Library initiative helps pro se litigants
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| Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Michael O. Bohren presents information to help public librarians assist self-represented litigants at the Waukesha County Public Library Initiative workshop. |
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Jane Colwin, State Law librarian, discusses resources available for self-represented litigants at the Public Library Initiative workshop in Waukesha County.
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In an effort to promote communication between local courts and public libraries, the Third Judicial District held two workshops for librarians who assist people who represent themselves in court. The workshops took place on March 6 in Waukesha and April 8 in Horicon, and offered information for library staff about the various court-related services and information currently available for self-represented litigants.
The Waukesha presentation was co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Court System and the Waukesha County Library System. Speakers at the event included Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Michael O. Bohren, Third Judicial District Court Administrator Michael Neimon, State Law Librarian Jane Colwin, Waukesha County Clerk of Circuit Court Carolyn Evenson, Waukesha County Register in Probate Sally Lunde, and Waukesha County Family Self-Help Coordinator Tera Nehring.
The Horicon presentation was offered for library staff in Dodge, Jefferson, Washington, and Ozaukee counties, and was co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Court System and the Mid-Wisconsin Federated and Eastern Shores Library Systems. This workshop included presentations by Colwin, Neimon, Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew T. Gonring, Dodge County Clerk of Court Lynn Hron, Ozaukee County Court Commissioner Darcy McManus, Washington County Register in Probate Kay Morlen, and Statewide Pro Se Coordinator Ann Zimmerman.
County court staff will make follow-up visits to the public libraries to promote working relationships and provide additional information. The library initiative is just one of the steps the court system has taken to improve court access for those who represent themselves. The program has already been successfully completed in the Ninth and Tenth judicial districts, and plans are currently underway to launch the program in the Second and Fourth judicial districts by year's end. For further information about the Public Library Initiative, contact State Pro Se Coordinator Ann Zimmerman at ann.zimmerman@wicourts.gov.
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