Judges Report Concerns About D.A. Office Accusations

Two Winnebago County judges have notified state investigators about their concerns over the allegations in the district attorney's office. Judge Robert Haase and Judge Barbara Hart Key have sent their concerns to the Office of Lawyer Regulation in Madison.

Judge Haase told reporters he is now paying far closer attention to cases from the D.A.'s office. He said it's a question of credibility and the D.A's office's ability to serve the county.

Judge Haase has served Winnebago County for more than 20 years. He says the relationship between a judge and district attorney is a matter of professional trust.

With a caseload of 30 to 60 every day, he has to take the D.A. at his word. "We rely on statements made to us by the prosecuting attorney," the judge said. "Someone's a district attorney, you trust what they tell you until it's been proven wrong."

But with recent allegations that attorneys in the D.A.'s office may be involved in possible bribes, his trust has begun to change.

"I have doubts about some information that I'm getting from people in the district attorney's office."

It was in evidence Tuesday in the case of the State v. Carlos Hernandez. Assistant D.A. Milt Schierland was involved in a routine plea negotiation.

"And I said, 'I am not going to accept this. I want to hear from the officer involved because I have reasons to suspect the credibility of Mr. Schierland," the judge told us.

Joe Hildebrand worked in the Winnebago County District Attorney's office years ago. He is now in private practice. "We were aware of stuff going on like this for a long time," he said.

Hildebrand said Paulus's preferential treatment of some defense attorneys is well-known. "It's common knowledge among the practicing members of the defense bar in Winnebago County that certain attorneys have access to Mr. Paulus."

District Attorney Joe Paulus has denied allegations against him. He was out of his office Wednesday and unavailable for comment.