Women's Advocates To Rally At Waukesha Courthouse Amid Custody Battle

WAUKESHA, WI — A women's advocate group plans to rally outside the Waukesha County Courthouse on Monday, as a Waukesha mother tries to take her custody case to the state's supreme court.

Members of Wisconsin Women for Change will gather at the courthouse at 515 W. Moreland Boulevard at 4:15 p.m. Monday, according to a Facebook post. The rally is open to the public.

"We need the Wisconsin Supreme Court to uphold the laws passed to protect victims," the event's organizers wrote on Facebook, inviting others to stand with them.

Julie Valadez, founder of the nonprofit group, sought a divorce from her husband when he was charged with domestic abuse in 2017. She is now seeking to take the custody battle for her children to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

A judge decided in December the children would stay with their father.

If someone loses in the Court of Appeals, they can ask the supreme court to hear the case. However, the Wisconsin Supreme Court receives around 1,000 petitions for review each term and only hears around 100 cases.

A state appeals court ordered Waukesha judge Michael Aprahamian to reconsider his decision to keep Valadez's children with their father in February. Aprahamian removed himself from the case after the state appeals court said he didn't prioritize the children's safety.

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