(1) In each county the circuit judges shall appoint such number of supplemental court commissioners as the proper transaction of business requires, except that in counties having a population of 200,000 or more each judge may appoint not more than 2 supplemental court commissioners and in counties having a population of less than 200,000 each judge shall, as nearly as possible, appoint an equal number of supplemental court commissioners within the county. In all counties the appointments shall be subject to the approval of a majority of the circuit judges for the county. Appointments shall be in writing and shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the circuit court. All supplemental court commissioners appointed after May 16, 1978, shall be attorneys licensed to practice in this state. The appointing judge may remove, at will and without cause, any supplemental court commissioner appointed by the judge or the judge’s predecessor in office. Unless he or she is so removed, the term of each supplemental court commissioner shall continue until the expiration of the term of the appointing judge and until the successor of the commissioner is appointed and qualified. Each supplemental court commissioner shall take and file the official oath in the office of clerk of the circuit court of the county for which appointed before performing any duty of the office. (2) Supplemental court commissioners may, under their own authority: (a) Officiate at marriage ceremonies throughout the state. (b) Issue subpoenas and attachments or other process to compel the attendance of witnesses, administer oaths and affidavits, take depositions and testimony when authorized by law or rule or order, and certify and report the depositions and testimony. (c) Issue the following writs returnable before a judge at a time set by the judge or the judge’s clerk: habeas corpus; certiorari; ne exeat and alternative writs of mandamus. (d) Supervise accountings subsequent to a sale of land under ch. 75. (e) Issue subpoenas returnable before a judge on behalf of the Wisconsin department of justice for antitrust violations under s. 133.11 (1) or violations of ss. 563.02 to 563.80 under s. 563.71 (1). (f) Investigate and dispose of unclaimed property under ss. 171.04 to 171.06. (g) Except as provided in s. 757.69 (1) (p) 3., conduct a paternity proceeding according to the procedures set out in ch. 767 whenever a circuit court commissioner is specifically authorized to do so. (h) Conduct supplementary hearings on the present financial status of a debtor and exercise the powers of the court under ss. 816.04, 816.08 and 816.11. (i) Take and certify acknowledgments. (3) In addition to the duties expressly set forth in sub. (2) (a) to (i), a supplemental court commissioner may perform other ministerial duties as required by a court. (4) A supplemental court commissioner may transfer to a court any matter in which it appears that justice would be better served by such a transfer. (5) A supplemental court commissioner shall refer to a court of record for appropriate action every alleged showing of contempt in the carrying out of the lawful decisions of the supplemental court commissioner. (6) Supplemental court commissioners appointed under sub. (1) shall collect the fees prescribed in s. 814.68 (1).
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