Frequently asked questions

Court cases/records

Q: How can I find a Wisconsin Supreme Court or Court of Appeals opinion on the Web?
A: They are available on the this site in the opinions and rules section. Coverage began in mid-1995.

Q: How can I find a Wisconsin Supreme Court or Court of Appeals opinion that was released prior to mid-1995?
A: Opinions prior to mid-1995 are not available free-of-charge on the Web. The Wisconsin State Law Library collects Wisconsin Supreme Court and Court of Appeals opinions. Contact the Law Library for assistance. (State Law Library link)

Q: How can I find information on a Wisconsin Circuit Court case?
A: Wisconsin Circuit Court case history information is available at the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access Web page.

Q: How can I find a Wisconsin Circuit Court opinion?
A: Wisconsin Circuit Court opinions are not available online. Contact the Clerk of Court for the county in which the case was heard for further information.

Q: How can I get copies of the briefs filed in a case before the Wisconsin Supreme Court or Court of Appeals?
A: The Wisconsin State Law Library maintains a collection of briefs filed in published and unpublished cases from the Wisconsin Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. The collection begins with briefs filed in the first case heard by each court. To learn more about the Library's collection or to inquire about obtaining copies, please contact Law Library. (State Law Library link)

The University of Wisconsin Law Library has an online database of Wisconsin Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Briefs beginning with 173 Wis. 2d. The database is generated from scanned images created by the Wisconsin State Law Library. Visit the University of Wisconsin Law Library site to search the database or learn more about this online collection. (external link)

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Q: How can I find federal court opinions?
A: U.S. Supreme Court opinions from 1790 to the present are available free-of-charge on the Web. Recent Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, District Court, and other federal court opinions may also be online. To access available federal court opinions, go to the Wisconsin State Law Library (WSLL) federal law and government page. WSLL also has print copies of all U.S. Supreme Court, Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, and District Court opinions as well as selected opinions from other federal courts. Contact WSLL for assistance. (State Law Library links)

Q: Where can I find free case law on the Web?
A: Availability of free case law on the web varies by jurisdiction, and within each jurisdiction by type of court and by date. Use the Wisconsin State Law Library site to locate links to Wisconsin, Federal, other states', and tribal court opinions. Opinions are arranged by jurisdiction. (State Law Library link)

Q: How can I access administrative decisions?
A:   A number of state and federal agencies have their decisions available on the Internet. The Wisconsin State Law Library site points to Wisconsin, Federal, and state agency decisions. WSLL also collects some Wisconsin and Federal agency decisions. Contact WSLL for assistance. (State Law Library links)

Q: How can I search for a Wisconsin Supreme Court or Court of Appeals case by citation?
A: You cannot search by a Wisconsin Reports or Northwestern Reporter citation using either the Wisconsin Court System database or the State Bar of Wisconsin Web site. The State Bar site does have an index of public domain citations to Wisconsin Supreme Court opinions. (external link)

If you have a Wisconsin Reports or Northwestern Reporter citation, you can still access an opinion on the Web. Search on the Wisconsin Court System's case status site, WSCAA.i , under "Search Citation." Public domain citation searching is also available. Once the case information appears, click on the "History" tab. "Opinion" should be hyperlinked in the Activity column; this will take you to full-text of the opinion.

LexisOne.com also allows searching by citation. Cases decided during the past five years are available. (external link)

Q: How can I report inaccuracies within Wisconsin Circuit Court Access?
A: Contact the circuit court where the original record was created. Each circuit court enters its own case information into this database.

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