is about juvenile the court to juvenile imposes a This report includes, among other things, "[a] plan for the provision of educational services to the juvenile, prepared after consultation with the staff of the school in which the juvenile is enrolled or the last school in which the juvenile was enrolled." § 938.33(1)(e). Wis. Stat. As part of their duties, school districts are required to be involved in providing educational services to juveniles adjudged delinquent when ordered to do so by a circuit court exercising districts must its juvenile "[c]oordinate court and 14 jurisdiction. provide for School continuity of The agency that is directed to create this report is defined as "the department, a county department or a licensed child welfare agency." Wis. Stat. § 938.38(1)(a). In this case, for example, the report was created by the Dane County Department of Human Services (DCDHS). 7 No. educational programming for pupils 2009AP2845-W.npc receiving educational services as the result of a court order under s. 48.345 (12) or 938.34 (7d) . . . ." Wis. Stat. § 120.12(18). ¶104 The legislature has clearly given the circuit court the discretion disposition, services. and the including In tools ordering addition to to develop many appropriate provision the an of educational other options listed in the statute, the circuit court may "order the juvenile to attend any of the including following: a [] program A nonresidential for children at educational risk under program, s. 118.153, provided by the school district in which the juvenile resides." Wis. Stat. § 938.34(7d)(a)1. The legislature's directive that "[t]he disposition shall employ those means necessary to promote the objectives under s. 938.01" recognizes the breadth of the circuit court's authority to craft an appropriate dispositional order for each juvenile adjudged delinquent, in order to fulfill the purposes of the Juvenile Justice Code. Wis. Stat. § 938.355(1). ¶105 These provisions, when read together, provide express statutory authority to a circuit court to order a school district to create a plan to provide some reasonable educational services to a juvenile adjudged delinquent, consistent with the disposition appropriate. that The the circuit 1996 court Juvenile has Justice determined Code is expressly authorizes a circuit court to order the provision of educational services as one of the "myriad of alternatives" at the circuit court's disposal, and providing 8 educational services is No. consistent with the Code's rehabilitation of juveniles. 875-76. objectives, 2009AP2845-W.npc which include Hezzie R., 219 Wis. 2d at 873, The question is: does a school district's power to expel a student limit this authority? I am satisfied that it does not. ¶106 After one school district expels a student, another school district student.15 may not be required to enroll an expelled However, when a circuit court exercising its juvenile court jurisdiction adjudges that juvenile to be delinquent, Wis. Stat. ch. 120 envisions that a school district's obligations may change. Specifically, Wis. Stat. § 120.12(18) obligates the school district to "[c]oordinate and provide for continuity of educational programming for pupils receiving educational services as the result of a court order under s. 48.345 (12) or 938.34 (7d)." There is no exception from this provision for a juvenile who has been expelled. ¶107 Where this court is presented with a potential conflict between the judicial branch's statutory authority and the executive branch's attempt to enforce what it believes to be its statutory powers, this court will appropriately uphold the judicial branch's statutory authority separation of powers principles. applying constitutional See, e.g., Racine Cnty. v. Int'l Ass'n of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Dist. 10, 2008 WI 70, ¶17, 310 Wis. 2d 508, 751 N.W.2d 312. In Racine County, a union filed a grievance against Racine County and Kevin Van 15 See Wis. Stat. § 120.13(1)(f) ("No school board is required to enroll a pupil during the term of his or her expulsion from another school district."). 9 No. 2009AP2845-W.npc Kampen (Van Kampen), the Racine County Family Court Commissioner and the Director of time, after Van Family Kampen Court entered Counseling into Services service contracts retired employees to fill bargaining unit positions. 4-6. at the with Id., ¶¶2, The arbitrator assigned to resolve the grievance ruled in favor of violated the a arbitrator union, concluding that collective bargaining agreement. ordered Racine County to Van Kampen's Id., "cease and actions ¶7. The desist from continuing existing Service Agreements or [from] entering into new Agreements which positions . . . ." ¶108 This displace[d] . . . bargaining unit Id. court concluded that the arbitrator, giving deference to the executive branch's claimed statutory authority, exceeded her authority by invading and overriding Van Kampen's statutory authority as an agent of the judiciary. 17. Id., ¶¶2-3, We concluded that the executive branch's exercise of its claimed statutory judicial branch authority authority "cannot because separation of powers principles." satisfied that in this case, trump doing so Id., ¶17. the school such statutory, would violate Similarly, I am district's claimed statutory authority, as part of the executive branch, does not trump the circuit court's statutory authority when exercising its juvenile court jurisdiction. To rule otherwise would be violative of separation of powers principles here. ¶109 Therefore, I conclude that a circuit court, when exercising its juvenile court jurisdiction, has the statutory authority to order a school district to provide some type of 10 No. reasonable educational services to a 2009AP2845-W.npc juvenile adjudged delinquent, whether or not the school district has expelled that juvenile. II ¶110 I am also convinced that, in this case, the circuit court, exercising its juvenile court jurisdiction, acted within its statutory authority, and appropriately exercised its authority and discretion, by ordering MMSD to create a plan to provide some reasonable educational services to M.T. ¶111 It is clear from the record that throughout the proceedings, the circuit court was concerned about, and focused on, ensuring that M.T. continue with his education as part of the disposition that the circuit court imposed. This began with the information presented by the Dane County Department of Human Services (DCDHS) delinquency to the circuit assessment/report court (DCDHS's in DCDHS's report). juvenile The report noted M.T.'s past problems in school, and also his "desire to be on a basketball team and to get back on track in school." the disposition hearing, the circuit court stated that At its primary concern was getting M.T. some educational services on a regular basis, while he was under the circuit court's supervision. ¶112 The circuit court worked with DCDHS and MMSD in an attempt to locate some educational services for M.T., but was unsuccessful. required to The provide circuit M.T. court with noted that educational MMSD would services, if be the circuit court removed him from his home and placed him in the 11 No. 2009AP2845-W.npc Dane County Juvenile Shelter or in a detention facility such as the Dane County Juvenile Detention Center. However, the circuit court stated that removal from his home was "a drastic step," which it concluded was not appropriate in this case.16 conclusion is consistent with DCDHS's recommendation This in its report to the circuit court. ¶113 After considering all of the available options, the circuit court ordered MMSD to submit "a plan to provide forthwith educational services, not less than those provided in the Dane County Juvenile Detention Center, to [M.T.] at whatever location and in whatever manner the District deems to be safe and educationally appropriate." The circuit court did not review, modify or set aside MMSD's expulsion order, and noted that it "offer[ed] no criticism of the decision of MMSD to expel [M.T.] nor [did the circuit court] suggest that the District lacked a proper, lawful basis to do so." The circuit court ordered MMSD to develop its own plan, instead of ordering MMSD to provide the exact educational services that the circuit court deemed appropriate. This measured approach indicates that the 16 Using placement outside of the juvenile's home as a means to provide educational services, either before or after a finding of delinquency, is inappropriate for several reasons. In this case, the record does not show that the circuit court made any of the findings required in order to hold a juvenile in physical custody before such a finding of delinquency. See Wis. Stat. § 938.205. Additionally, placement in a juvenile detention facility would not have served to provide educational services to M.T. for the period of his expulsion because placement in a detention facility may not be for more than 30 total days after a juvenile is adjudged delinquent. Wis. Stat. § 938.34(3)(f). 12 No. 2009AP2845-W.npc circuit court took MMSD's decision to expel M.T. into account, and sought to provide MMSD with maximum flexibility to come up with a plan that would balance the need to provide educational services with other competing concerns such as safety and cost. The circuit court appropriately exercised its authority and discretion within its statutory authority by ordering MMSD to develop a plan to provide some reasonable educational services to M.T. III ¶114 In coming to a contrary result, the majority fails to properly harmonize Wis. Stat. ch. 120 with Wis. Stat. ch. 938. Instead, the majority spends five pages and fourteen paragraphs concluding persons, that not Wis. Stat. school § 938.45 districts. applies This is only totally to natural unnecessary because the circuit court explained in its reply brief to this court that it "no longer claims Wis. Stat. § 938.45 as a significant basis for its authority." Pet'rs Reply Br. at 7 (some words capitalized in original). The attorneys for the circuit court argue that the strongest authorities supporting the court's position are the relevant portions of Wis. Stat. § 120.12(18), § 938.34(7d)(a)1., § 938.01(1)-(2), and § 938.355(1) § 938.33(1)(e), discussed herein. I conclude that a proper application of these statutory sections provides the circuit court with clear authority. See supra ¶¶9- 18. ¶115 The majority spends much of its analysis on whether, under Wis. Stat. ch. 120, a school 13 district is required to No. provide educational services to an expelled 2009AP2845-W.npc student. I am satisfied that pursuant to Wis. Stat. ch. 120 a school district is not required to provide educational services to all expelled students, but there is nothing in that chapter, Wis. Stat. ch. 938, or in this court's precedent that abrogates a circuit court's authority under Wis. Stat. ch. 938 and Wis. Stat. ch. 120, to order a school district to provide such services to a particular juvenile adjudged delinquent. The majority treats the school district's power to expel students as an unqualified power that, once exercised, relieves it of any other obligations regarding that juvenile. Wisconsin Stat. § 120.13(1)(c) cannot be read so broadly, nor should the circuit court's authority under the 1996 Juvenile Justice Code be read so narrowly. ¶116 The majority also relies on an error in logic to reach its conclusion that a school district's power to expel is an unlimited power that allows it to refuse to provide educational services to otherwise. such a juvenile unless and until it decides For this bold proposition the majority quotes Wis. Stat. § 120.13, a previous version of this statute, and State ex rel. Dresser v. District Board of School District No. 1, 135 Wis. 619, 116 N.W. 232 (1908). was decided well before the The premise in Dresser, which effective date of the Juvenile Justice Code in 1996, was that a circuit court could not order a school district to school district abused students. reinstate Id. at 627-28. its suspended discretion students in unless suspending the those It had nothing to do with a circuit court's authority to require the provision of some reasonable 14 No. 2009AP2845-W.npc educational services, outside of school premises, to an expelled student who has been adjudged inapplicable this reverse or in modify case, delinquent. where MMSD's the Thus, circuit expulsion Dresser court order, but did is not rather appropriately exercised its authority and discretion to order MMSD to create a plan to educational services. provide M.T. with some reasonable The 1996 Juvenile Justice Code clearly provides circuit courts exercising juvenile court jurisdiction with extensive additional powers and authority which such courts did not have in 1908. IV ¶117 While I believe it is important to address the scope of the circuit court's authority when exercising its juvenile court jurisdiction, it was, I am satisfied, inappropriate for the court of appeals to issue a writ of prohibition here, a type of supervisory writ. See State ex rel. Dressler v. Circuit Court for Racine Cnty., 163 Wis. 2d 622, 630, 472 N.W.2d 532 (Ct. App. 1991). "A supervisory writ 'is considered an extraordinary and drastic remedy that is to be issued only upon some grievous exigency.'" Kalal, 271 Wis. 2d 633, ¶17 (quoting Dressler, 163 Wis. 2d at 630). To obtain a supervisory writ, a petitioner must establish that: (1) an appeal is an inadequate remedy; (2) grave hardship or irreparable harm will result; (3) the duty of the trial court is plain and it must have acted or intends to act in violation of that duty; and (4) the request for relief is made promptly and speedily. Id., ¶17 (quoting Burnett v. Alt, 224 Wis.2d 72, 96-97, 589 N.W.2d 21 (1999)). At least three of these requirements appear 15 No. not to be met in this case, since an appeal 2009AP2845-W.npc would seem to provide an adequate remedy to resolve this issue, grave hardship or irreparable harm would not result, and the circuit court's duty was definitely not plain nor was such duty being or about to be clearly violated. ¶118 In its decision to issue a writ of prohibition, the court of appeals stated simply that "the issues raised by this appeal can appeal." be more appropriately handled by writ than by Madison Metro. Sch. Dist. v. Circuit Court for Dane Cnty., No. 2009AP2845-W, unpublished order at 6 (Wis. Ct. App. June 30, 2010). If the circuit court's decision regarding M.T. was taken as an appeal but was moot by that time, the court of appeals still could have addressed this significant legal issue regarding the scope of the circuit court's authority. The issue is of great public importance, it would likely recur yet evade review, and its resolution is necessary to guide circuit courts. State v. Jeremiah C., 2003 WI App 40, ¶10, 260 Wis. 2d 359, 659 N.W.2d 193. ¶119 There has also not been a showing what grave hardship or irreparable decision. In harm its would result conclusion to from the the circuit contrary, the court's court of appeals stated that "[w]hile providing educational services in this single case might not present an extraordinary hardship, the possibility that the school district might be required in the future undetermined to provide number of similar educational expelled students services under the to an circuit court's interpretation of the relevant statutes satisfies that 16 No. criterion." 2009AP2845-W.npc Madison Metro. Sch. Dist., No. 2009AP2845-W, at 6 (emphasis added). The majority concludes that "the potential extraordinary harm to the District is inherent in the specter of interference by the courts." Majority op., ¶89. I conclude that neither the court of appeals' speculation regarding the impact of the circuit court's decision, nor the majority's speculation about court interference satisfies the requirement of a showing of "grave hardship or irreparable harm" a high hurdle. See Kalal, 271 Wis. 2d 633, ¶17 (quoting Burnett, 224 Wis.2d at 96-97). ¶120 Even certainly not more compelling: plain, and the the circuit circuit court's court did violate nor was it about to violate that duty. duty not was clearly The majority greatly oversimplifies the plain duty requirement in its summary conclusion that "[t]he circuit court's duty was plain: to keep within the scope of its statutory authority." ¶84. Majority op., Obviously the circuit court must act within its authority. I am satisfied based on the statutory provisions at issue that that is what the circuit court did here. authority for its position. We have The majority lacks rejected previously an expansive interpretation of the plain duty requirement similar to that advanced by the majority here, concluding that it "would transform the writ into appellate review process." an all-purpose alternative to the Kalal, 271 Wis. 2d 633, ¶24. V ¶121 This case presents the question of whether a circuit court has authority, when exercising 17 its juvenile court No. 2009AP2845-W.npc jurisdiction in a delinquency proceeding pursuant to Wis. Stat. ch. 938, to order a school district to submit a plan to provide educational pursuant to services Wis. to a Stat. student expelled the district While § 120.13(1)(c). by the majority focuses on the school district's power to expel a juvenile, the scope of a circuit court's statutory authority when exercising its juvenile court jurisdiction, pursuant to Wis. Stat. ch. 938, is the proper focus to resolve this issue. ¶122 In legislature enacting the explicitly 1996 conveyed Juvenile its Justice intent to Code, give the circuit courts ample authority to issue dispositions to effectuate the Code's purposes, one of which is to "equip juvenile offenders with competencies to live responsibly and productively."17 includes the circuit court's authority to craft This appropriate dispositional orders from "a myriad of alternatives" to carry out a primary objective rehabilitation.18 The of Code the explicitly court to plan for and organize services juvenile to a Juvenile adjudged the Justice authorizes provision delinquent.19 the of Code: circuit educational The Juvenile Justice Code also puts emphasis on accountability and protection of the public.20 17 Wis. Stat. § 938.01(2). See also Wis. Stat. § 938.355(1) ("The disposition shall employ those means necessary to promote the objectives under s. 938.01."). 18 19 Hezzie R., 219 Wis. 2d at 873, 875-76. See 938.355(1). 20 Wis. Stat. §§ 938.33(1)(e), See Wis. Stat. § 938.01(2). 18 938.34(7d)(a)1.; No. ¶123 The majority the 1996 Juvenile diminishes Justice Code the had 2009AP2845-W.npc significant on a effect circuit that court's authority when exercising its juvenile court jurisdiction. The majority errs in concluding that "the dispute here boils down to whether the expulsion legislature today does not has modified mean the the same as statutes it so meant that in the past . . ." in other words, that the Juvenile Justice Code of 1996 did not serve Majority op., ¶39. to expand the circuit court's authority. I take issue with the majority's failure to recognize that the 1996 Juvenile Justice Code effected a sea change in circuit courts' authority when exercising their juvenile court jurisdiction. ¶124 The Juvenile Justice Study Committee (JJSC), given the task of making recommendations to improve the Children's Code, explained in a letter introducing its report to the governor and the legislature that the Juvenile Justice Code would revolutionize the way that circuit courts deal with juvenile crime: The accompanying recommendations will significantly change the way Wisconsin treats young lawbreakers. Personal accountability and community protection will join offender rehabilitation as the primary objectives of Wisconsin's juvenile justice system. Such a balanced approach is the most effective way to respond to juvenile crime.21 In its report, the JJSC explained that the Juvenile Justice Code would "[r]eorganize and expand disposition and sanction options 21 Juvenile Justice Study Committee, Juvenile Wisconsin Blueprint for Change (Jan. 1995). 19 Justice: A No. for juvenile courts and caseworkers."22 that the "dispositions categories," including creation be of The JJSC recommended reorganized "treatment 2009AP2845-W.npc and into the education," the following and "the following dispositions: . . . [p]articipation in an new educational program that is designed to deter future delinquent behavior . . . [and] [p]articipation in a day treatment program if the juvenile has specialized educational needs."23 doubt that circuit the 1996 court's Juvenile authority The JJSC's report leaves no Justice to Code develop has a expanded wide dispositions to tackle juvenile crime effectively. the range of The majority errs in framing its analysis around a hollow reading of the Juvenile Justice Code. ¶125 According to the school district and the majority, the circuit court's exercise of its authority conflicts with a school district's power to expel a student if the circuit court orders the school district to provide educational services to such a juvenile.24 convinced that the Even if there is such a conflict, I am circuit court's authority prevails. The school district does have the power to expel a student, but that power does not relieve it of 22 obligations to provide Id. at 16 (emphasis added). 23 its Id. at 16-17. 24 Compare § 120.13(1)(c). Wis. Stat. ch. 20 938, with Wis. Stat. No. educational services, if a circuit court 2009AP2845-W.npc orders the school district to do so for a juvenile it has adjudged delinquent.25 ¶126 In this case, the Dane County Circuit Court, the Honorable David T. Flanagan presiding, exercising its juvenile court jurisdiction, appropriately used its authority in ordering the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) to submit a plan to provide some reasonable educational services to the juvenile adjudged delinquent, M.T., in whatever manner MMSD determined was appropriate. The circuit court did not, in any manner, modify or set aside MMSD's decision to expel this juvenile. ¶127 Unlike the majority, I do not believe we should diminish the circuit court's authority under the 1996 Juvenile Justice Code. clearly circuit I would adhere to the Wisconsin Legislature's expressed courts appropriate and delinquent. intent with in the effective enacting that necessary Code authority dispositions for to provide to fashion juveniles adjudged I would hold that a circuit court has authority, when exercising its juvenile court jurisdiction in a delinquency proceeding, provide to order educational a school services district to a to submit student a expelled plan to by the district. ¶128 For the reasons set forth herein, I respectfully dissent. ¶129 I am authorized to state that Chief Justice SHIRLEY S. ABRAHAMSON and Justice ANN WALSH BRADLEY join this dissent. 25 Wis. Stat. §§ 120.12(18), 938.33(1)(e), 938.34(7d)(a)1., 938.355(1). 21 No. 22 2009AP2845-W.npc No. 1 2009AP2845-W.npc
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