Continuing education

State Supreme Court Rules (chapters 32, 33 and 75 ) require Wisconsin judges to receive continuing education. Justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the Court of Appeals, and circuit court judges must earn 60 credits of approved judicial education during each six-year period they are on the bench. Reserve judges and municipal judges must meet similar continuing judicial education requirements.

The Office of Judicial Education, located in the Director of State Courts Office, plans and conducts educational seminars and training activities for Wisconsin judges, assesses the value of courses offered elsewhere, and tracks credits earned by judges.

2009 judicial education calendar (tentative)

2010 judicial education calendar (tentative)

The Judicial College

Held annually, the Wisconsin Judicial College focuses on the tools and techniques of judging. It is designed as an introduction to the bench for newly elected or appointed judges and a refresher for sitting judges, each of whom is required to attend the Judicial College at least once every period of six years. Sessions are interactive. Experienced judges share their solutions to the new and recurring problems that arise in litigation and their insights on judicial decision-making. Newer judges, in turn, share their perspectives from the other side of the bench.

The Judicial Conference

Held annually, usually in the fall, the Judicial Conference is attended by almost 300 Wisconsin judges. The chief justice delivers the annual State of the Judiciary Address and the director of state courts gives the State of the Director's Office address at this conference. Judges also attend educational presentations, hold their annual business meeting, and participate in workshops on timely topics affecting the judiciary and the judicial process.

Programs for municipal courts

Each new municipal judge is required to attend the Municipal Judge Orientation and Institute held in May. Sitting municipal judges must earn at least four credits of approved continuing education per year (May 1 to April 30). In addition to the Orientation and Institute Seminar, Trial, Traffic and Special Topic Seminars are held each year. A day and a half Municipal Court Clerks’ Seminar is also held. Updates about municipal judge education activities, new laws and other news concerning the municipal court community are published in the Muni View newsletter.

2009-2010 municipal court seminar calendar

Municipal Judge Traffic Seminar
We are now accepting registrations for the Municipal Judge Traffic Seminar to be held at The Blue Harbor Resort in Sheboygan on September 17 and 18.  The seminar is open to all municipal judges and attendance at the entire seminar will provide you the four credits needed to fulfill the Judicial Education requirement for the May 1, 2009, through April 30, 2010, reporting period.  If you wish to attend please return the registration form to our office no later than August 31.  

        Announcement
        Tentative agenda
        Registration form

Municipal Court Clerk Seminar
We are now accepting registrations for the Municipal Court Clerk Seminar to be held at The Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells on October 8 and 9.   If you wish to attend please return the registration form along with a check for $20 made out to the Wisconsin Supreme Court to our office no later than September 18.  

        Announcement
        Tentative agenda
        Registration form

New Laws and New Cases

For your convenience, the most current edition of New Laws and New Cases is provided. The Office of Judicial Education wishes to thank the committee members who research, write and present this information at seminars: Hon. Daniel P. Koval, city of Madison, Commissioner Todd Meurer of Dane County Circuit Court and Judge John Neuenschwander, city of Kenosha.