January 31, 2014 at 1:20 p.m.
Outside judge assigned to hear England civil suit
Outside judge assigned to hear England civil suit
Earlier this month, the family of a deceased person whose remains England allegedly removed without permission sued her and the county in Oneida County Circuit Court. The suit alleges a variety of federal and state claims, and seeks an unspecified amount of money.
Oneida County circuit judges Michael Bloom and Patrick O'Melia asked to be disqualified from the case, according to court filings. Bloom sought disqualification because he was the district attorney who initially prosecuted England in criminal charges against her. O'Melia cited a working relationship with a former Oneida County employee; he did not specifically name England in a disqualification application.
Bloom and O'Melia referenced a state statute that requires judges to disqualify themselves if they determine that they cannot, "or it appears" that they cannot, act in an impartial manner.
Vilas County Circuit Judge Neal Nielsen III, chief judge of the ninth judicial district, has assigned the civil suit to Forest County Circuit Judge Leon Stenz.
Stenz is also presiding over the criminal case against England.
England was charged in January 2012 for using human tissue and part of a deceased person's spine to train her dog to search for cadavers. She resigned after being placed on administrative leave. In October 2012, prosecutors filed additional charges against England alleging she used human remains and tissue without permission to train dogs at a law enforcement exercise in Madison.
She has pleaded guilty to two felony counts of misconduct in public office as part of a plea deal and is set to be sentenced Feb. 10.
Jonathan Anderson may be reached at [email protected].
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