Local Court Rules in Wisconsin

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While litigators most likely are familiar with the various state and federal local court rules impacting courtroom practice in their geographic areas, they may not be as familiar with the local rules for courts in other areas in which they do not usually practice but have a case.

Wisconsin’s state courts have various different sets of local rules. To assist attorneys in complying with these differing local rules, the State Bar of Wisconsin maintains a page on its website—www.wisbar.org—with links to them.

Milwaukee County is the most populous county in Wisconsin, and its Circuit Court has its own local rules which can be found here:

The Circuit Courts for the various counties outside Milwaukee comprising the greater Milwaukee metropolitan area also have their own local rules, including:

• The Kenosha County Circuit Court which can be found here.
• The Ozaukee County Circuit Court which can be found here.
• The Racine County Circuit Court which can be found here.
• The Sheboygan County Circuit Court which can be found here.
• The Washington County Circuit Court which can be found here.
• The Waukesha County Circuit Court which can be found here.

Wisconsin’s federal courts also have their own local rules.

• The local rules for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin can be found here.
• The local rules for the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin can be found here.
• The local rules for the Wisconsin Bankruptcy Courts can be found:
  • Here for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin;
  • Here for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.

 In addition, various Wisconsin federal court judges, particularly those in the Eastern District of Wisconsin, have their own practice preferences, some of which can be found:

• • Here for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin; and
  • Here for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.

Local rules are subject to periodic modification, so it is advisable to review the local rules at the beginning of each case and thereafter as necessary.

For more information about Wisconsin’s state or federal local court rules, please contact Grant Killoran at 414.291.4733