Tuesday, July 8, 2025
spot_imgspot_img
Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Milwaukee Press Club 'Excellence in Wisconsin Journalism' 2020 & 2021 Award Winners

More than 50% of Cases Handled by Michael Thurston in Milwaukee Were Never Prosecuted

spot_img

More than 50% of the cases reviewed by Waukesha County DA candidate Michael Thurston when he was a prosecutor in Milwaukee County ended up not being prosecuted by the office, according to numbers obtained by Wisconsin Right Now via an open records request.

These are the numbers provided by the Milwaukee County DA’s office:

“From the period of January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2015. PROTECT data reveals that Michael Thurston reviewed 778 total cases with 367 cases filed/closed. PROTECT data states that 411 cases were no processed. The limitations of PROTECT do not allow us to pull out data to determine if any cases were under review at the time Michael Thurston left the office,” wrote Sara Sadowski, the open records custodian for the Milwaukee County DA.

That means that, of the 778 total cases that Thurston reviewed, according to Sadowski, about 53% were not prosecuted – either by him or another prosecutor.

The latter part is an important caveat to the data; the office said it’s not possible to tease out for sure whether another prosecutor appeared on or made key decisions, in some of the cases. Sometimes in DA’s offices, prosecutors take over or handle cases for other prosecutors because they leave, are on vacation, or for some other reason. However, the data provides the best window available into Thurston’s performance when he was a Milwaukee County prosecutor before moving to the Waukesha County DA’s office. The cases represent cases he handled at least in part. We think that’s important, so we are sharing everything we know. We can’t obtain specific names of those not prosecuted because the Milwaukee County DA has historically refused to provide them to WRN; in fact, we filed a complaint with the state AG about that in the past.

What is a non-prosecution percentage? Police refer charges to the DA’s office, and a prosecutor is assigned to review the case. The non-prosecution percentage is the percentage of those cases that a prosecutor rejects, not choosing to file criminal charges.

Minimally, the numbers show that Thurston likely did not buck the Milwaukee County DA’s overall sky-high non-prosecution trend by going on a prosecution binge while he was there. In fact, the 53% non-prosecution percentage for those 778 cases generally mirrors Milwaukee DA John Chisholm’s office’s non-prosecution percentages on the whole. In 2022, the latest year available, Chisholm’s office has charged only 42% of referrals, according to the DA’s dashboard. In contrast, Waukesha County DA Sue Opper’s Office’s overall non-prosecution percentage has ranged from 5.8 percent to 9.7 percent from 2022 to present.

Opper is retiring, setting up a heated Republican primary between Thurston and prosecutor Lesli Boese on Aug. 13.

Waukesha da race mike thurston
Mike thurston and john chisholm.

We previously reported that Michael Thurston has a much higher non-prosecution percentage in the Waukesha County DA’s office than his opponent in the race, Lesli Boese, and that’s held true over time. Since 2022, Thurston’s non-prosecution percentage averaged 21 percent. Boese’s non-prosecution percentage averaged only 1.6 percent, according to records obtained by Wisconsin Right Now through an open records request with Waukesha County DA Sue Opper’s Office.

The numbers out of Milwaukee County help fill out that picture.

Both are currently prosecutors in the Waukesha County DA’s office – he runs sensitive crimes, and she runs the drug unit. Thurston, as with Boese, is running on a tough-on-crime platform of protecting Waukesha County residents and both have obtained key endorsements, including from law enforcement. “I’m proud of my track record of leadership and experience and service, and firmly believe that these are the very qualities that Waukesha County residents expect in their next District Attorney,” his website says.

We filed open records requests for the Milwaukee and Waukesha County numbers after being urged to do so by Thurston supporters, who said his track record as a prosecutor mattered more than his past donations to Democrats. Thurston’s five donations to Democratic Milwaukee County DA John Chisholm, some of which came after he had already left that office for Waukesha in 2015, have caused controversy, as have his donations to Democrat Richard Cordray in the Ohio governor’s race, one of which came three weeks after former President Barack Obama endorsed Cordray. His comments in a debate that he would invite Democrats to help train prosecutors on election integrity have raised some eyebrows as has his refusal to condemn John Chisholm’s John Doe into Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign finance record when asked. Boese has outright called him a “RINO” in the debate.

Thurston is outspending Boese in the race due to at least $150,000 in loans that he gave his own campaign, per campaign finance records (she has spent $25,000). Her cause has been boosted by conservative Dick Uihlein’s group, which is running television ads raising concern about Thurston’s strength as a prosecutor, though.

Lesli boese
Lesli boese

Chisholm’s office’s sky-high non-prosecution rate has been the subject of repeated conservative criticism over recent years, and WRN has taken the lead in documenting it.

On July 31, we asked the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office, for the number of cases referred to Thurston to handle; the number of cases he declined to prosecute; and the number of cases backlogged or still under review at the time he left the office.

To be sure, cases not prosecuted are just one way to measure the performance of a prosecutor; that’s why we asked for cases that were still under review too, as Thurston has made a big deal of the fact that Boese has a case backlog in Waukesha County and he doesn’t. The Milwaukee DA’s office says it has no data to track that metric, however. Boese has attributed that backlog, at least in part, to some defendants becoming confidential informants for law enforcement.

Thurston has also argued that he handled more jury trials than Boese has; she disputes the numbers and points out that she handles complex drug cases. She also co-prosecuted the massive Waukesha Christmas parade trial, which lasted at least a year.

He has argued that, in 10 cases, people waiting for a charging decision from Boese ended up re-offending; however, when we requested the names from Thurston so we could do a story on that angle, he did not respond. She stated in a debate that his percentage of amended and dismissed cases is higher than hers. You can read an exploration of different metrics in the race here.

Thurston has also argued that his role as a sensitive crimes prosecutor is different than hers as a drug prosecutor; he says that sometimes victims won’t cooperate and has noted that domestic violence and sexual assault cases are often difficult to prove. There is merit to that argument; DV and sexual assault cases can be notoriously difficult to win at trial.

We received a response from the DA’s open records person, Sara Sadowski, on Aug. 7.

Sadowski wrote, “According to our file, Michael Thurston was in the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office from November 2013 to December 26, 2015.” That’s slightly different from Thurston’s campaign website, which says, “In January of 2014, I began work with the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office, first as a domestic violence prosecutor, then as a sensitive crimes’ prosecutor.”

We asked Sadowski why the statistics provided date to 2012 when she says Thurston was hired in 2013. She explained that they went back farther in a good-faith attempt to give the fullest picture possible because Thurston likely took over some old cases that were opened previously when he started as a prosecutor. Thus, the numbers include some cases he inherited from other prosecutors.

Sadowski’s letter provided this context:

“I would like to first provide a bit of history as to how we store the numbers and data that you request. What you requested is only available in our PROTECT system. The PROTECT system is not a data analysis system and was created for a different purpose,” she wrote. “Before February of 2009, the District Attorney’s Office relied, solely, on paper files. In 2009, the State of Wisconsin DA-IT implemented a digital case management system, called PROTECT, for all District Attorney’s Offices in Wisconsin. Once PROTECT was implemented, all case-related documents had to be entered into and generated through the PROTECT system.”

The letter noted, “PROTECT was designed to interface with the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access Program (CCAP). PROTECT, and the interface were deployed in stages. In 2020, the District Attorney’s Office began to transition to a fully digital (paperless) file system. There are two areas in PROTECT where a case can be assigned to a prosecutor. First is the reviewing ADA, and second is the assigned ADA. Those two categories may be the same prosecutor or different prosecutors. Additionally, those assigned areas can be changed at any time, by any office staff, and those assignments are changed any time there is a change in the prosecutor that is responsible for handling the case, either before or after criminal charges are issued.”

She added, “There is no way to capture the data as it would have appeared at the time Michael Thurston was in the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office, nor is there a snapshot that could be obtained for any particular date. Additionally, when someone leaves the office it is customary to change the assignments to the individual that assumed responsibility for the cases that are still open. This can also occur with internal moves within the office. With this being said, we were able to pull data that you requested out of the PROTECT system. However, it is with the caveat that, it is as the data appeared on August 1, 2024, and likely does not capture the full breadth of data from the time Michael Thurston was in the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office.”

 

 

 

Governor’s Veto Powers Wisconsin Republicans Parental Bill of Rights Outlaw Child Sex Dolls Embrace Them Both Unemployment Reforms Wisconsin’s Professional Licensing Bail Reform Amendment wisconsin covid-19

Conservative Wins in the Wisconsin State Budget Bill That Passed July 3

Wisconsin has a divided government, and, with a Democrat in the governor's mansion, conservatives were not going to get everything they wanted. However, there...

Shorewood Officer Shot; Glendale Pursues Suspect, Who Appears Dead

A Shorewood, Wisconsin, police officer was shot but saved by his bulletproof vest in the early morning hours of July 3. Several hours later, Glendale...
kendall corder

MPD Confirms Sad News That Officer Kendall Corder Has Died; Procession Unfolding

The Milwaukee Police Department has officially confirmed the tragic news that Officer Kendall Corder has died in the line of duty. Earlier in the day,...

Oconomowoc Rotary Refuses to Document ‘Threats’ & There’s No Police Reports

Getting criticized is hard, but reasonable criticism - even heated criticism - is not a threat. And it's what representative democracy is all about,...
kendall corder, tremaine jones

Tremaine Jones: Milwaukee DA Declined to Prosecute Him 4 Times Leading Up to Officer Shooting

KEY FINDINGS: Accused cop shooter Tremaine Jones was given a deferred prosecution agreement for a 2021 Milwaukee case involving a stolen Kia and...
Killed by Milwaukee Reckless Drivers Milwaukee Reckless Drivers Kill Box In Milwaukee Police

2 Milwaukee Police Officers Shot Near 25th & Garfield

Two Milwaukee police officers were shot on the evening of June 26, police confirmed. One officer remains in critical condition and the second does...
josh schoemann Washington County’s Early Vote

2026 GOP Candidate Josh Schoemann Challenges Evers’ Budget Approach

(The Center Square) – Josh Schoemann, the only Republican currently in the race for governor next year, is criticizing Gov. Tony Evers’ approach to the next state budget by comparing it to his plans in Washington County.

“In Washington County our budget cycle starts right now, and it’s not due until November. We will propose our budget goals to the County Board in the next couple of months. We will share ‘This is what we’re thinking.’ It gives them months of time to think those through, give us feedback, and [have] that kind of dialogue,” Schoemann explained in an interview on News Talk 1130 WISN.

Schoemann said that is far better than the approach Evers is taking again this year.

“That’s not how government is supposed to work,” Schoemann said. “It’s not the vision of the governor. It’s not the vision of any one person.”

Evers and the Republican legislative leaders who will write the budget have been involved in on-again, off-again budget talks this month. On Thursday, the governor’s office said those talks were off once again because of gridlock in the Senate.

“Ultimately, the Senate needs to decide whether they were elected to govern and get things done or not,” Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback said in a post on X.

Schoemann’s criticism of Evers is nothing new. He has long been a critic of the governor and has turned that criticism up since launching his campaign for governor.

But the recent criticism was also aimed at other Republicans who may jump into the 20206 governor’s race later this year.

“Nobody else in this race on the Republican side, being rumored to this point, has the executive leadership of skills and history to be able to show ‘This is how I’ve done it before, and here’s how we’ll do it Madison,’” Schoemann said. “The results in Washington County speak for themselves.”

Northwoods Congressman Tom Tiffany is also rumored to be looking to get into the Republican race. Before he went to Congress, Tiffany was a Republican lawmaker in Madison.

Businessman and veteran Bill Berrien is also on the short list of likely GOP candidates for 2026.

richard van buren

Richard Van Buren Arrested in Dodge County Dog’s Death, Sheriff Says

Richard Van Buren, the chairman of the Chester Town Board in Wisconsin, was arrested in the death of a golden retriever dog in rural...

Rep. Donovan, Greenfield Officials Outraged at Release of Accused Random Stabber

State Rep. Bob Donovan and top Greenfield officials are expressing outrage and concern over the release of a man who is accused of randomly...

Dodge County Dog’s Death Under Investigation by Wisconsin Sheriff

Update: Richard Van Buren, the chairman of the Town of Chester Board, has now been arrested. See the story here. The Dodge County Sheriff's Office...
Anthony LoCoco

Anthony LoCoco Running for WI Court of Appeals to Defend the Constitution

Note: Anthony LoCoco, of Waukesha, has worked for the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty and the Institute for Reforming Government. He is...

Milwaukee Alderman Voices Frustration at ‘Crumbling’ Roads, Massive Cost Estimate

The Common Council’s Finance and Personnel Committee heard from City Engineer Kevin Muhs today "about a newly released report from the Department of Public...

Oconomowoc Rotary Club Apologizes, Reverses Course After July 4 Parade Mess

The Oconomowoc Rotary Club has apologized for the mess surrounding its July 4 parade and will now allow political parties and elected representatives to...
Killed by Milwaukee Reckless Drivers Milwaukee Reckless Drivers Kill Box In Milwaukee Police

Milwaukee Police Officer Shot by Armed Suspect in Foot Chase, Department Says

Two ghost guns were recovered. A Milwaukee police officer was shot by an armed suspect who refused to drop his gun during a foot chase...

Milwaukee Police Association Raises Alarm on Low District 7 Staffing

The Milwaukee Police Association is raising the alarm about severely low staffing levels in District 7, one of the city's busiest police districts. The MPA,...
uw-madison Administrators at UW Schools

UW Employs 495 Foreign Nationals at Almost $43 Million a Year, But Won’t Release Their Names

With salaries ranging as high as $320,000 a year, are the foreign nationals getting taxpayer-funded jobs at UW instead of qualified U.S. citizens? The...
Governor’s Veto Powers Wisconsin Republicans Parental Bill of Rights Outlaw Child Sex Dolls Embrace Them Both Unemployment Reforms Wisconsin’s Professional Licensing Bail Reform Amendment wisconsin covid-19

Wisconsin Budget Negotiations Reach Impasse Between Evers, Legislature

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin budget negotiations have reached an impasse with both sides pointing fingers at the other in Wednesday afternoon statements.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said Republican Legislative leaders backed out of negotiations after he agreed to “an income tax cut targeting Wisconsin’s middle-class and working families and eliminating income taxes for certain retirees.” He said Republican leaders would not agree to “meaningful increased investments in child care, K-12 schools, and the University of Wisconsin System.”

Republican Assembly leaders said the two sides were "far apart. Senate leaders say Evers’ desires “extend beyond what taxpayers can afford.”

“The Joint Committee on Finance will continue using our long-established practices of crafting a state budget that contains meaningful tax relief and responsible spending levels with the goal of finishing on time,” said a statement from Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Assembly Finance Co-Chairman Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam.

Evers said that there were meetings between the sides every day this week before the impasse.

“I told Republicans I’d support their half of the deal and their top tax priorities – even though they’re very similar to bills I previously vetoed – because I believe that’s how compromise is supposed to work, and I was ready to make that concession in order to get important things done for Wisconsin’s kids,” Evers said.

Senate Republican leadership said that good faith negotiations have occurred since April on a budget compromise.

“Both sides of these negotiations worked to find compromise and do what is best for the state of Wisconsin,” said a statement from Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, and Senate Joint Finance Co-Chairman Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green.

In early May, the Joint Committee on Finance took 612 items out of Gov. Tony Evers’ budget proposal, including Medicaid expansion in the state, department creations and tax exemptions.

Born previously estimated that Evers’ budget proposal would lead to $3 billion in tax increases over the two-year span.

Wisconsin Policy Forum estimated that the proposal would spend down more than $4 billion of the state’s expected $4.3 billion surplus if it is enacted.

hannah dugan

Milwaukee Police Refuse to Release NEW Hannah Dugan Body Cam Video, Citing Crime ‘Prevention,’ in Part

The Milwaukee Police Department has refused to release a new Hannah Dugan police body cam video, citing, in part, crime "prevention" and "detection" and...

DHS Puts 4 Wisconsin Cities & Counties on Formal Notice, Says They ‘Defy Federal Law’

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security placed two Wisconsin counties and two cities on notice on May 29, saying they are defying federal law...

DOJ Begins California Title IX Investigation Over ‘Trans’ Boys Dominating Girls’ Sports

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division announced it is investigating California for violating Title IX by allowing males to participate in female student sports.

“Title IX exists to protect women and girls in education,” said Harmeet K. Dhillon, assistant attorney general for Civil Rights. “It is perverse to allow males to compete against girls, invade their private spaces, and take their trophies.”

In February, President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning males from participating in female student sports, and he has threatened to block California's federal funding for continuing to defy his order. With California facing deficits in the tens of billions of dollars each year, it's unclear how the state would offset any losses or pauses in federal funding.

Notably, California Gov. Gavin Newsom hosted conservative pundit Charlie Kirk on his podcast and told Kirk that he thinks it’s “deeply unfair” that boys are participating in girls’ sports.

When asked later at a press conference what this means for state policy, Newsom demurred, painting the matter as a marginal, non-issue not worth his time.

“You're talking about a very small number of people, a very small number of athletes, and my responsibility is to address the pressing issues of our time,” said Newsom.

The California Interscholastic Federation, which governs student sports in California, has since responded to Trump’s threat by announcing a new pilot program to allow girls who otherwise would have qualified for sports finals had the finalist spots in girls’ sports not been taken by transgender-identifying boys to participate in said finals.

Title IX was signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1972 to ensure that schools could not discriminate against female students. It requires they be provided with equal opportunities to engage in athletics, extracurriculars and education.

DOJ’s letter of interest says it is investigating whether California’s Assembly Bill 1266, which requires transgender-identifying students to be allowed to participate in sports consistent with their gender identities, violates Title IX.

“As a result of CIF’s policy, California’s top-ranked girls’ triple jumper, and second-ranked girls’ long-jumper, is a boy,” wrote the DOJ. “As recently as May 17, this male athlete was allowed to take winning titles that rightfully belong to female athletes in both events.”

“This male athlete will now be allowed to compete against those female athletes again for a state title in long, triple, and high jump,” continued the DOJ. “Other high school female athletes have alleged that they were likewise robbed of podium positions and spots on their teams after they were forced to compete against males.”

Should the DOJ find California is in violation of Title IX, it says it will “take appropriate action to eliminate that discrimination, including seeking injunctive relief.”