Judges, DA, sheriff and advocates say Milwaukee courthouse is unsafe, urge replacement

Multiple speakers described daily operational and safety problems inside Milwaukee County’s Public Safety Building and urged supervisors to authorize funds to replace it. Chief Judge Carl Ashley and former Chief Judge Jeff Kremers highlighted shared public corridors used for in‑custody transports, jury conditions that forced closures, and widespread deferred maintenance that has left offices extremely hot or cold. "We have to knock down the safety building," the chief judge told the committee.

The district attorney’s office, sheriff’s department and law enforcement organizations also testified in favor. Jeff Altenberg, chief deputy district attorney, said the office supports the plan’s inclusion of problem‑solving courts and added that staff daily work in untenable conditions. Sheriff Danita Ball described in‑custody transports that move through public areas and warned such conditions contribute to trial delays and potential mistrials. Advocates for survivors, including Hector Hernandez of Sojourner Family Peace Center and Stacy Rosenzweig of the Milwaukee Bar Association, urged design features to protect victims’ privacy and safety and called the courthouse condition an ethical and access‑to‑justice issue.