More than 250 judges, justices, court staff, and system partners gathered in Lake Geneva, November 12–14, for the 2025 Wisconsin Judicial Conference, an annual meeting focused on education, collaboration, and the ongoing work of strengthening the administration of justice. The event, held at the Grand Geneva Resort and Spa, offered participants a mix of plenary sessions, breakout programming, updates from statewide partners, and opportunities to connect with colleagues from across the state.
The conference opened with district luncheons and a welcome program led by Conference Co-Chairs Judge Heather Iverson of Kenosha County and Judge Yadira Rein of Outagamie County. The Color Guard presentation set the tone for a full three days that blended judicial education with shared discussion about the challenges and opportunities facing Wisconsin courts.
The opening afternoon featured the State of the Judiciary address by Chief Justice Jill J. Karofsky, remarks from Director of State Courts Audrey K. Skwierawski, and the first educational sessions of the conference.
Throughout the first two days of the conference, judges participated in a wide range of programming designed to support both courtroom practice and broader judicial responsibilities. Sessions included an overview of artificial intelligence in the courtroom, presented by Professor Maura R. Grossman, and a civil law update led by Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Michael Aprahamian. Attendees also took part in presentations on judicial independence, state constitutional interpretation, and developments in criminal law, as well as updates from PPAC and CCAP.
Breakout sessions offered judges the opportunity to select topics most relevant to their work, including Chapter 51 procedures, criminal law developments, the intersection of immigration and state courts, courthouse resilience, firearm disqualifiers, and judicial well-being. Many of these sessions were repeated in the afternoon to allow for broader participation.
In addition to educational programming, the conference offered time for collaboration and engagement. Attendees met representatives from the State Law Library, CCAP, the Wisconsin Trial Judges Association, and WisLAP, and judges had the opportunity to obtain updated headshots from the State Courts Office. A meeting of the Wisconsin Trial Judges Association rounded out Wednesday, and special luncheons and networking opportunities continued throughout the event.
The final day of the conference included administrative updates and a joint presentation by Professor Miriam Seifter of the University of Wisconsin Law School and Professor Chad Oldfather of Marquette Law School. A criminal law update closed the program before attendees returned to their home counties.
The conference was planned by the 2025 Judicial Conference Planning Committee, co-chaired by Judge Iverson and Judge Rein, with support from members representing counties across the state. Judicial Education Director Justine Suleski provided guidance and coordination throughout the planning process, and the Judicial Conference Executive Committee, chaired by Chief Justice Karofsky, also contributed to the development of this year’s program.
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