Headlines

Headlines from the current year are available below. For headlines released prior to 2016 check the archives (2007- 2022).

For more information contact Court Information Officer, Director of State Courts' Office at communications@wicourts.gov

12/04/23 Wisconsin Supreme Court accepts no new cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court recently voted not to accept any new cases, and the Court acted to deny review in a number of other cases. The case numbers, counties of origin and the issues presented in granted cases are listed here. More information about pending appellate cases can be found on the Wisconsin Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Access website. Published Court of Appeals opinions can be found here, and the status of pending Supreme Court cases can be found here. Read more.
12/04/23 Statement from Justice Ann Walsh Bradley on the passing of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor
Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was a giant in the law, and her passing leaves a void both to those who knew her and those who knew of her. Read more.
11/01/23 Chief Justice Ziegler delivers the State of the Judiciary address
Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Annette Kingsland Ziegler delivered the State of the Judiciary address Nov. 1 at the 2023 Annual Meeting of the Wisconsin Judicial Conference. The text of the speech, along with remarks by Interim Director of State Courts address by Hon. Audrey K. Skwierawski, is available here. Read more.
10/31/23 Chief Justice Ziegler to deliver State of the Judiciary on Nov. 1
Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Annette Kingsland Ziegler will deliver the State of the Judiciary address in Lake Geneva on Wednesday, Nov. 1, at the opening of the Annual Meeting of the Wisconsin Judicial Conference. Read more.
10/27/23 The Wisconsin Supreme Court accepts three new cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court recently accepted three new cases, and the Court acted to deny review in a number of other cases. See the full article here. Read more.
09/15/23 The Wisconsin Supreme Court accepts two new cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court recently accepted two new cases, and the Court acted to deny review in a number of other cases. See the full article here. Read more.
09/15/23 Wisconsin Supreme Court oral argument - October 2023
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral argument in two cases during October 2023. The cases originated in the following counties: Dane, Milwaukee. The calendar and synopses of cases can be found here. Read more.
09/06/23 Wisconsin Supreme Court oral argument - September 2023
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral argument in five cases during September 2023. The cases originated in the following counties: Ashland, Douglas, Milwaukee, Outagamie, Waukesha. The calendar and synopses of cases can be found here. Read more.
08/23/23 Chief Judge Rossell selected to chair Committee of Chief Judges
Second Judicial Administrative District Chief Judge Jason A. Rossell, Kenosha County Circuit Court, has been selected by his fellow chief judges to serve a one-year term as chair of the Committee of Chief Judges. Rossell replaces former committee chair, Judge Jennifer R. Dorow, Waukesha County Circuit Court. Dorow served the maximum of three two-year terms as a chief judge, including one year as committee chair. Read more.
08/04/23 Statement of Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Dallet regarding court meeting
Justice Rebecca Frank Dallet made the following statement today:

On behalf of a majority of justices on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, I want to express my disappointment that the Chief Justice, rather than collegially participate in a scheduled meeting of the court today, is litigating issues normally discussed by Justices either in conference or through email, through media releases.

Read more.
08/04/23 Statement of Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Dallet regarding transparency and accountability measures
Justice Rebecca Frank Dallet made the following statement today: The majority of justices on the Wisconsin Supreme Court voted today to advance a number of transparency and accountability measures. Read more.
08/04/23 Statement of Chief Justice Annette Kingsland Ziegler
Today, four rogue members of the court met in a secret, unscheduled, illegitimate closed meeting in an attempt to gut the Chief Justice’s constitutional authority as administrator of the court (see attached). Court business concerning Internal Operating Procedures and Supreme Court Rules is conducted when seven members of the court convene with an agenda prepared by the Chief Justice and at a time set by the Chief Justice during the court’s business year, which is September-June. The rogue justices' attempt to go outside of this recognized procedure is an imposition of will and a raw exercise of overreaching power. Any such attempted action is illegitimate and unenforceable. Read more.
08/02/23 Judge Audrey K. Skwierawski to serve as interim Director of State Courts
The Wisconsin Supreme Court announced today that Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Audrey K. Skwierawski will serve as the interim Director of State Courts beginning on August 3, 2023. Judge Skwierawski will take a leave from her position on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, where she has served since her appointment by Gov. Scott Walker in 2018. Read more.
08/02/23 Statement of Chief Justice Annette Kingsland Ziegler
The unauthorized action taken today by some of my colleagues firing Director of State Courts Randy Koschnick is flawed procedurally, legally, and on its merits. As Chief Justice, I contemplated actions I might take to attempt to stop this unauthorized action, but given my colleagues’ reckless conduct, other court employees would also become victims of this unauthorized action. I say this because it would be other court employees who would suffer the consequences of choosing to follow my directive over following the demand of four justices. And these valued employees may then be at risk of losing their jobs. Our valued employees would be put in a lose-lose situation, and I can’t risk putting the jobs of more employees of the court in jeopardy. Read more.
08/01/23 Swearing-in ceremony held for Supreme Court Justice Janet C. Protasiewicz
Justice Janet C. Protasiewicz formally joined the Wisconsin Supreme Court on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, when she was sworn into office during a ceremony in the state Capitol Rotunda. Read more.
07/28/23 Innovative program keeps Wisconsin courts 'on the record'
When Connie Hansen stared with the court system as a digital court reporter in 2020, she was one of just two employees hired to provide remote court reporting services on an ad hoc basis to circuit courts throughout the state. Read more.
07/06/23 The Wisconsin Supreme Court accepts one new case
The Wisconsin Supreme Court recently accepted one new case, and the Court acted to deny review in a number of other cases. See the full article here. Read more.
06/14/23 Wisconsin Supreme Court denies review of 44 cases
The Supreme Court recently acted to deny review of 44 cases. See the full article here. Read more.
06/02/23 Christensen appointed Clerk of Wisconsin Supreme Court
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has appointed Racine County Clerk of Circuit Court Samuel A. "Sam" Christensen as Clerk of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, effective June 18, Chief Justice Annette Kingsland Ziegler announced today. Read more.
05/26/23 Judge Maxine A. White appointed as chief judge of Court of Appeals
The Wisconsin Supreme Court today appointed District One Court of Appeals Judge Maxine A. White as chief judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, effective Aug. 1, 2023. White will replace current Chief Judge William Brash III, who lost his bid for re-election to the First District bench in April. White will fill Brash’s unexpired term as chief judge to July 31, 2024. Read more.
05/16/23 Wisconsin Supreme Court accepts two new cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court recently voted to accept two new cases, and the Court acted to deny review in a number of other cases. See the full article here. Read more.
04/26/23 Law Day: An opportunity to teach, learn about our legal system
Each year, the American Bar Association (ABA) selects a theme for Law Day, May 1. This year’s theme is Cornerstones of Democracy: Civics, Civility, and Collaboration. Read more.
04/21/23 Summit looks to improve criminal justice system response to mental illness
Is there a better way for Wisconsin’s criminal justice system to respond to people with mental illness? If so, what does such an approach look like? About 200 people, including criminal justice system partners, judges, law enforcement officials, policy makers and treatment service providers, gathered Friday in Madison to consider those questions, and to exchange ideas on the topic at the Chief Justice’s Summit on Mental Health. Read more.
04/19/23 Justice Roggensack honored at Supreme Court oral argument
Retiring Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Patience Drake Roggensack was honored by her fellow justices, and received a standing ovation in the Supreme Court Hearing Room today, just moments before the start of the final oral argument scheduled for the Court’s 2022-23 term. Read more.
04/12/23 Wisconsin Supreme Court oral argument - April 2023
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral argument in five cases during April 2023. The cases originated in the following counties: Dane, Milwaukee, Trempealeau, Wood. The calendar and synopses of cases can be found here. Read more.
04/06/23 Wisconsin Supreme Court accepts two new cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court recently voted to accept two new cases, and the Court acted to deny review in a number of other cases. See the full article here. Read more.
03/23/23 Wisconsin court system responds to network disruption
Some Wisconsin court system computer network users, including the general public, may have temporarily experienced intermittent service or slower than usual response times to some online services early this week. Read more.
03/16/23 Chief Justice Ziegler elected to second term as chief justice
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has elected Chief Justice Annette Kingsland Ziegler to serve a second two-year term as chief justice, effective May 1, 2023. Chief Justice Ziegler was first elected to the Court in 2007 and became chief justice in 2021, succeeding former Chief Justice Patience Drake Roggensack in that role. Read more.
03/16/23 Court appoints new chief judges from Milwaukee, Waukesha, La Crosse
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has appointed judges from La Crosse, Milwaukee and Waukesha counties to serve as new chief judges of their respective judicial administrative districts, and the Court re-appointed a chief judge from Green County to another two-year term in that role. Read more.
03/09/23 Wisconsin Supreme Court accepts one new case
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted to accept one new case, and the Court acted to deny review in a number of other cases. See the full article here. Read more.
03/08/23 Wisconsin Supreme Court oral argument - March 2023
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral argument in three cases during March 2023. The cases originated in the following counties: Juneau, Outagamie, and Waukesha. The calendar and synopses of cases can be found here. Read more.
03/06/23 Supreme Court approves final step in system-wide eFiling program
On Feb. 21, the Wisconsin Supreme Court issued an order and revised interim rule for a phased transition to mandatory eFiling (electronic filing) in Supreme Court cases over the next four months. The transition period will begin April 1, 2023 with the expansion of a voluntary eFiling pilot program, and end June 30 with mandatory eFiling effective July 1. Read more.
02/22/23 eFiling becomes mandatory in Supreme Court cases, effective July 1, 2023
The Wisconsin Supreme Court today issued an order and revised interim rule that will create a phased transition to mandatory eFiling in Supreme Court cases over the next four months. eFiling will become mandatory in the Supreme Court on July 1, 2023.

Read more.
02/15/23 Wisconsin Supreme Court oral argument February - 2023
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral argument in four cases during February 2023. The cases originated in the following counties: Dane, Kenosha, Walworth, Waukesha. The calendar and synopses of cases can be found here. Read more.
02/13/23 Wisconsin Supreme Court accepts two new cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted to accept two new cases, and the Court acted to deny review in a number of other cases. See the full article here. Read more.
01/12/23 Wisconsin Supreme Court oral argument - January 2023
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral argument in two cases during January 2023. The cases originated in the following counties: Milwaukee, Waukesha. The calendar and synopses of cases can be found here. Read more.
01/05/23 Wisconsin Supreme Court accepts four new cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court recently voted to accept four new cases, and the Court acted to deny review in a number of other cases. See the full article here. Read more.