The Wisconsin Elections Commission and the Office of the Director of State Courts have received recent inquiries about how the Judicial Privacy Protection laws apply when judicial officers circulate nomination papers.
Under state law, protecting personal information on judicial nomination paperwork involves two separate requirements. Judicial officers must complete Judicial Officer Privacy Protection under Wis. Stat. § 757.07 and Certification of Residence under Wis. Stat. § 8.10(8). Privacy protections are not in effect until both processes are completed and approved. Completing one requirement does not automatically satisfy the other.
Information about the requirements is available on the Wisconsin Elections Commission website at https://elections.wi.gov/judicial-privacy-protection-laws. Additional guidance was published in the November issue of Third Branch eNews. The Wisconsin Elections Commission has also published an information sheet outlining the requirements for judicial candidates.
Judicial officers with questions may contact Wisconsin Elections Commission staff at elections@wi.gov or (608) 266-8005.
Third Branch eNews is an online monthly newsletter of the Director of State Courts Office. If you are interested in contributing an article about your department’s programs or accomplishments, contact your department head. Information about judicial retirements and judicial obituaries may be submitted to: Sara.Foster@wicourts.gov