Public records such as court cases and arrest information are available through online search portals. Typically these portals are maintained by the county or state where the court case was filed and/or heard.
Some online search portals consolidate the different levels of the judicial system into one court program. This makes it easier to streamline court case information and to communicate with various government agencies and attorneys.
Using Wisconsin Court Records Search Portal
Wisconsin is an example of a consolidated online judicial search program. The Wisconsin Court Records Search portal electronically stores court case information and documents from all levels of the Wisconsin court system.
The Wisconsin Court Records Search portal is part of the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access and Consolidated Court Automation Programs in Wisconsin. The portal can be accessed by using the Wisconsin Judicial System website and clicking the “search for records” link found on the website.
This will direct users to the main page of the online search portal. Users are required to agree to the portal’s terms and conditions before they are granted access to the Wisconsin court records search section.
In this section, you can search for court records by using any combination of the following information:
- Full name(first, last)
- Name of the business
- Attorney names
- Court case number
When using the system you have the option to enter additional search criteria to refine or narrow down your search results. This information includes the date of birth, the date the court case was filed, and/or the citation or ticket number.
After you have entered all of the search information that you have, the search result will be processed. The system will display your search results and you will need to look for the court case that you need access to. To help you locate the court case, you can choose to filter the results in ascending or descending order.
Understanding Wisconsin Judicial System
In most cases, judicial systems are split up into different levels based on the severity of the charges or the type of court case it is. Wisconsin for example is split into municipalities, circuit courts, the court of appeals, and the Supreme court. This Wisconsin Supreme court is the highest level and the court is responsible for appeal cases, original action cases, and the court regulates how the law is practiced in the state.
More information about the Wisconsin Judicial System can be found through the Wisconsin State Library. The state library provides online access as well as in-person access to the tools and resources used in the Wisconsin Judicial System.
Contacting Wisconsin Courts
There are several ways that individuals can contact any Wisconsin court of law. You can reach the courts by phone, fax, email, or by going to the courthouse in person. Information about court locations and hours of operation is found on the Wisconsin Judicial System website under the Directory of Wisconsin Courts.
If you wish to quickly access the website, you can do so by clicking on this link https://www.wicourts.gov/casesearch.htm.