Bridget Mauerman and Kristen Wetzel of the Wisconsin Court System’s Children’s Court Improvement Program (CCIP) have been named 2026 Legal All-Star honorees by the Wisconsin Law Journal.
Mauerman, CCIP Director, will be recognized in the Unsung Heroes in the Law category. Wetzel, CCIP Legal Advisor, will be recognized in the Rising Young Lawyer category. The honorees will be celebrated November 19 at Greenhouse No. 7 in Milwaukee.
CCIP works to improve how Wisconsin courts handle child abuse and neglect, termination of parental rights, and adoption cases. Its work includes training and resources for court and child welfare professionals, support for collaboration among courts and partner agencies, and efforts to improve outcomes for children and families.
Among those efforts is the Tailored Dispositional Orders Project, a partnership with the Department of Children and Families. The project helps courts tailor conditions for a child’s return home to the safety needs of the child and the specific changes parents need to make. CCIP also provides resources to improve permanency hearings and encourage young people to participate in court proceedings affecting their lives.
The November 19 event will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and include networking, a luncheon, and the awards presentation. A complete list of honorees and event information is available on the Wisconsin Law Journal website.
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