(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA, Wis. — In the wake of the killing of Makayla Rutka Plaza, Kenosha County court officials have quietly removed Court Commissioner William “Bargain Bail Billy” Michel II from handling restraining order cases, a significant shift in courtroom duties that follows mounting scrutiny of his decisions.
Kenosha County Eye previously reported that on the Monday following Plaza’s death — a day when restraining orders are typically heard — Michel was present in the courthouse but was not taking cases. Instead, judges stepped in to preside over restraining order hearings.
Now, Kenosha County Eye has confirmed that the change is permanent, at least for the time being. Michel will no longer handle restraining orders, and those cases will instead be assigned to Family Court Commissioner Alexandra Smathers and Court Commissioner Lisa Bouterse, according to court records.
The move comes after intense attention on Michel’s handling of Plaza’s restraining order request weeks before her death. Court transcripts previously obtained by Kenosha County Eye show Plaza pleaded for protection, but her request was denied.
Kenosha County Eye reached out to multiple judges for comment on the decision to reassign restraining order duties, including whether the change was made through a formal vote. None responded. There is a chance that Judge Chad Kerkman made this decision unilaterally. He assumed leadership, authority and dominance over the other 7 Judges and most of them allow it. State statute makes it clear that the other 7 judges don’t report to Kerkman, his honorary title of “Deputy Chief Judge” gives him no more authority that other, duly-elected judges.
However, sources familiar with the decision told Kenosha County Eye that judges no longer have confidence in Michel’s judgment when it comes to restraining orders following Plaza’s death. Those sources also indicated that broader concerns have been raised about Michel’s recent performance on the bench.
Kenosha County Eye is further told that Michel’s position as court commissioner may be in jeopardy as scrutiny continues over what sources describe as a pattern of mistakes in recent cases.
Kenosha County Eye will continue to follow developments and provide updates as more information becomes available.
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33 Responses
Deputy Chief Judge is not an honorary title but essentially is a liaison to the chief judge in Racine.
He wasn’t able to handle the juvenile calendar so they gave it to Lisa. Hes not able to handle his TRO calendar so they gave it to Lisa and Alexandra. So lesson learned is the more he screws up, the less he has to do and the more work dumped on the other commissioners. Bet his pay never decreased. What a garbage solution from garbage judges.
Good move.
This guy was just trying to do his job to the best of his ability, give him another chance
His ability isn’t good enough. He could sweep floors .
Finally they did something about this incompetent man! How many more people (women) in this city are going to die because of his low bond/ bail failures?!
This is not about giving someone a second chance. We can’t give the victim a second chance because her restraining order was denied. The ones to blame are the judges, not this poor, incompetent looser who was given the responsibility to handle tasks that go beyond the scope of what he can handle. Shame on our judiciary, especially those who voted for his nomination. They wanted a yes-man, and they got someone who was unfit for the role.
Peters gonna Principal
Ummm. No.
The chances goes to rookies and apprentices. When you get to ‘judge’ level, you better have your A game nailed down by then!
He was a very mediocre attorney before getting the commissioner job. If he had some backbone, he would resign; however, who would want this guy’s representation through the SPD? No one will bring that woman back to life, and our judges are responsible for it. Shame on you and your bright ideas, such as giving this guy the job.
All I’m saying is this guy is human too
Makayla was a human being who turned to the justice system in search of protection, trusting that her plea would be heard. What she could not know was that the person who denied her protective order was nothing more than a puppet, incapable of making decisions for himself. Jerk was the one calling the shots. It seems like that day he was busy.
I get your point, sleepy Joe. Plaza is also a human being. If it were up to you, he would be on a signature bond and back out again to stab someone else.
I mean there has to be some redeeming qualities for bargain ball billy. Maybe now since he has seen the outcomes to his decisions he can make better ones and be the person we need him to be
Someone died, bro. Many people here had already been warning that this could happen with his rulings. Read the articles. Read the comments. She was a kind, decent woman, and this is heartbreaking. KM should request the transcript of that restraining order hearing, publish it, and let the people decide whether that loser deserves another chance.
Search first. Type second. He already posted the transcript. https://kenoshacountyeye.com/2026/04/08/court-transcripts-show-makayla-rutka-plaza-begged-for-restraining-order-weeks-before-death-commissioner-william-bargain-bail-billy-michel-ii-denied-request/
I searched first and found it was denied. Denied to whom—denied to you? If needed, a family member can request it and share it afterward. That denial is a serious red flag. It suggests the record is being withheld to protect Billy and conceal his major error or failure.
Trumphonnatrump .. How many chances and lives need to be loss before this guy is removed from his position? He’s incompetent.
I’ve known this man for many years and wish I had good answers. I think he still does not grasp how important his job really is. I also know that he wanted to be district attorney and ran a snarky campaign — and lost. He wanted to be judge and lobbied for that — and lost. This position isn’t a consolation prize. Whoever sits in that chair makes important decisions that impact people and — Kevin, you need to hear this — they won’t always get it right. However, Bill doesn’t seem to try hard enough. The commissioner must balance public safety with a defendant’s constitutional right to bail that is not excessive. The commissioner has deadlines for scheduling hearings that are often blown because there aren’t enough public defenders to accept the cases. The commissioner will encounter people with bogus or inadequately substantiated petitions for restraining orders and those who are obviously victims and need help. There’s a tremendous amount of pressure to get it right because the consequences can be deadly if he doesn’t. The job doesn’t require an enormous amount of legal acumen but more one of commitment and common sense. Bill’s positive qualities get overshadowed by the fact he’s had time to learn his job and yet his commitment and performance are not what we should expect. There is also insufficient transparency at times. We may not like his decisions but he should be able to explain his thought process and legal analysis and also acknowledge his mistakes and learn from them. Is this entirely his fault? Maybe, maybe not. But if the judges are not adequately concerned about the commissioners they need to speak up for change. Perhaps Judge Dougvillo could help. He was a commissioner in Walworth County and maybe he has some perspectives on how things could be improved.
He has seemingly been the brunt of most of this. I am not familiar with the Plaza RO in terms of specifics. However, we can probably find every judge or commissioner in America who has let a criminal go with a light sentence, denied a restraining order, etc. and then had the defendant come back and re-offend worse. This isn’t a Kenosha issue only…..go take any murder that has happened in Wisconsin in the last 10 years and I bet 75-85% of the offenders were let off previously on something else with a “slap on the wrist”.
As others have mentioned, granting or not granting the restraining order was going to have no effect on this guy killing her. Matter of fact, he might have killed her weeks earlier if she had been granted the order.
You are correct Michel is as dumb as a box of rocks!
Dougievillo won’t help him because he only helps younger, prettier ladies around the courthouse. Just ask the former Walworth County Clerk…Kevin will never believe it but he’s a skirt chaser…
Jacqueline “Herpestial” Niccol has been blabbing all over, seemingly drunk and under the influence of other substances, about how she has him wrapped around her finger. She also claims to have text messages. Judge, be careful because this is not the sort of company that reflects well on anyone.
A lot of women probably have text messages. Including a few judges…🤷
Yeah, maybe maybe. All we know is Kenosha is a bit worn with his teething and growing. People are dying on his watch.
At least one more chance, people can change for better or worse. He’s been punished to an extent and he can learn from this and do better or he can get axed and then you have to live with who comes next. Maybe someone who’s even worse or better. What’s done is done and all of us little people will have to live with it
No, I don’t think this is a job where you live and learn and come back. This case and the bad optics will follow him forever. His career as a commissioner or potential judge is over.
Agreed. Let’s have Kevin request the transcripts, and let the record speak for itself. Mr. Publisher, give the public the opportunity to judge whether the commissioner acted properly and is now being unfairly blamed by Jerkman once again, or whether that ruling contributed to a preventable fatality.
As mentioned elsewhere in this thread, I’ve already posted the full transcripts as well as the full petition
Thanks for the clarification, Mr. Publisher
I read that access to the transcripts was denied and a key witness was barred from testifying. If this was such a serious error, why is he still serving as commissioner? Why is he being protected instead of removed? What does it take besides five votes?
You guys are all idiots.
Hey Joe, go back to sleep, and don’t forget to take your medication.