Updates from the Courts

Visit the links below for the latest information that has been communicated from the courts regarding procedures related to COVID-19 (coronavirus).

United States District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin

• June 16, 2020: General Public Order Regarding COVID-19 Virus Public Emergency - Mask Policy
• June 1, 2020: Updated General Order Regarding COVID-19 Virus Public Emergency
• April 1, 2020: Notice Regarding Public Access to Telephonic Hearings
• March 29, 2020: Order Authorizing Conducting Certain Criminal Cases by Video Conferencing or Phone
• March 23, 2020: Order Regarding Building Closure

Wisconsin Supreme Court

• June 18, 2021: Remote Hearings in Appellate Courts
• June 18, 2021: Filing of Court Documents in Circuit and Appellate Courts (Temporary Mailbox Rule)
• June 18, 2021: Remote Administration of Oaths at Depositions via Remote Audio-Visual Equipment 
• June 18, 2021: Appellate Court Operations
• May 26, 2021: Interim Order Regarding Admission to the Bar
• May 26, 2021: Interim Order Regarding Attorney Regulatory Matters
• January 26, 2021: On-Demand CLE Programming in Response to COVID-19
• October 22, 2020: Matter of CDC Eviction Moratorium Compliance for Eviction Filings
• October 1, 2020: Extension of Orders and Interim Rule Concerning Continuation of Jury Trials, Suspension of Statutory Deadlines for Non-Criminal Jury Trials, and Remote Hearings During the COVID-19 Pandemic 
• August 5, 2020: Order Regarding Waiver of In-Person Attendance for State Bar of Wisconsin Board of Governors Meetings
• July 21, 2020: Order regarding education during the COVID-19 pandemic 
• June 5, 2020: Order regarding the matter of emergency procedures related to the CARES Act
• June 1, 2020: Modification of Supreme Court Rule 40.03 Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
• May 22, 2020: Final Report of the Wisconsin Courts COVID-19 Task Force
• May 22, 2020: Extension of Orders and Interim Rule Concerning Continuation of Jury Trials, Suspension of Statutory Deadlines for Non-Criminal Jury Trials, and Remote Hearings
• May 22, 2020: Order Regarding Remote Administration of Oaths at Depositions, Remote Hearings in Appellate Courts, Filing of Documents in Appellate Courts, and Appellate Court Operations
• May 19, 2020: Chief Justice's Wisconsin Courts COVID-19 Task Force
• May 15, 2020: Waiver of In-Person Attendance for State Bar of WI Board of Governors Meeting and Annual Meeting Requirement
• May 4, 2020: Emergency Procedures for Witnessing of Certain Estate Planning Documents
  April 28, 2020: Order Regarding Remote Administration of Oaths
• April 23, 2020: Order Regarding Extension of 2020 State Bar of WI Membership Cards 
  April 15, 2020: Order Regarding Remote Hearings During COVID-19 Pandemic
• April 13, 2020: Order Regarding Filing of Court Documents in Circuit and Appellate Courts
• April 8, 2020: Order Regarding Notices of Appearance, Motions, and Responses to Motions
• March 25, 2020: Order Regarding Remote AV Equipment
• March 25, 2020: Order Regarding Bar Admissions Ceremonies
• March 22, 2020: Order Regarding Jury Trials
• March 22, 2020: Order Regarding Video Conferencing
• March 22, 2020: Order Regarding Oral Arguments

Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District III

• July 24, 2020: Electronic filing begins in the Court of Appeals

Milwaukee County Circuit Court

• November 25, 2024: Revision of Local Rules
• September 28: 2020: Chief Judge Directive Approving Phase II Resumption of Jury Trials
• Plan for Phase II Resumption of Jury Trials
• August 20, 2020: Chief Judge Directive Approving Phase II Resumption of In-Person Hearings
• Plan for Resuming In-Person Hearings
• July 20, 2020: Chief Judge Directive Approving Phased Resumption of Jury Trials
• Plan for Resuming Jury Trials
• June 25, 2020: Chief Judge Directive Approving Phased Resumption of In-Person Hearings
• June 25, 2020: 1st Judicial District of Wisconsin COVID-19 Courts Operating Policies, Procedure and Plan for Resuming In-Person Hearings 
• May 1, 2020: Order Regarding Emergency Temporary Measures
• March 23, 2020: Order Regarding Emergency Temporary Measures / Disponible en español
• March 14, 2020: Press release 

Milwaukee County Circuit Court - Family Court Branch

• April 10, 2020: Letter from Family Court Division Regarding Operations Updates
• March 27, 2020: Announcement
• March 25, 2020: Letter from the Family Court Judges
• March 25, 2020: Affidavit for Request for Granting of Divorce Without a Final Hearing
• March 25, 2020: Statement from Guardian Ad Litem for a Divorce Without a Final Hearing
  

Milwaukee County Circuit Court - Probate Court Branch

• June 18, 2020: Guidelines for New (and pending “new”) Permanent Guardianships
• May 10, 2020: Probate Court Operations Update
• April 21, 2020: Chapter 51 Hearings - COVID-19 Operating Policies and Procedures
  
• April 21, 2020: Chapter 54/55 Hearings - COVID-19 Operating Policies and Procedures

Ozaukee County Circuit Court

• March 26, 2020: Press release

Appellate Court

• March 17, 2020: Order in the Matter of Appellate Court Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic