2008

12/22/08 Supreme Court accepts three new cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted to accept three 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.
12/19/08 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/certification memos available online for the newly accepted cases are hyperlinked. Read more.
12/05/08 Judges trade roles in Judicial Exchange Program
Two Court of Appeals judges from the District IV Court of Appeals in Madison and three circuit court judges -- one each from Grant, Dane and Dodge counties -- are participating in the Wisconsin Court system's Judicial Exchange Program. Read more.
11/12/08 Chief Justice: Justice for All requires an impartial, independent, non-partisan judiciary
Addressing 170 of the state’s judges who are gathered here for the two-day Wisconsin Judicial Conference, Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson today delivered her State of the Judiciary Address, focusing on national recognition the Wisconsin courts have received in the last year, and underscoring the importance of maintaining a fair, neutral, impartial, non-partisan justice system. Read more.
10/28/08 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.
10/22/08 Justice Gableman's formal investiture is set
Justice Michael J. Gableman will be formally sworn in as a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court on Friday, October 24, 2008, at 3 p.m. in the Assembly Chamber, located on the second floor of the Capitol's West Wing. Retired Justice Donald W. Steinmetz will administer the oath of office. Read more.
10/09/08 Court interpreter training planned for Madison
The Director of State Courts Office is accepting applications for interpreter training to be held in Madison on Nov. 1-2 at UW-Madison's Pyle Center. While Spanish is the primary language requested by the courts, increased efforts are being made to recruit qualified interpreters for many other languages, in particular Hmong, American Sign Language, Arabic, Somali, Vietnamese and Mandarin. Read more.
09/29/08 Supreme Court headed for Oshkosh - Limited seating remains for Justice on Wheels
The Wisconsin Supreme Court will move its proceedings to Oshkosh next month, hosting a press conference on Monday, October 6, and conducting hearings in six cases on October 7 and 8. The visit marks the first time the high court has sat in Oshkosh. About 400 of the available 550 seats have already been reserved. Read more.
09/26/08 Supreme Court accepts 17 new cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted to accept 17 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.
09/24/08 Chief justice, governor kick off unprecedented conference
Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson, Gov. Jim Doyle and a former tribal chief judge today helped kick off an unprecedented statewide conference aimed at improving outcomes for abused and neglected children in Wisconsin’s foster care system. Read more.
09/18/08 Redistricting committee files update with Supreme Court
A committee recommending procedures that could be used to help settle disputes over legislative and congressional redistricting has filed an updated memo on its findings with the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Read more.
09/08/08 Supreme Court appoints two new chief judges
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has selected circuit court judges from Milwaukee and Wausau to serve as chief judges for their respective judicial administrative districts. The new chief judges begin their terms today, and each will initially serve the remainder of their predecessor’s term. They are eligible to serve a maximum of six years in this leadership role. Read more.
09/05/08 Mental-health initiative aims to improve criminal justice system
Wisconsin is one of four states selected by the Council of State Governments (CSG) to participate in the Chief Justices’ Criminal Justice/Mental Health Leadership Initiative, a project aimed at improving the criminal justice system’s response to people with mental illness. Read more.
09/04/08 Wisconsin launches juror appreciation program
The verdict is in, and it’s unanimous among Wisconsin’s three branches of government: September is juror appreciation month. To mark the occasion, Gov. Jim Doyle has issued a proclamation, and the Senate and Assembly each have approved citations in honor of jurors. Read more.
09/02/08 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/certification memos available online for the newly accepted cases are hyperlinked. Read more.
08/28/08 Bain will resign from Marathon County Circuit Court
Judge Dorothy L. Bain, who has served on the bench in Marathon County for 11 years, will resign effective Friday, Aug. 29.  Bain is stepping down to take time to fully recover from a brain bleed (similar to a stroke) that she suffered in December 2006. Read more.
08/12/08 Proctor is 'chief of the chiefs'
Wisconsin's Committee of Chief Judges unanimously elected Chief Judge Benjamin D. Proctor, Eau Claire County Circuit Court, as 'chief of the chiefs' at its August meeting. In this capacity, Proctor will serve as chair of the group. He replaces Chief Judge Gerald P. Ptacek, Racine County Circuit Court, who continues to serve as a judge but completed his service on the committee. Read more.
08/01/08 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/certification memos available online for the newly accepted cases are hyperlinked. Read more.
07/29/08 Former Chief Justice Roland B. Day remembered
Former Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Roland B. Day is remembered by Court colleagues for fostering collegiality and working toward more prompt release of opinions. Day is remembered by friends and family for his good sense of humor, commitment to public service and dedication to family. He died July 26 at the age of 89. Read more.
07/16/08 Court interpreter training planned for Wausau
The Director of State Courts Office is accepting applications for interpreter training to be held in Wausau on Aug. 9-10 at UW-Marathon County.  While Spanish is the primary language requested by the courts, increased efforts are being made to recruit qualified interpreters for many other languages, in particular Hmong, American Sign Language, Arabic, Somali, Bantu, Vietnamese and Mandarin. Read more.
06/18/08 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/certification memos available online for the newly accepted cases are hyperlinked. Read more.
05/21/08 Supreme Court accepts eight new cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted to accept eight 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.
04/30/08 Law Day 2008 celebrates "The Rule of Law"
A message from Shirley S. Abrahamson, Chief Justice, Wisconsin Supreme Court:
We join the American Bar Association and the State Bar of Wisconsin in celebrating the 50th anniversary of Law Day on May 1. Read more.
04/18/08 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.
04/17/08 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 17-18 at UW-Milwaukee. While Spanish is the primary language requested by the courts, increased efforts are being made to recruit qualified interpreters for many other languages, in particular Hmong, American Sign Language, Arabic, Somali, Bantu, Vietnamese and Mandarin. Read more.
04/08/08 Supreme Court selects chief judges
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has selected Deputy Chief Judge Mary K. Wagner, Kenosha County Circuit Court, to serve as the new chief judge of the Second Judicial Administrative District. The Second District encompasses Kenosha, Racine and Walworth counties in southeastern Wisconsin. Wagner will take over chief judge duties from Chief Judge Gerald P. Ptacek, Racine County, who will have served the maximum of three two-year terms as chief judge. Read more.
04/08/08 Supreme Court denies petition to regulate paralegals
(posted April 10, 2008) The state Supreme Court on Tuesday, April 8 voted unanimously to deny a rules petition proposed by the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Wisconsin that would have established a system for mandatory licensure and regulation of paralegals in Wisconsin. Read more.
04/01/08 Public Library Initiative to help meet needs of self-represented litigants
On April 8, the Wisconsin Court System and the Mid-Wisconsin Federated and Eastern Shores Library Systems will co-sponsor a special training session for librarians who assist people who represent themselves in court in Dodge, Jefferson, Washington and Ozaukee counties. Read more.
03/31/08 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.
03/20/08 Chief Justice Abrahamson receives Heffernan Award
Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson has won the State Bar of Wisconsin's Heffernan Award for her 25 years of dedicated service to the Wisconsin state high school mock trial tournament. Read more.
03/20/08 Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices judge mock trial tournament
All seven Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices served as judges during the state high school mock trial tournament, which was held March 16 and 17 in Madison. Read more.
03/12/08 Wisconsin Supreme Court among nation's most influential high courts
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is historically among the most influential state supreme courts in the United States, according to preliminary findings of a study published in December by the UC Davis (University of California, Davis) Law Review. Read more.
03/04/08 Public Library Initiative to help serve the legal needs of self-represented litigants
On March 6, the Wisconsin Court System and the Waukesha County Library System will co-sponsor a special training session 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.
02/28/08 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.
01/28/08 Supreme Court accepts two new cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted to accept two 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.
01/11/08 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.
01/03/08 Wisconsin Judicial Commission v. Hon. Annette K. Ziegler
The findings of fact, conclusions of law and recommendations of the Judicial Conduct Panel are available. Read more.