STUELAND V. CULLEN

Case Name: Stueland v. Cullen

Type of Case: Limited Government Project

Court: Waukesha County Circuit Court

Case Number: 2025CV001940

Filed On: October 8, 2025

Current Status: A hearing has been set for September 1.

WILL filed a lawsuit against Milwaukee County challenging an unconstitutional carve-out that allows the county to withhold millions from Wisconsin’s Common School Fund. That fund, mandated by the Wisconsin Constitution, supports libraries in schools and communities across the state.

Meet the Client

The lawsuit raises two primary claims. First, the plaintiff is harmed directly as a library user, because her library will have fewer resources available from the Common School Fund. Second, she is harmed as a taxpayer, because the Legislature overstepped its constitutional authority by granting a unique carve-out to a single county.

Background

Under a provision in the current state budget, Milwaukee County may retain all traffic fines and forfeitures, while other counties must deposit most of that money into the Common School Fund. Milwaukee County is the only county that benefits from this carve-out. The Wisconsin Constitution requires the clear proceeds of all state fines and forfeitures to be deposited in the fund. Historically all counties could keep half. The Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimates the change will cost the fund several million dollars over the current two-year budget.

Lawyers

Lucas Vebber, Deputy Counsel; Lauren Greuel, Associate Counsel

CASE DOCUMENTS

• Complaint, October 2025