Judiciary & Legislation Committee meeting summary
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The committee met May 26, 2026 with four members present and recommended adoption, confirmation, holding, or filing on multiple items. Key actions included recommending adoption of a substitute resolution relating to the arrest and detention of Elvira Benitez; confirming Madeline Miranda-Navarro to the Equal Rights Commission; amending and recommending adoption of in-person absentee voting locations (adding Villard Square Library); recommending settlement or payment for several claims; and authorizing the City Attorney to hire outside counsel for election-related needs. Several claim-related items were recommended for disallowance and indefinite postponement or held to the call of the chair.
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What this means
The committee approved actions that affect where residents can vote early in person (it added Villard Square Library to the absentee voting locations for the August primary and November general election). It confirmed a mayoral appointee to the Equal Rights Commission and recommended settlements or payments on several legal claims, which means the city will resolve those lawsuits or claims. The committee also authorized the City Attorney to hire outside lawyers for election matters. Several other claims and updates were deferred or placed on file.
Key decisions
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- Recommended for adoption: substitute resolution relating to the arrest and detention of Elvira Benitez.
- Recommended for confirmation: appointment of Madeline Miranda-Navarro to the Equal Rights Commission.
- Recommended disallowance and indefinite postponement for multiple claims including Julius Adway, Mary Johnson, Jackie Williams (appeal), Julian Woodruff, Steven Brandenburg, and Unique Long.
- Held to call of the chair: claim of Barbara Robinson and complaint Tiffany Lewis v. City of Milwaukee.
- Recommended for placing on file: Election Commission communication about using operating funds from the cancelled February 2026 primary.
- Amended and recommended for adoption: locations for in-person absentee voting for the August 2026 primary and November 2026 general election (Villard Square Library added).
- Recommended for adoption: settlement in Niki Robinson, et al. v. City of Milwaukee, et al.
- Recommended for adoption: payment of the claim of John Ambeau, Jr. and payment of the claim of the Estate of Hayley Linville.
- Recommended for adoption: resolution authorizing the City Attorney to hire outside counsel for election-related needs.
- Recommended for placing on file: ordinance and resolution relating to tax foreclosure acquisition and disposition of certain properties.
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Meeting information
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JUDICIARY & LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
Agenda
- This meeting will be webcast live at www.milwaukee.gov/channel25.
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- In the event that Common Council members who are not members of this committee attend this meeting, this meeting may also simultaneously constitute a meeting of the Common Council or any of the following committees: Community and Economic Development, Finance and Personnel, Judiciary and Legislation, Licenses, Public Safety and Health, Public Works, Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development, and/or Steering and Rules. Whether a simultaneous meeting is occurring depends on whether the presence of one or more of the Common Council member results in a quorum of the Common Council or any of the above committees, and, if there is a quorum of another committee, whether any agenda items listed above involve matters within that committee’s realm of authority. In the event that a simultaneous meeting is occurring, no action other than information gathering will be taken at the simultaneous meeting. Times for specific agenda items are estimations. If items cannot be heard at their specified times, they will be heard as soon as practicable thereafter.
- Upon reasonable notice, efforts will be made to accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities through sign language interpreters or auxiliary aids. For assistance contact the Legislative Services ADA Coordinator at 286-2998, (FAX)286-3456, (TDD)286-2025 or by writing to Room 205, City Hall, 200 E. Wells Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202.
- City Hall and the Zeidler Municipal Building are accessible by "The Hop" City Hall Stations, the MCTS Green Line, Connect 1, 14, 15, 18, 19, 30, 33, and 57 bus routes. Visit https://www.ridemcts.com/ for more information. Bike racks are available on Water Street, Market Street, and Broadway, and a Bublr Bike Share station is located on the northeast corner of Kilbourn Avenue and Water Street. Limited parking for persons attending meetings during normal business hours is available at reduced rates (5 hour limit) at the Associated Bank River Center on the southwest corner of Kilbourn Avenue and Water Street. You must present a copy of the meeting notice to the parking cashier.
- Persons engaged in lobbying as defined in s. 305-43-4 of the Milwaukee Code are required to register with the City Clerk's License Division. Lobbyists appearing before a Common Council committee are required to identify themselves as such. More information is available at http://city.milwaukee.gov/Lobbying.
- Resolution relating to the claim of Julius Adway.
- Resolution relating to the claim of Julian Woodruff.
- Resolution relating to the claim of Steven Brandenburg.
- Resolution relating to the claim of Barbara Robinson.
- Resolution relating to the claim of Mary Johnson.
- Resolution relating to the claim of Unique Long.
- Appointment of Madeline Miranda-Navarro to the Equal Rights Commission by the Mayor. (5th Aldermanic District)
- Resolution relating to the appeal of Jackie Williams for property damage.
- A resolution relating to the tax foreclosure acquisition and disposition of certain properties.
- An ordinance relating to the acquisition of certain properties in tax foreclosure.
- --- Following Items May be placed on file as no longer necessary.
- The Judiciary and Legislation Committee may convene into closed session on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Room 301-B, City Hall, 200 E. Wells St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, pursuant to s. 19.85(1)(g), Wis. Stats., for the purpose of conferring with the City Attorney who will render oral or written advice with respect to litigation in which the city is or is likely to become involved, and then may go into open session for the regular agenda.
- Resolution amending the City of Milwaukee’s State Legislative Package to express support for legislation relating to homeowners associations.
- Communication from the Intergovernmental Relations Division and Legislative Affairs Division relating to Legislative updates.
- Substitute resolution relating to locations for in-person absentee voting in the City of Milwaukee for the 2026 August partisan primary and November general election.
- Communication from the Election Commission relating to its plans for using operating funds made available by the cancellation of the February 2026 primary election.
- Substitute resolution relating to the arrest and detention of Elvira Benitez.
- Resolution approving the settlement of the complaint entitled Tiffany Lewis v. City of Milwaukee.
- Resolution authorizing payment of the claim of the Estate of Hayley Linville.
- Resolution authorizing payment of the claim of John Ambeau, Jr.,
- Resolution authorizing settlement of claims in the lawsuit entitled Niki Robinson, et al. v. City of Milwaukee, et al.
- Substitute resolution authorizing the City Attorney to hire outside counsel for election-related needs.
- Meeting Convened at 9:11 AM
- Substitute resolution relating to locations for in-person absentee voting in the City of Milwaukee for the 2026 August partisan primary and November general election.
- Meeting adjourned at 11:40 AM Joanna Urtiz Staff Assistant
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