Third Branch eNews

The State Bar of Wisconsin has announced details for its 2026 Annual Meeting & Conference, to be held June 11–12 in La Crosse. The information below highlights programming and participation details of interest to Wisconsin’s judiciary and court staff.

Opening Plenary (Thursday morning): Addressing Wisconsin’s Lawyer Shortage: Lessons From Other States

A statewide examination of lawyer shortages and research-based strategies from other jurisdictions to strengthen access to justice and support the administration of justice in Wisconsin.

Bench Bar Committee Session (Friday morning): Problems and Solutions of Access to Justice

This session will report on the work of the Wisconsin Access to Justice Commission and the Chief Justice’s Attorney Retention and Recruitment Special Committee. The program will provide updates on efforts to expand access to legal services and address attorney workforce shortages across the state.

Interactive Ethics Plenary (Friday morning)

Closing Plenary (Friday midday): The Declaration of Independence at 250

Members of the Wisconsin Supreme Court will examine the Declaration of Independence and its continuing legal and civic significance 250 years later.

Judicial Track Sessions

• Admissible or Not? Addressing Evidentiary Issues in the AI Age
• Justice Without Delay: Making the Most of Limited Legal Resources

The State Bar of Wisconsin is an accredited judicial education provider. Every session at this year’s conference will earn judicial education credit and can be turned in using the normal credit submission process in place.

Registration fees will be paid by the Director of State Courts Office for any Circuit Court Judges, Court of Appeals Judges, and Supreme Court Justices who attend the State Bar of Wisconsin’s 2026 Annual Meeting & Conference.

Register at AMC.WisBar.org.