2010

12/14/10 Supreme Court accepts six new cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted to accept six new cases. The Court also acted to deny review in a number of cases. The case numbers, issues, and counties of origin are listed below. Court of Appeals opinions available online for the newly accepted cases are hyperlinked. Read more.
11/17/10 Supreme Court accepts two Walworth County cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted to accept two new cases, both from Walworth County. The one Court of Appeals opinion available online is hyperlinked. Both of these cases arise from a dispute between the Village of East Troy and the Lake Beulah Management District over a proposed high-capacity well. Proponents argue the well is needed to support increased development; opponents charge that pumping millions of gallons of water per day will damage the lake and surrounding wetlands. Read more.
11/04/10 Supreme Court accepts nine new cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted to accept nine new cases. The Court also acted to deny review in a number of cases. The case numbers, issues, and counties of origin are listed below. Court of Appeals opinions available online for the newly accepted cases are hyperlinked. Read more.
11/03/10 Four Wisconsin judges selected for conference at The Hague
Judges from Milwaukee and St. Croix counties were selected to travel to The Hague this fall to participate in an international judicial conference. The group included Deputy Chief Judge Scott R. Needham, St. Croix County Circuit Court, and Judges David L. Borowski and Jeffrey A. Conen, Milwaukee County Circuit Court, along with Court of Appeals Judge Joan F. Kessler of Milwaukee. Read more.
10/27/10 Wisconsin teachers to participate in Justice Teaching Institute
Twenty-two middle school and high school teachers from 10 Wisconsin counties have been selected to participate in the 2010 Justice Teaching Institute to be held Thursday-Friday, Oct. 28-29, in Madison. The intensive, two-day workshop gives educators a variety of new tools for teaching about the courts and the justice system in a way that is relevant and interesting. Read more.
10/18/10 State of the Judiciary, State of Director's Office Addresses set for Wednesday
Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson will give her 2010 State of the Judiciary address on Wednesday, Oct. 20 at 9:15 a.m. at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel in Appleton. The Chief Justice’s speech opens the 2010 Meeting of the Wisconsin Judicial Conference, the state’s circuit and appellate court judges. Read more.
10/13/10 Supreme Court accepts 18 new cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted to accept 18 new cases. The Court also acted to deny review in a number of cases. The case numbers and counties of origin are listed below. The Court of Appeals’ opinions and certification memo available online for the newly accepted cases are hyperlinked. Read more.
09/22/10 Chief Justice's Task Force on Criminal Justice and Mental Health issues report
The Chief Justice's Task Force on Criminal Justice and Mental Health has issued a comprehensive assessment and report of recommendations for improving the criminal justice system’s response to persons with mental illness. The report is the result of six months of work by an 80-member task force assigned by Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson to document existing programs, challenges, gaps and opportunities for improvement in systemic responses to people with mental illness. Read more.
09/17/10 Chief Justice Heffernan's portrait presented to Wisconsin Supreme Court
The Wisconsin Supreme Court accepted the official portrait of the late Chief Justice Nathan S. Heffernan during a ceremony in the Supreme Court Hearing Room on Sept. 16.
Heffernan’s oil portrait, painted by well-known portrait artist Benjamin Donald McCready, will be hung alongside the portraits of other deceased chief justices just outside the hearing room. Read more.
09/17/10 Court interpreter training planned for Madison
The Director of State Courts Office is accepting applications for interpreter training to be held in Madison on October 9-10, 2010 at The Pyle Center on the UW-Madison campus. Read more.
09/09/10 Supreme Court accepts one new case
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted to accept one new case. The Court also acted to deny review in a number of cases. The case numbers and counties of origin are listed below. Read more.
09/07/10 Milwaukee, Eau Claire counties selected for justice system initiative
Milwaukee and Eau Claire counties are among seven jurisdictions nationwide selected as "seed sites" for an initiative to improve the handling of cases at each step of the criminal justice process - from initial contact with law enforcement through sentencing. Read more.
09/01/10 September is Juror Appreciation Month in Wisconsin
Circuit courts throughout Wisconsin will host a variety of activities during September to thank and recognize jurors for their invaluable service to democracy and the state of Wisconsin. Read more.
08/13/10 Judge John R. Storck elected 'chief of the chiefs'
Wisconsin's Committee of Chief Judges today elected Chief Judge John R. Storck, Dodge County Circuit Court, as “chief of the chiefs.” In this capacity, Storck serves as chair of the group of 10 chief judges, each of whom is selected by the Wisconsin Supreme Court to help oversee a judicial administrative district. Read more.
08/12/10 Chief Justice Abrahamson honored with 2010 John Marshall Award
Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson received the 2010 John Marshall Award at the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Annual Dinner in Honor of the Judiciary on Aug. 6 at The Palace Hotel in San Francisco. Read more.
08/11/10 Court interpreter training planned for Wausau
The Director of State Courts Office is accepting applications for interpreter training to be held at the UW-Marathon County in Wausau Aug. 28-29, 2010. Read more.
08/03/10 Supreme Court accepts four new cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted to accept four new cases. The Court also acted to deny review in a number of cases. The case numbers and counties of origin are listed below. The Court of Appeals’ opinions and certification memo available online for the newly accepted cases are hyperlinked. Read more.
07/09/10 Acting Clerk of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Named
On July 8, 2010, the Wisconsin Supreme Court issued an administrative order naming Director of State Courts A. John Voelker acting clerk of Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, effective July 9, 2010. Read more.
07/08/10 Obituary - David R. Schanker, Clerk of Supreme Court and Court of Appeals
David R. Schanker, clerk of the Wisconsin Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, died Monday, July 5 at UW Hospital in Madison from complications following a heart transplant. He was 55. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, July 11, 2010 at the First Unitarian Society of Madison, 900 University Bay Drive, Madison.
Read more.
06/03/10 Chief judges re-appointed to administer Court of Appeals, judicial districts
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has re-appointed a Court of Appeals judge and five circuit court judges to serve respectively in the top administrative posts for the Court of Appeals and five of the state’s 10 judicial administrative districts. Read more.
05/27/10 Supreme Court accepts five new cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted to accept five new cases. The Court also acted to deny review in a number of cases. The case numbers and counties of origin are listed below. The Court of Appeals’ opinions and certification memo available online for the newly accepted cases are hyperlinked. Read more.
05/20/10 Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson to Receive ABA John Marshall Award
Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson has been named recipient of the American Bar Association Justice Center's 2010 John Marshall Award (external link), the association announced Wednesday. The award is named in honor of the fourth chief justice of the United States, who is credited with strengthening the judicial branch of government. The award will be presented Aug. 6. Read more.
05/06/10 Justice Sandra Day O'Connor launches "Our Courts" in Wisconsin
Retired U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor visited the state Capitol on Thursday to promote Our Courts, her innovative Web-based project designed to reinvigorate civics education. Read more.
04/30/10 Supreme Court accepts one new case
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted to accept one new case. The Court also acted to deny review in a number of cases. The case numbers and counties of origin are listed below. The Court of Appeals' certification memo available online for the newly accepted case is hyperlinked. Read more.
04/30/10 St. Croix County Circuit Court Judge Scott R. Needham named ABOTA Judge of the Year
The Wisconsin Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) has chosen St. Croix County Circuit Court Judge Scott R. Needham as its Judge of the Year. Read more.
04/28/10 Court interpreter training planned for Milwaukee
The Director of State Courts Office is accepting applications for interpreter training to be held in Milwaukee on May 22-23 at the UW-Milwaukee. Read more.
04/12/10 Library initiative helps serve needs of self-represented litigants
On April 13, the Wisconsin Court System and the South Central and Winnefox Library Systems will co-sponsor a special training session in Westfield for librarians who assist people who represent themselves in court. The project's goal is to foster communication between local courts and public libraries in an effort to better meet the legal service needs of self-represented litigants. Read more.
04/01/10 District Eight welcomes new management team
The Eighth Judicial District, headquartered in Green Bay and encompassing Brown, Door, Kewaunee, Marinette, Oconto, Outagamie and Waupaca counties, is welcoming a new chief judge, deputy chief judge, and district court administrator. Read more.
03/22/10 Supreme Court accepts five new cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted to accept five new cases. The Court also acted to deny review in a number of cases. The case numbers, issues, and counties of origin are listed below. Court of Appeals’ opinions/certification memos available online for the newly accepted cases are hyperlinked. Read more.
03/16/10 Supreme Court accepts four new cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted to accept four new cases. The Court also acted to deny review in a number of cases. The case numbers, issues, and counties of origin are listed below. Court of Appeals’ opinions/certification memos available online for the newly accepted cases are hyperlinked. Read more.
03/16/10 Judge Lisa K. Stark appointed next dean of Wisconsin Judicial College
Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson has appointed Judge Lisa K. Stark, Eau Claire County Circuit Court, dean of the Wisconsin Judicial College, effective Sept. 3, 2010. Read more.
02/26/10 Two Eau Claire judges selected for top honors
The State Bar of Wisconsin has selected two Eau Claire judges for its most prestigious annual awards. Read more.
02/17/10 Court interpreter training planned for Appleton
The Director of State Courts Office is accepting applications for interpreter training to be held in Appleton, March 12-13 at Fox Valley Technical College. Read more.
01/20/10 Supreme Court accepts one new case
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted to accept one new case. The Court also acted to deny review in a number of cases. The case numbers, issues, and counties of origin are listed below. Court of Appeals' opinions/certification memos available online for the newly accepted cases are hyperlinked. Read more.
01/05/10 Court posts working draft for "unauthorized practice" rules petition
The Supreme Court has posted a working draft of a proposed rules petition (Rule 07-09), which addresses unauthorized practice of law. A copy of the working draft can be found here. Read more.