State Bar of Wisconsin

Vilas County
Circuit Court Rules
(Ninth Judicial District)

• Threats against the Judiciary and Security Incidents in the Courts February 1997
• In the Matter of Federal Rules of Civil procedure 26(a)(1) and 26(f) December 1993
• Facsimile Transmission of Documents to the Court July 2001

Policy and Procedures Regarding Threats against the Judiciary and Security Incidents in the Courts

V100 Effective date: Immediately

V101 Threats are defined as written or oral declarations of an intention to inflict injury or pain upon individuals employed by or involved in the court system. Any threat shall be treated as serious.

V102 Security incidents are episodes of conduct in the courts in which the physical health or safety of participants or the physical property of the courts are put at risk.

V 103 All threats and security incidents are to be immediately reported personally or by telephone to the sheriff's office.

V104 Court Security Officer. The sheriff is directed to designate an officer to serve as a court security officer. The court security officer shall be responsible for:

• referral and investigation of all threats and security incidents.
• assistance in training of court personnel in handling threats and security incidents.
• making recommendations to maximizing court security in the future.

V105 Training. Upon hiring, every employee (including elected officials) shall be trained in the policies and procedures of handling threats and security incidents, including the use and completion of the report form. Refresher training shall be scheduled for all court employees on at least a yearly basis. All training shall be coordinated by the circuit judge, clerk of court, and court security officer. To the extent possible, such initial and refresher training should include the following:

• the court's policies and procedures concerning threats and security incidents.
• the physical layout of the courts and escape routes from courtrooms and court offices.
• recognizing when a threat is being made.
• responding to a bomb threat.
• responding to a hostage situation.
• techniques in remaining calm and avoiding panic during a stressful or potentially dangerous incident.
• techniques in responding to threats and security incidents in such a manner as to defuse the danger of the situation without placing the individual at physical risk.
• techniques in enhancing a person's personal safety either in the courts or elsewhere.
• telephone protocol when a threat is being made over the phone.
• handling irate or abusive individuals in person or over the telephone.
• knowing when to contact law enforcement because of immediate concerns with a "panic button" rather than by telephone.
• handling threats that are made away from the courthouse. .
• gathering evidence for potential prosecutions.
• using the threat/security incident report form.
• role playing activities in order to familiarize the employee with the process of recording and reporting threats.

V106 Threat/Security Incident Report form (GF-147). A record shall be made of all threats and security incidents on the Threat/Security Incident Report form. Such record shall be made contemporaneously with the event being recorded or as soon after as possible. The original of such report shall be transmitted to the Court Security officer. If deemed appropriate, a copy may be maintained in the court offices affected.

V107 "Panic Buttons." The panic button shall be used only in those cases where there is immediate dangerous or life-threatening activity that needs the presence of law enforcement officers. The Sheriff shall instruct officers acting under the sheriff to treat a panic button call as a dangerous or life-threatening activity in progress.

V 108 Telephone threats.

a. All court employees shall keep a copy of the Threat/Security Incident Report form immediately at hand beside all telephones on which calls from outside the courts can be received.
b. To the extent possible, while the person making the threat is still on the telephone, the report form should be completed. If not possible, the form should be completed as soon as practical while all information is still fresh in the mind.
c. The telephone on which a telephone threat was received should not be disconnected or hung up until such time as law enforcement personnel indicate that disconnecting is appropriate.

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In the Matter of Federal Rules of Civil procedure 26(a)(1) and 26(f)

Unless otherwise ordered by the court, the following cases are exempt from the requirements of Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 26(a)( 1) and 26(f):

V201 cases in which the plaintiff is proceeding pro se;

V202 collection and mortgage foreclosure cases brought by the United States; V203 social security appeals; and

V204 matters related to bankruptcy proceedings, such as a bankruptcy appeal or a motion to withdraw reference.

Entered this 6th day of December, 1993.

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Facsimile Transmission of Documents to the Court

Effective date: July 1, 2001

Facsimile documents transmitted directly to the Vilas County Circuit Court shall be accepted for filing only at (715) 479-3740 pursuant to the following provisions:

a. The document does not exceed fifteen (15) pages in length. b. No filing fee is required.

c. No additional fee or charge must be paid by the circuit court for accepting or receiving the facsimile document.

d. Papers filed by facsimile transmissions completed after regular business hours of the Clerk of Circuit Court's office are considered filed the next business day. The regular business hours of the Vilas County Circuit Court are 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. e. Facsimile papers are considered filed upon receipt by the clerk of circuit court and are the official record of the court and may not be substituted. The transmitting party shall send no additional copies of the facsimile transmission. The clerk of circuit court shall discard any duplicate papers subsequently received by the Clerk of Circuit court, assigned judge or court commissioner. Parties who have transmitted documents by facsimile to the court shall retain in their own files any "original" document that was used for the facsimile transmission. In the event the authenticity of the faxed document is challenged, the party who faxed the document to the Court shall have the burden to show authenticity.

The party transmitting the facsimile document is solely responsible for ensuring its timely and complete receipt. The circuit court, judge or clerk is not responsible for:

a. Errors or failures in transmission that result in missing or illegible documents. b. Periods when a circuit court facsimile machine is not operational for any reason.

A judge assigned to a particular matter may authorize in advance the filing of particular documents in that case that do not conform to these rules if good cause is shown and they are in conformance with SCR 801.16. Facsimiles exceeding 15 pages in length must certify that the assigned judge or court commissioner has approved the facsimile transmission.

Documents that are not to be filed but are to be used by the court for reference or other purpose may be transmitted by facsimile transmission to the fax numbers of Judge Mohr at (715) 479-3740.

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