2011

12/27/11 Wisconsin Supreme Court accepts five new cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted to accept five new cases. The Court also acted to deny review in a number of cases. The case numbers, issues, and counties of origin are listed. Read more.
12/20/11 Wisconsin Supreme Court accepts nine new cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted to accept nine new cases. The Court also acted to deny review in a number of cases. The case numbers, issues, and counties of origin are listed. Read more.
12/12/11 Wisconsin Supreme Court accepts four new cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted to accept four new cases. The Court also acted to deny review in a number of cases. The case numbers, issues, and counties of origin are listed. Read more.
12/08/11 Portage County joins CCAP, completing statewide case management system
The Wisconsin court system's robust and widely utilized electronic case management system has been implemented statewide. On Monday, Dec. 5, Portage County joined the other 71 Wisconsin counties in the full implementation of Consolidated Court Automation Programs (CCAP), which helps local clerks and court staff more easily and uniformly track and manage circuit court cases. Read more.
11/10/11 Wisconsin courts, justice system partners respond to veterans
A column by Shirley S. Abrahamson, Chief Justice, Wisconsin Supreme Court. On Veterans Day, we honor more than 22 million veterans who have served our nation in the armed forces, including more than 400,000 veterans from Wisconsin. The Wisconsin court system appreciates their service and is responding, along with other justice system partners, to address the unique difficulties faced by some veterans who become involved with the court system upon their return home. Read more.
11/01/11 State of the Judiciary Address set for Wednesday
Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson will give her 2011 State of the Judiciary Address on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 9:15 a.m. at the Chula Vista Resort, Wisconsin Dells. The Chief Justice's speech opens the 2011 Meeting of the Wisconsin Judicial Conference, a gathering of most of the state's circuit and appellate court judges. Read more.
10/21/11 Volunteer lawyers, law students provide invaluable service to us all
A column by Shirley S. Abrahamson, Chief Justice, Wisconsin Supreme Court

The week of Oct. 23-29 is an opportunity to recognize lawyers and law students nationally and in Wisconsin who do "pro bono" work, in other words, volunteer their time to provide legal services to the poor. Pro bono roughly translates from Latin to "for the public good," and when lawyers and law students volunteer to provide legal representation for the poor, they indeed help us all. Read more.
10/13/11 Supreme Court accepts four new cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted to accept four new cases. The Court also acted to deny review in a number of cases. The case numbers, issues, and counties of origin are listed below. Court of Appeals opinions available online for the newly accepted cases are hyperlinked. Read more.
10/06/11 Court interpreter training sessions planned for Madison
The Director of State Courts Office is accepting applications for interpreter training to be held in Madison on Oct. 29-30 at UW-Extension’s Pyle Center on the UW-Madison campus. Read more.
10/05/11 Wisconsin Supreme Court accepts three new cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted to accept three new cases. The Court also acted to deny review in a number of cases. The case numbers, issues, and counties of origin are listed below. Court of Appeals opinions available online for the newly accepted cases are hyperlinked. Read more.
09/28/11 Supreme Court headed for Portage - Limited seating remains for Justice on Wheels
The Wisconsin Supreme Court will move its proceedings to Portage on Wednesday, October 5, conducting three hearings in the Columbia County Courthouse, Branch III, as part of its Justice on Wheels outreach program. Read more.
09/23/11 Supreme Court accepts eight new cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted to accept eight new cases. The Court also acted to deny review in a number of cases. The case numbers, issues, and counties of origin are listed below. Court of Appeals opinions available online for the newly accepted cases are hyperlinked. Read more.
09/19/11 Court system Web site redesigned
Welcome to the Wisconsin court system's redesigned Web site, www.wicourts.gov, which makes it easier for visitors to find and use information about the Wisconsin court system. Read more.
09/08/11 September is Juror Appreciation Month in Wisconsin
September has been set aside to formally recognize Wisconsin jurors for their contribution to our state and our democracy. Read more.
08/23/11 Dane County Circuit Court Judge C. William Foust elected 'Chief of the Chiefs'
Wisconsin's Committee of Chief Judges has elected Chief Judge C. William Foust, Dane County Circuit Court, as "chief of the chiefs." In this capacity, Foust serves as chair of the group of 10 chief judges, each of whom is selected by the Wisconsin Supreme Court to help oversee a judicial administrative district. Read more.
08/10/11 Wisconsin wins two major federal grants to reduce crime
Two Wisconsin communities have been selected in a national competition to receive federal grants that will provide technical assistance for an 18-month initiative to hold offenders accountable, reduce the overall crime rate and recidivism, and give taxpayers a better return on the dollars they invest in criminal justice. Read more.
07/29/11 Court interpreter training planned for Eau Claire
The Director of State Courts Office is accepting applications for interpreter training to be held in Eau Claire on Aug. 20-21 at the Eau Claire County Courthouse. Read more.
06/21/11 Supreme Court accepts three new cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted to accept three new cases. The Court also acted to deny review in a number of cases. Read more.
05/26/11 Wisconsin Supreme Court selects chief judges
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has selected circuit court judges from St. Croix and Fond du Lac counties, each to serve as the chief judge of their respective judicial administrative district. Judges from Dane, Iowa and Milwaukee counties were reappointed to continue as chief judges. Terms run from Aug. 1, 2011 through July 31, 2013. Read more.
05/26/11 Wisconsin celebrates National Drug Court Month
A message from Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson: A decade ago, there was one treatment court program in Wisconsin. Today, there are 41, and more are in the works. What's more, 16 of those programs are new in the past two years. That's right: in two of the most difficult fiscal years our state has seen in nearly a century, our communities and our courts have found a way forward. The courts and communities have identified new and better ways to help the people whom they serve. Read more.
05/10/11 Chief Justice kicks off Wisconsin Summit on Children and Families
Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson will provide the welcoming remarks at a statewide conference designed to improve outcomes for abused and neglected children in Wisconsin’s foster care system.  The 2011 Wisconsin Summit on Children and Families will take place May 11-12 at the Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells. More than 400 tribal and circuit court judges, attorneys, social workers and child advocates will attend.
Read more.
04/28/11 Law Day 2011 celebrates John Adams
A message from Shirley S. Abrahamson
In marking the nation’s first Law Day, May 1, 1958, President Eisenhower called on all Americans to vigilantly guard our "great heritage of liberty, justice and equality under law."     Read more.
04/25/11 Court interpreter training planned for Milwaukee
The Director of State Courts Office is accepting applications for interpreter training to be held in Milwaukee on May 14-15 at UW-Milwaukee. Read more.
04/21/11 Supreme Court accepts six new cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted to accept six new cases. The Court also acted to deny review in a number of cases. The case numbers, issues, and counties of origin are listed below. Court of Appeals opinions available online for the newly accepted cases are hyperlinked. Read more.
04/20/11 Oldest library in Wisconsin celebrates 175 years of service
April 20 marks the 175th “birthday” of the Wisconsin State Law Library, the oldest library in the state.  To honor the occasion, the staff is hosting a party in the library’s Reading Room on Wednesday, April 20, 2:00-3:00 p.m.  Birthday cake will be served, and Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson will read a proclamation by Governor Scott Walker recognizing the library’s 175 years of continuous service. “We are very proud and excited to celebrate this special milestone,” said Jane Colwin, State Law Librarian. Read more.
04/05/11 Library Initiative helps serve needs of self-represented litigants
On April 6, the Wisconsin Court System and the Milwaukee County Federated Library System will co-sponsor two special training sessions in Franklin for librarians who assist people who represent themselves in court. The goal of the library initiative is to foster communication between local courts and public libraries in an effort to better meet the legal service needs of self-represented litigants. Librarians will learn about the various court-related services and information available to assist self-represented litigants. Read more.
04/04/11 Supreme Court accepts eight new cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted to accept eight new cases. The Court also acted to deny review in a number of cases. The case numbers, issues, and counties of origin are listed below. Court of Appeals opinions available online for the newly accepted cases are hyperlinked.
Read more.
03/29/11 Chief Justice addresses Joint Committee on Finance
Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson today addressed the Legislature's Joint Committee on Finance. The text of the Chief Justice's remarks is available here Adobe PDF. Read more.
03/18/11 From Dane County Circuit Court: Decision in Ismael Ozanne v. Jeff Fitzgerald
The following is a transcript of the decision rendered today by Judge Maryann Sumi, Dane County Circuit Court. Read more.
03/01/11 Court interpreter training planned for Appleton
The Director of State Courts Office is accepting applications for interpreter training to be held in Appleton on March 18-19 at Fox Valley Technical College. Read more.
02/23/11 Supreme Court accepts six new cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted to accept six new cases. The Court also acted to deny review in a number of cases. The case numbers, issues, and counties of origin are listed below. Court of Appeals opinions available online for the newly accepted cases are hyperlinked. Read more.
02/17/11 Statement of Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson on the death of Justice William A. Bablitch:
This morning I received word that Justice Bill Bablitch passed away last night in Hawaii after a long illness. He was 69 years old - just two weeks shy of his 70th birthday.  He leaves behind his wife, Ann Milne, a daughter, Bulleh, and grandchildren. Read more.
01/20/11 Supreme Court accepts four new cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted to accept four new cases. The Court also acted to deny review in a number of cases. The case numbers, issues, and counties of origin are listed below. Court of Appeals opinions available online for the newly accepted cases are hyperlinked. Read more.
01/13/11 Wisconsin court system veterans initiative celebrates second year, honors first graduate
A program to help address the unique issues facing veterans and active-duty service personnel in the criminal justice system celebrates its second anniversary this month and marks a milestone: the first graduation from the Rock County Veterans Court Treatment Program. Read more.