345.43 Jury trial.
(1) If a case has been transferred under s. 800.035 (5) (c), or if in circuit court either party files a written demand for a jury trial within 10 days after the defendant enters a plea of not guilty under s. 345.34 and immediately pays the fee prescribed in s. 814.61 (4), the court shall place the case on the jury calendar of the circuit court. The number of jurors shall be 6. If no party demands a trial by jury, the right to trial by jury is permanently waived.
(3)
(a) In counties having a population of 750,000 or more, the jury shall be selected from the circuit court prospective juror list as set forth under chs. 801 to 847. In all other counties, juries shall be selected as provided in par. (b), except that the clerk shall randomly select the names of sufficient persons qualified to serve as jurors as will provide to each party entitled to peremptory challenges 5 peremptory challenges.
(b) If a timely demand for a jury is made, the judge shall direct the clerk of the court to select at random from the prospective juror list the names of a sufficient number of prospective jurors, from which list either party may strike 5 names. If either party neglects to strike out names, the clerk shall strike out names for the party. The judge shall permit voir dire examinations and challenges for cause. The clerk shall summon a sufficient number of persons whose names are not struck out, to appear at the time and place named in the summons.
(5) In a jury trial of a traffic regulation case, the court is not required to provide the jury with one complete set of written instructions under s. 805.13 (4).
History: 1971 c. 278; 1973 c. 218; Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 773 (1975); 1975 c. 231, 291; 1977 c. 187 s. 135; 1977 c. 305, 318, 447, 449; 1979 c. 32 s. 92 (17); 1979 c. 89, 128; 1981 c. 317; 1985 a. 170; 1987 a. 389; 1991 a. 271, 315; 1995 a. 427; Sup. Ct. Order No. 96-08, 207 Wis. 2d xv (1997); 2009 a. 402; 2017 a. 207 s. 5.
The requirement that the defendant prepay jury fees in civil traffic forfeiture actions is constitutional. State v. Graf, 72 Wis. 2d 179, 240 N.W.2d 387 (1976).
The 10-day period for a jury demand did not begin at the initial appearance when the accused requested a continuance rather than entering plea under s. 345.34 (1). City of Madison v. Donohoo, 118 Wis. 2d 646, 348 N.W.2d 170 (1984).
The provision under this section for a 6, rather than 12, person jury for a speeding violation does not violate Art. I, s. 5, which provides that the right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate. Dane County v. McGrew, 2005 WI 130, 285 Wis. 2d 519, 699 N.W.2d 890, 03-1794.