STATUS REPORT ON JUDICIAL REFORM IN WISCONSIN (1977) - A FOLLOW-UP ON THE FINAL REPORT OF THE CITIZENS STUDY COMMITTEE ON JUDICIAL ORGANIZATION

• NCJ Number: 56374
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 81 pages
• Corporate Author: Wisconsin Citizens Study Cmtte on Judicial Organization; Wisconsin Dept of Admin
• Sale Source: National Technical Information Service
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

REFORM IMPLEMENTATION IS REPORTED IN THE AREAS OF COURT STRUCTURE AND JURISDICTION, COURT ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT, JUDGES, COURT AVAILABILITY, AND SUBSTANTIVE AND PROCEDURAL LAW FOR WISCONSIN.

Abstract

IN APRIL 1971, THE GOVERNOR OF WISCONSIN ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO ESTABLISH A CITIZENS COMMITTEE ON JUDICIAL ORGANIZATION TO INVESTIGATE THE ADEQUACY AND EFFICIENCY OF THE PRESENT JUDICAL SYSTEM IN THE STATE. THIS REPORT DETAILS THE STATUS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THAT COMMITTEE. THE REPORT IS ORGANIZED TO COINCIDE WITH THE FORMAT OF THE COMMITTEE'S FINAL REPORT, I.E., IT IS ORGANIZED ACCORDING TO THE SUBJECT AREAS OF THE FIVE WORKING SUBCOMMITTEES: (1) COURT STRUCTURE AND JURISDICTION, (2) COURT ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT, (3) JUDGES, (4) COURT AVAILABILITY, AND (5) SUBSTANTIVE AND PROCEDURAL LAW. UNDER COURT STRUCTURE AND JURISDICTION, RECOMMENDATIONS DEALT WITH MUNICIPAL COURTS, TRIAL COURTS, AND THE APPELLATE STRUCTURE. THE AMENDED STATE CONSTITUTION PROVIDES FOR CONTINUATION OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT SYSTEM, BUT WITH JURISDICTION LIMITED TO MUNICIPAL ORDINANCE CASES. THE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS DEALING WITH MUNICIPAL COURT PROCEDURES COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED LATER IN THE YEAR OF THIS REPORT WRITING. UNDER COURT ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT, THE TOPICS WHERE RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED INCLUDE ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP, FINANCE AND BUDGETING, INFORMATION NEEDS AND SYSTEMS, JUROR ADMINISTRATION, AND FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT. PROGRESS IS BEING MADE TOWARD INCREASED STATE FINANCING OF THE STATE COURT SYSTEM. FEW OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE AREA OF JUROR ADMINISTRATION HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED. MANY RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE AREA OF JUDICIAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION, JUDICIAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING, AND JUDICIAL COMPENSATION AND RETIREMENT HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED. IN THE AREA OF COURT AVAILABILITY, THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF ACTIVITY HAS OCCURRED IN THE DELIVERY OF LEGAL SERVICES FOR POOR AND MIDDLE-INCOME PEOPLE, AND IN COURT COSTS. ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE AREA OF PROCEDURAL LAW HAS BEEN THE REVISION OF CIVIL PRETRIAL PROCEDURES. THE APPENDIX DETAILS ISSUES TREATED IN THE BODY OF THE REPORT. (RCB)