Wisconsin Statutes
Wis. Stat. § 753.03 (2026)
Jurisdiction of circuit courts
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753.03753.03 Jurisdiction of circuit courts. The circuit courts have the general jurisdiction prescribed for them by article VII of the constitution and have power to issue all writs, process and commissions provided in article VII of the constitution or by the statutes, or which may be necessary to the due execution of the powers vested in them. The circuit courts have power to hear and determine, within their respective circuits, all civil and criminal actions and proceedings unless exclusive jurisdiction is given to some other court; and they have all the powers, according to the usages of courts of law and equity, necessary to the full and complete jurisdiction of the causes and parties and the full and complete administration of justice, and to carry into effect their judgments, orders and other determinations, subject to review by the court of appeals or the supreme court as provided by law. The courts and the judges thereof have power to award all such writs, process and commissions, throughout the state, returnable in the proper county.
753.03 AnnotationThe circuit courts are constitutional courts with plenary jurisdiction. They do not depend solely upon statute for their powers. However, in certain cases with vast social ramifications not addressed by statute, prudence requires the courts to refuse to exercise their jurisdiction. As such, circuit courts are prohibited from exercising jurisdiction regarding sterilization of incompetents. Eberhardy v. Circuit Court, 102 Wis. 2d 539, 307 N.W.2d 881 (1981).
753.03 AnnotationBecause courts have exclusive criminal jurisdiction, criminal charges against a defendant were not collaterally estopped even though a parole revocation hearing examiner concluded that the defendant’s acts did not merit parole revocation. State v. Spanbauer, 108 Wis. 2d 548, 322 N.W.2d 511 (Ct. App. 1982).
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 30
cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1980–2025 · leading case: City of Eau Claire v. Melissa M. Booth, 2016 WI 65 (Wis. 2016).
City of Eau Claire v. Melissa M. Booth, 2016 WI 65 (Wis. 2016). “8 of the Wisconsin Constitution and sec. 753.03, Stats., vests within the circuit court the power to hear and determine all civil and criminal actions and proceedings unless exclusive jurisdiction is given to some other court.”
State v. Christopher John Kerr, 913 N.W.2d 787 (Wis. 2018). “2016AP2455-CR warrant because it has general jurisdiction under Article VII, Section 8 of the Wisconsin Constitution and Wis. Stat. § 753.03 to impose and collect municipal forfeitures under Wis.”
Eberhardy v. Circuit Court for Wood Cnty., 307 N.W.2d 881 (Wis. 1981). “The general jurisdictional statute referring to circuit courts, sec. 753.03, Stats., recognizes the allocative powers of the legislature to distribute constitutionally granted jurisdiction to various courts of the state, but acknowledges, "The circuit courts have the general…”
State v. Annala, 484 N.W.2d 138 (Wis. 1992). “Chapter 48 of the Wisconsin Statutes, "The Children's Code," was enacted to specifically address the unique needs of children in areas such as custody, parental rights, adoption, foster homes, day care, and delinquency.”
State v. Webster, 538 N.W.2d 810 (Wis. Ct. App. 1995). “2d 302, 303 (Ct. App. 1994) (citation omitted).”
State v. Schroeder, 593 N.W.2d 76 (Wis. Ct. App. 1999). “, 1975, is substantially the same as § 753.03, Stats., 1997-98, except that the former did not refer to the "court of appeals.”
State v. West, 571 N.W.2d 196 (Wis. Ct. App. 1997). “A circuit court's jurisdiction over criminal matters is derived from Article VII, Section 8 of the Wisconsin Constitution 8 and *482 § 753.03, Stats. 9 See id. A circuit court lacks criminal subject matter jurisdiction only where the complaint does not charge an offense known to…”
State v. Kasian, 558 N.W.2d 687 (Wis. Ct. App. 1996). “VII, § 8; § 753.03, Stats. Kasian claims that he is not seeking to bar the State from prosecuting him, but only from relitigating the issue of probable cause.”
State v. LeQue, 442 N.W.2d 494 (Wis. Ct. App. 1989). “8; sec. 753.03, Stats.; see also In *262 re Carlson, 147 Wis.”
State v. Pharm, 2000 WI App 167 (Wis. Ct. App. 2000). “" However, there is nothing in chapter 980 to support Pharm's argument that the circuit court lacks subject matter jurisdiction on a chapter 980 petition unless the petition is filed under a civil case number and reviewed in the civil branch of the court.”
Schmid v. Bank of Am., N.A. (In re Schmid), 494 B.R. 737 (Bankr. W.D. Wis. 2013). “” Wis. Stat. § 753.03 (2012). . Wis. Stat. § 403.”
State v. Harp, 469 N.W.2d 210 (Wis. Ct. App. 1991). “Section 753.03, Stats., for example, grants them "all the powers, according to the usages of courts of law and equity, necessary to the full and complete jurisdiction of the causes and parties and the full and complete administration of justice.”
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