KENOSHA, Wis. — Allegations of volatility and internal turmoil surrounding Judge Chad Kerkman continue to mount, as courthouse insiders now say another long-serving bailiff was abruptly removed from his courtroom following what sources describe as yet another emotional outburst.

Multiple court employees have confirmed that Connie Kirchner, a senior and widely respected bailiff, was removed from Kerkman’s courtroom in recent weeks and reassigned to Intake and Small Claims duties. While Clerk of Circuit Court Rebecca Matoska-Mentink denied that Kirchner was terminated, confirming she “continues employment with Kenosha County as a bailiff” , insiders say the reassignment came immediately after what they characterized as a meltdown by the judge.

The precise reason for the outburst remains unclear.

One authenticated tip received by Kenosha County Eye described Kirchner as “one of the best, most senior, and above all, most principled and well-mannered bailiff[s] at the courthouse” and alleged that Kerkman “appears to have awakened in one of his now-familiar temper episodes and decided to terminate her employment” . While that assertion of termination has been contradicted by county officials, multiple courthouse sources confirm she was removed from Kerkman’s courtroom.

No disciplinary records, complaints, or performance issues appear to exist. In response to a public records request seeking any disciplinary materials or termination documentation related to Kirchner, the Clerk’s Office stated that, in consultation with Human Resources, “no responsive documents exist” .

That absence of documentation raises questions about what prompted the change.

Kirchner is not the first bailiff whose role has shifted amid reported tension in Kerkman’s courtroom. Over the past several months, Kenosha County Eye has documented repeated allegations of volatile behavior, including raised-voice confrontations, threats toward court officials, and internal disputes that have unsettled staff.

Attorneys who regularly practice in Kenosha County describe Kerkman as the most hot-tempered judge on the bench. Several characterized his courtroom demeanor as unpredictable, with frequent visible frustration and sharp exchanges directed at both attorneys and staff. Some said privately that they advise clients to expect a tense atmosphere when appearing in his courtroom.

The reassignment also comes against the backdrop of broader controversy involving courthouse security changes and a newly implemented “checkpoint” procedure. An internal tip questioned whether outside agencies were consulted for a security assessment and whether changes were tied to internal concerns . However, the Clerk’s Office stated that any courthouse security assessment requests “would be conducted by the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office” and that the Clerk’s budget contains no line item for such security measures .

For courthouse employees, however, the latest personnel shift is viewed less as an isolated administrative decision and more as part of a continuing pattern. Insiders describe an environment where staff assignments can change suddenly after tense encounters. Several employees said morale has suffered amid uncertainty and public scrutiny.

Neither Judge Kerkman nor Clerk Matoska-Mentink provided comment on the specific circumstances surrounding Kirchner’s reassignment beyond confirming she remains employed.

With no documented performance concerns and no formal disciplinary trail, the central question remains unanswered: what prompted a respected, veteran bailiff to be removed from one of the county’s busiest courtrooms?

As internal tensions persist and scrutiny intensifies, courthouse observers say the pattern of volatility — not any single incident — is what has them most concerned.