Wisconsin Statutes

Wis. Stat. § 23.65 (2026)

Issuance of complaint and summons

✓ current as of July 2026

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23.6523.65 Issuance of complaint and summons.

23.65(1)(1) When it appears to the district attorney that a violation of s. 90.21, 134.60, 281.36, 281.48 (2) to (5), 283.33, 285.57 (2), 285.59 (2), (3) (c) and (4), 287.07, 287.08, 287.81 or 299.64 (2), this chapter or ch. 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 169, or 350, or any administrative rule promulgated pursuant thereto, a violation specified under s. 285.86, or a violation of ch. 951, if the animal involved is a captive wild animal, has been committed the district attorney may proceed by complaint and summons.

23.65(2)(2) The complaint shall be prepared in the form specified in s. 23.55. After a complaint is prepared, it shall be filed with the judge and a summons shall be issued or the complaint shall be dismissed pursuant to s. 968.03. Such filing commences the action.

23.65(3)(3) If a district attorney refuses or is unavailable to issue a complaint, a circuit judge, after conducting a hearing, may permit the filing of a complaint if he or she finds there is probable cause to believe that the person charged has committed a violation of s. 281.36, 287.07, 287.08 or 287.81, this chapter or ch. 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 or 350 or a violation specified under s. 285.86. The district attorney shall be informed of the hearing and may attend.

23.65 HistoryHistory: 1975 c. 365; 1979 c. 175; 1981 c. 390; 1989 a. 284, 335, 359; 1991 a. 97; 1993 a. 16, 243, 344, 491; 1995 a. 227, 290; 1997 a. 35; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 56; 2013 a. 69.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 2 cases, 2004–2012 · leading case: State Ex Rel. Kalal v. Circuit Court for Dane Cnty., 2004 WI 58 (Wis. 2004).

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State Ex Rel. Kalal v. Circuit Court for Dane Cnty., 2004 WI 58 (Wis. 2004). · cites it 4× “Some are structured in the same way as the statute at issue here: see Wis. Stat. § 23.65 (circuit judge may file complaint alleging violation of conservation laws if district attorney refuses or is unavailable to do so) and Wis.”

State v. Ryan, 2012 WI 16 (Wis. 2012). · cites it 2× “62 ; Wis. Stat. § 23.65 . ¶ 56. If the action is commenced by citation, the citation must contain the requirements set forth in Wis.”

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