The Children’s Court Improvement Program recently welcomed judicial officers to the annual Child Welfare Law Orientation on April 26-28 in La Crosse. The training, which has been held since 2008, is designed to assist judges and circuit court commissioners in conducting hearings, and more broadly, to improve the daily processing of child welfare proceedings.
In addition to covering key child welfare hearings and laws, sessions addressed utilizing data in judicial case management, child safety decision-making, and there was a workshop for court commissioners on issues unique to their role. Additionally, the training featured a parent and caregiver panel that provided perspectives of those who have been directly involved in the child welfare system.
The orientation faculty is comprised of Wisconsin judges and commissioners experienced in the various aspects of juvenile court practice, including Commissioner Kevin Costello, Waukesha County; Judge Christopher Foley, Milwaukee County Circuit Court; Commissioner Anton Jamieson, Dane County; Judge Wendy Klicko, Sauk County Circuit Court; Judge Jason Rossell, Kenosha County Circuit Court; and Judge Todd Ziegler, Monroe County Circuit Court. Judge Ziegler replaced Judge Edward Vlack III, St. Croix County Circuit Court, who served on the faculty from 2008 to 2022.
Judicial officers of all experience levels, ranging from the newly-elected to reserve judges with decades on the bench attended the orientation. In the evaluation responses, several attendees praised the practical applicability of the information, with one judge commenting, “[I] wish I would have had this training when I started 23 years ago.”
The Child Welfare Law Orientation is a required course under Supreme Court Rule SCR 32.04. Specifically, circuit court judges must attend the training at least once during each term beginning with terms starting on or after August 1, 2020. The Child Welfare Law Orientation will next be offered April 10-12, 2024 in Madison.
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