Wisconsin Lawyer
Vol. 85, No. 2, February 2012

Supreme Court Orders

Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rule Procedures Report

In the matter of review of Report of the Wisconsin Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rule Procedures

Order 12-01

In June 2010 the Wisconsin Supreme Court created an advisory committee to review and provide recommendations on the supreme court’s rule making process. In May 2011 the Rule Procedures Committee submitted to the Wisconsin Supreme Court its report and recommendations on the court’s rule making function. The committee’s report is available on the court’s Web site at http://wicourts.gov/scrules/process.htm. The committee’s report summarizes three rule making structures the supreme court might consider for its rule making function, including 1) a Judicial Policy Council, 2) a Rules Advisory Board or committees, and 3) a modification of the present supreme court rule making structure. The committee incorporated in its report a procedural flowchart and proposed rules for the third alternative.

At an open administrative conference on Oct. 17, 2011, the court discussed the committee’s report and requested additional information about rule advisory committees in the federal and state court systems. The court stated that a public hearing would be scheduled and staff from other courts would be invited to discuss their rule making procedures. General public testimony on the rule making structures will also be entertained at this public hearing.

IT IS ORDERED that a public hearing shall be held in the Room 411 South in the State Capitol, Madison, Wis., on Monday, March 5, 2012, at 9:45 a.m., which accommodates appearances by video conferencing. The court anticipates that staff from other courts may appear via video conference to provide information about their rule making procedures. 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the court’s conference in the matter shall be held promptly in the Supreme Court Room in the State Capitol, Madison, Wis., following the public hearing.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that notice of the hearing be given by a single publication of a copy of this order in the official state newspaper and in an official publication of the State Bar of Wisconsin not more than 60 days nor less than 30 days before the date of the hearing.¹

Dated at Madison, Wis., this 6th day of January, 2012.

By the court:

A. John Voelker, Acting Clerk of Supreme Court

¹ Notice of the hearing will appear in the February 2012 Wisconsin Lawyer, the official publication of the State Bar of Wisconsin, approximately 20 days before the hearing rather than the required minimum of 30 days, due to the State Bar’s publication schedule. Pursuant to its rule making authority under Wis. Stat. § 751.12 and its Internal Operating Procedures, the court exercises its discretion to allow this unavoidable deviation from the requirements.

Wisconsin Lawyer