Tusler Panel Examines DA Staffing and Case Delays
A Wisconsin legislative study committee is reviewing district attorney funding as cases take longer to move through courts.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Criminal Justice
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Rep. Ron Tusler chairs the District Attorney Funding Study Committee, which has gathered testimony from district attorneys and assistant district attorneys across Wisconsin. The work comes as cases have taken longer to move through the courts over the past five years.
Why it matters
Counties have struggled to retain staff, offer competitive pay, and use digital evidence, factors that can slow prosecutions. Statewide funding decisions made in response could shape how quickly cases move through Wisconsin courts.
Manitowoc County's District Attorney's Office received state funding in the 2025-2027 state budget to add two assistant DAs, while the committee has not yet reported statewide delay figures or final recommendations.
The players
Ron Tusler
Wisconsin state representative who chairs the District Attorney Funding Study Committee and introduced legislation on divorce hearings, specialized courts and bar exam switching.
The details
Tusler chairs the committee, which has heard from prosecutors across the state about staffing shortages, pay competitiveness and digital evidence handling. Tusler has also introduced separate legislation to make final hearings in divorce cases optional by affidavit, create specialized treatment and commercial courts, and switch to a Uniform Bar exam.
Timeline
The past five years: cases have taken longer to move through courts.
2025-2027 state budget: funding allocated for two more Manitowoc County assistant DAs.
November 9, 2026: article published on Tusler's committee work.
Legal Context
The committee's review responds to a documented lengthening of Wisconsin court case processing over the past five years. The panel is examining whether prosecutor staffing and pay are contributing factors in that trend.
Residents in counties with understaffed district attorney offices may see slower case resolution as the committee's recommendations take shape. Any statewide funding changes would affect how quickly prosecutions move through local courts.
The takeaway
Staffing, pay and technology in prosecutors' offices are central to how quickly Wisconsin cases move through the courts. Readers can track the committee's recommendations as they are released.
Further reading
For more on the court system, see Criminal Justice coverage across Wisconsin.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Seehafer News.
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