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CCAP Wisconsin Court Records

Circuit Court Wisconsin

The circuit court Wisconsin court program maintains court cases filed in each county in the state. There are different types of court cases filed including criminal, civil, and traffic court cases. The circuit court Wisconsin court program provides access to these court records per the Wisconsin open records law.

Circuit Court Wisconsin Operations

The circuit court is divided into different branches and headed by a chief judge. The courts are responsible for hearing criminal and civil cases brought in front of the courts while providing a decision where one party is favored over the other.

Each county has one circuit court with one judge that presides over court cases in that county. Milwaukee is a large county and files over 150,000 court cases per year and they have 47 judges for its county.

If an individual appears in front of a circuit court Wisconsin judge for a court case and the case is ruled in favor of the other party, an appeal can be filed. The appeal has to be petitioned before the Court of Appeals or it can be taken to the supreme court for direct review. There are 16 judges and four districts in the court of appeals. 4 of these judges must agree on voting in favor of one party for the case to move forward using a petition for bypass and direct review. If the case is one that involves the questioning of law, the case will be sent to the Supreme court using the review petition.

Overview of Circuit Court Wisconsin

Circuit Court Wisconsin
Circuit Court Wisconsin

The circuit court in the state of Wisconsin has been around for over a century. The court is considered to be a trial court where cases are heard and jury trials are held. The chief judge of the circuit court in each district is appointed to the position by the supreme court.

The court is considered to be the original jurisdiction for cases filed in Wisconsin. Clerks of the circuit court work with the judges and are responsible for maintaining the management and administration duties for the district. The court system is designed to protect the rights of individuals in each county in accordance with the Wisconsin state law.

Other Information

Despite having a consolidated court access program in Wisconsin. Each county is responsible for its own cases filed in the courts. This means that the maintenance and upkeep of the court records are performed by the circuit court clerks in that county.

Cases in circuit court are able to be filed in person or through electronic filing. The circuit court Wisconsin online portal has a link to file court cases electronically. There are certain restrictions that must be complied with and this information can be found on the web portal under the electronic filing tab.

There are standard forms that are used when dealing with circuit court matters. These forms can be found on the web portal. As always, if you need further assistance that goes beyond the portal, contact the clerk of courts for assistance.

Categories
CCAP Wisconsin Court Records

WI Court Records

If you need to locate WI court records, the first place you should start is with the county clerk’s office or the courthouse. It can be easier to find WI court records by searching through county court records instead of using the statewide consolidated court’s program.

If you need to lookup multiple counties or you are unsure of the county where the court case was filed, the statewide consolidated portal is the best option for you. This portal will provide you with information for any case filed in any county in Wisconsin.

Using the WI Court Records Statewide Portal

The statewide portal is used by the general public and anyone wishing to access court records. The portal has been updated over the last few years and it contains the records of court cases filed in Wisconsin according to the display period guidelines. The guidelines are available on the portal and it breaks down the length of time each type of courthouse is accessible using the portal.

If you need to access court records beyond the online portal display period, you will need to visit the courthouse where the case was filed and request the court records with a clerk of the court official.

What is included in WI Court Records?

The type of information that is included in the WI court records will depend on the type of court record that you are researching. In general, most court records will contain the following information:

  • Court case number
  • Documents and notes files at each court date
  • Personal information of the parties involved in the court case.
  • The outcome of the court case
  • Attorney information
  • Schedule of the events and hearings for each court case.

If the court record that you are researching is a criminal case, you may have access to the witness statements, list of evidence and the documents filed by the courts. If you have questions about what type of information you can access you can contact the clerk’s office for assistance.

WI Court Records
WI Court Records

Other Resources

Researching court records or obtaining information can be found through other resources aside from the portal and the clerk of the court’s office. The Wisconsin Department of Justice Crime Information Bureau provides additional information that may not be found in court case records.

There are limitations on accessing information in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Courthouses have limited hours and some administrative offices are not open to the public or you have to make an appointment to visit the courthouse. Each courthouse has its own guidelines for in-person access or walk-ins. Therefore you will need to contact the courthouse in advance.

Other Information You Need to Know

There is an online portal available to access WI court records. The portal can be accessed remotely from any device that has internet access. You do not have to use a courthouse terminal to access the portal for court records.

For all other questions or concerns refer to the information found on the court records portal or contact the courthouse where the case was filed.

Categories
CCAP Wisconsin Court Records

WIS Courts

The WIS Courts system is used for individuals wanting information on cases filed in a Wisconsin Circuit Courthouse. This system consists of various types of cases including civil, criminal, juvenile, and family court cases. The WIS Courts information portal provides access to most of these cases and is accessible online or in person.

If you wish to access the online WIS case records system, you can do so remotely from your own device or by visiting a public terminal located in the circuit courts. This will allow you to print and view WIS Courts documents that are uploaded to the system from cases filed in a Wisconsin county circuit court.

Understanding the WIS System

Circuit court clerks in each county are the official record holders of all documents filed in the WIS courts system. These clerks are able to assist you with researching and understanding the documents that are filed in each court case. Technical support is maintained by the WIS courts technical support team located in Madison, Wisconsin. This team is regulated by the Director of State courts administration division.

The Wisconsin state law library provides access to the WIS courts system. There are clerks available in the library to assist with filing and locating documents for each county. You can find a self-help center on the state law library website. This provides individuals with access to the law reference and learning center for filing court cases.

WIS Courts
WIS Courts

The WIS courts learning center has a search database that allows you to perform searches for documents, forms, and tutorials to file and research cases located in the WIS Courts records portal. To access the self-help learning center, you will need to have a library card.

Benefits of the WIS Courts System

There are several benefits that are gained from using this system for court case research. You have the option to research court cases, print and view documents, and use the self-help center directly from the court system online web portal.

This system eliminates the need to visit the county circuit courthouse and allows you to perform research at your convenience.

Contacting WIS Support Center

If you need guidance while using the WIS online judicial web portal, you can find links to the live support center on the portal. The live help center can only assist you with questions regarding technical issues while using the web portal. If you need assistance regarding court cases, you will need to contact the clerk of the courts.

There is a directory that is located on the portal with county court contact information. You will need to visit the court website to obtain information related to the courthouse location, business hours, and other contact information. Not all county courthouses have the same hours of operation, therefore to receive accurate information for a specific location, you will need to visit the website.

For general questions about WIS, you can contact the Director of the State Courts administration office for assistance. There are several branch offices throughout Wisconsin.