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CCAP Wisconsin Court Records

WI Circuit Court

The WI circuit court was established in 1977, when amendments were approved that allowed the judicial system to be restructured. Until this date, the trial courts in Wisconsin were divided into county and circuit court cases. The amendment allowed the courts to become a unified system creating one court to handle all of these cases.

How the WI Circuit Court Works

The circuit courts in Wisconsin receive funding from the state and the county. These funds are used to pay court officials their salaries and cover the cost of traveling and training for judges. State and county funds are also used to pay operating costs, court-appointed attorneys and witnesses, jurors, grants, and court interpreters.

There are 72 counties in the state of Wisconsin with 249 circuit court judges to hear cases in these counties. These counties are divided into 9 administrative districts with a chief judge in each district. The appointment of chief judge is determined by the Wisconsin Supreme Court and this elected official serves a 2-year term.

The duties and responsibilities of the chief judge include the following:

  • Maintain and oversee the administration in each district
  • Assign a deputy chief judge
  • Work with circuit court officials and staff
  • Meet monthly
  • Perform duties under direction from the Supreme Court
WI Circuit Court
WI Circuit Court

Cases that are filed in a WI circuit court include civil, traffic, criminal, probate, and juvenile court cases. In this trial court, cases are heard with arguments presented by both parties. The outcome of the case is determined by a judge or jury. The unfavorable party is able to appeal the court’s decision after the court proceedings.

About WI Circuit Court Records

Any case that is filed in a Wisconsin court is maintained by clerks of that courthouse. The courthouse is required to retain circuit court records for 20 years after the final entry of the court proceeding. These records are available to the public online and in the courthouse where the case was filed. The retention period for online records and documents differs from the retention period of paper court records.

Circuit court records contain information pertaining to a court case including the following:

  • Warrants, citations, indictments, complaints, and other types of documents used to file a case.
  • Information about the parties involved in the case including addresses, date of birth, and other personal information.
  • Evidence used in the court hearings
  • Transcripts of court events and hearings
  • Information about the status of a case, the disposition in a case, the date the case was filed, where the case was filed, and the judge assigned to the case.

Anyone who wishes to obtain copies of this information can print it directly from the website or by visiting the courthouse where the case originated.

Questions About WI Circuit Court Records

For questions about the proceedings in a circuit court case, individuals would need to contact the clerk’s office that filed the court case. This link https://www.wicourts.gov/courts/circuit/judges.htm can be used to access the directory for each courthouse in the state of Wisconsin.