FAQ - Warrants

A WRIT is a written order issued by a Judge and commanding a person to perform or cease performing some specific act.  Warrants and commitments are specific types of writ.
A WARRANT is a type of writ, ordering you to appear before the Judge to discuss your case.
A COMMITMENT is a type of writ, ordering you to be arrested and incarcerated for failure to pay a judgment.  After arrest, you would be imprisoned in the House of Correction, unless you have charges pending in other courts, in which case you may be taken to jail while being held for Circuit Court proceedings.

A warrant may be issued for a variety of reasons.  In some situations, a warrant will be issued if you did not appear for your initial court date and you need to enter a plea to the charge against you.  In other situations, your case has become overdue and your failure to pay may result in jail time.  Before you may be jailed, the Judge will issue a warrant to order you to appear to discuss the judgment or your ability to pay.

Yes.
If a citation was filed with the Court and indicates that you were not personally served with it, the Judge will issue a REGULAR WARRANT to compel you to come to court and enter a plea to the charge.
If you were found guilty by default, because you did not appear for your scheduled court date, and your case becomes overdue, the Judge will issue a BENCH WARRANT to compel you to come to court and receive notice of the judgment against you.
If you are already aware of the judgment and the case becomes overdue and carries jail time for failure to pay it, the Judge will issue an ARREST WARRANT to compel you to come to court and discuss your ability to pay.
If you received a notice of a warrant and are unsure of the kind of warrant, you can call the Court at (414) 286-3800 to get additional information.

You may appear in court during walk-in hours and ask to see the Judge on your outstanding warrants.  Walk-in hours are shown on the right-hand side of this page.

You may visit the Court’s Case Information & Online Payment System website or call the Court at (414) 286-3800.

A REGULAR WARRANT can be lifted by either making a payment on the case (which will result in a default judgment being entered against you) or appearing in court to enter a plea.
A BENCH or ARREST WARRANT can be lifted by making full payment on the case or by appearing in front of a Judge to make payment arrangements.  Only a Judge can lift these warrants.

You will not be arrested for coming to court to speak to a Judge, make a payment or simply get information about your case.
Otherwise, if you are stopped by law enforcement, you will be formally served and required to agree to a future court date to appear in front of a Judge on your case.  In some situations, law enforcement may also have other reasons to detain and arrest you.

You can check your case status on the Court’s Case Information & Online Payment System website.  Please note that payments made to the Court’s collection agency or on its website may not be processed until the following business day.