Juveniles can receive the same municipal violations as an adult, such as parking tickets, drug offenses, or shoplifting. They can also appear in court because of patterns of truancy at school, underage drinking, curfew violations, or conflicts with a peer. Parking citations and moving violations are scheduled as an adult Initial Appearance.

Starting in 2025, juvenile court will be held twice a month on Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m. If your school releases after 3:00 p.m., please contact the court to make arrangements for a later appearance. The Court can provide a school excuse if needed. 

Before You Arrive

• Verify your court date and time. Consider how you would like to plea (not guilty, guilty, or no contest). 
• We can provide a work excuse if you have to miss work.

Plea Options: No Contest, Guilty, Not Guilty

• No contest means that you are not going to fight the citation and will permit the Court to enter a finding of guilty. This finding cannot be used against you in a civil case.
• Guilty means that you admit guilt that you committed the citation. The court will review facts of your case, find you guilty, and give an appropriate consequence. This might be fines, community service hours, or points off of your driver's license. However, driver's license points are set by state law and not the judge.
• A not guilty plea means that you will be contesting the forfeiture. The matter will be set for a pre-trial conference with the City Attorney and then scheduled for trial. 

Checking in When Your Arrive

• Municipal Court is located in Wauwatosa City Hall (7725 W North Avenue). There is free parking behind the building. The court is located on the second floor in the Common Council room. 
• Sign in on the sheet and wait for your name to be called. 
• The court will call people in the order in which they sign in.

Initial Appearance with the Judge

• Juveniles meet 1:1 with the Judge in a Committee Room, so that the conversation is not in front of an audience. 
• You'll be asked to enter a plea. If you plead “guilty” or “no contest,” the Judge will want to speak with you about your citation. If you plead "not guilty," the case will be set for a trial or pre-trial conference.

Your Rights

You can:

• ask procedural questions before your plea
• ask that your case be set for another date
• consult your own attorney at your own expense
• have a right to a trial before the Judge if you cannot reach an agreement with the City Attorney
• appeal to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court (for citations that go to trial)
• have a right to privacy. Juvenile cases are heard separately and are subject to different rules for disclosure.

Community Service

• Community service can be completed at any non-profit, church, or community organization. Helping a friend or family member does not count.
• You'll be given a deadline to complete the service and provide proof to the court.
• If you fail to provide proof to the court of completion of the community service, you will have to pay the original citation amount.
• If a significant issue arises (ex: you break your leg) and cannot complete your community service in the time allotted by the court, you need to contact the Court to explain the situation and request more time. You can contact the Court by calling (414) 471-8488, emailing tcourt@wauwatosa.net, or sending a letter.