Judges, court commissioners, and reserve judges from across Wisconsin took part in a joint training session hosted on September 4 in the Wisconsin Dells. The event, organized by the Children’s Court Improvement Program (CCIP) in collaboration with Districts 7 and 8, focused on forensic and evidentiary issues in domestic abuse and child abuse cases. All of District 7’s reserve judges participated, adding to the strong turnout.
The Office of Court Operations supported the one-day program through a VAWA STOP Grant. Participants received judicial education credit for the training, which covered topics designed to strengthen courtroom decision-making in sensitive cases.
Sessions addressed the role of forensic nurse examinations, evidence challenges in strangulation cases, the use of technology in abuse contexts, and standards for admitting forensic interviews into evidence. Presenters included experts from the Wisconsin Department of Justice and the University of Wisconsin–Madison, offering both legal and scientific perspectives.
The Wisconsin Dells training was one in a series of district sessions scheduled throughout the state this year, part of a broader initiative to equip judicial officers with updated research and practical tools for handling complex abuse cases.
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