Courtrooms in Door and Kewaunee County, as part of the Eighth Judicial District, will be facing potential backlogs this spring.   Due to measures to control the outbreak of the COVID-19, the director of State courts issued a directive earlier this week that circuit courts must reduce court hearings to only critical and essential functions.  Those hearings include custody defendants, bond and bail, preliminary, and reviews of sentencing after revocation, as well as the termination of parental rights.  Cases dealing with Family law, mental commitments, and guardianship, along with criminal jury trials with speedy demands, also are considered essential. 
Circuit court judges Todd Ehlers and David Weber in Door County and Judge Keith Mehn in Kewaunee County, can also make changes to the guidelines as necessary.  The policies take effect until at least April 17.