Jan. 7, 2026 – January CLE programs from State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE® address some of the most complex and consequential issues facing criminal defense attorneys today. Programs on representing clients with diminished capacity, forensic evidence, and crimmigration provide practical guidance to help lawyers navigate ethical obligations, scientific claims, and immigration consequences.

Are these areas outside your practice? Here’s a link to help you see what else is going on in January.

Wondering what CLE credits you still need before your reporting period is up? Check out the “Wisconsin Lawyer’s Guide to Earning, Tracking, and Reporting CLE.”

Representing a Criminal Defendant with Diminished Capacity: Ethical and Constitutional Issues 2026

1.0 CLE; via webcast 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, and on specific dates through Feb. 27, 2026.

When a criminal defendant struggles to understand the proceedings or make informed de​cisions, defense counsel faces an ethical balancing act.

Wisconsin law requires defense counsel to notify the court if there’s reason to doubt a client’s competency, even when the client objects. But confidentiality rules prohibit revealing the reasons behind that concern. This tension between constitutional mandates and professional ethics tests defense counsel’s judgment, discretion, and duty to both client and court.

This 1.0 CLE webinar provides clarity on the ethical, procedural, and constitutional dimensions of competency and the practical guidance you need to meet your obligations.

You’ll learn how to:

• identify when a client’s decision-making ability triggers ethical and constitutional concerns;

• determine when to raise the issue of competency and what information may (and may not) be shared;

• manage communication and preserve client trust amid questions about capacity;

• balance client autonomy and protection while staying compliant with Wisconsin’s ethics rules; and

• apply practical strategies for maintaining professional integrity in cases involving diminished capacity.

Visit WisBar’s Marketplace for more information and to register.

Forensic Justice Institute 2026

8.0 CLE; via webcast 8:25 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, and on specific dates through Nov. 26, 2026.

Co-produced with the Center for Integrity in Forensic Sciences (CIFS)

Forensic evidence can be persuasive, but sometimes the certainty projected in the courtroom exceeds what science truly supports. A conclusion delivered too confidently, a probability presented without context, or a detail interpreted too narrowly can influence how the judge and jury understand a case.

Even when unintentional, these moments can significantly alter decisions, leading to profound consequences for the accused. Attorneys who can distinguish between supported and unsupported scientific claims are better positioned to keep the record grounded in reliable evidence and achieve more just outcomes.

The Forensic Justice Institute 2026 gives you the knowledge to do exactly that. This one-day program brings together renowned forensic specialists and criminal law practitioners to help you analyze, question, and apply scientific evidence with clarity and precision, not bias.

Gain practical tools to evaluate forensic methods, interpret scientific claims, and understand the evidentiary weight of key forensic disciplines. You’ll explore how to:

• identify the types of digital surveillance data that may appear in criminal investigations;

• assess the scientific principles and practical considerations behind accident reconstruction;

• recognize the ways context, case information, and independent review shape medical-legal decisions in death investigations;

• evaluate the scientific validity of firearms identification and prepare for admissibility challenges;

• apply probability rules appropriately and avoid common fallacies in interpreting likelihoods;

• anticipate how chemistry and toxicologic pathology may influence evidentiary analysis; and

• consider emerging issues in the use of artificial intelligence in forensic evidence.

Together, these sessions help you turn scientific insight into stronger advocacy – whether you’re preparing for cross examination, challenging admissibility, or explaining complex findings to a jury.

You’ll leave with sharper questions, clearer strategies, and a deeper understanding of what the science behind the evidence can – and cannot – support. Ensure that reliable science guides your advocacy and reinforces the integrity of your work with the Forensic Justice Institute 2026.

Registration is open – visit WisBar’s Marketplace.

Crimmigration 2026

7.0 CLE and 1.0 EPR; in person at the State Bar Center in Madison and via webcast 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, and via webcast seminar on specific dates through May 11, 2026.

Noncitizens facing criminal charges stand at one of the most vulnerable intersections in the justice system. Frequent news coverage of enforcement efforts and detention activity illustrates the real-world implications of every charging decision, plea discussion, and court appearance involving a noncitizen client.

A single conviction for a seemingly minor offense can determine not only liberty but also family unity, employment, and long-term stability, making it crucial for attorneys to understand how the criminal and immigration systems interact.

Attorneys working in this space shoulder a unique responsibility: every step of a criminal case can trigger ramifications in a separate deferral system governed by its own rules, priorities, and consequences. Crimmigration 2026 offers a precise, practical examination of these pressures, equipping you with tools to assess risk, anticipate outcomes, and protect your client’s future.

Gain insights from presenters who regularly balance status consequences with defense objectives, with a grounded overview of today’s crimmigration landscape, including:

• fundamental principles of crimmigration practice;

• the latest enforcement and detention priorities guiding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) decision-making;

• strategies for safer plea negotiations grounded in the categorical approach;

• tools to support more effective removal-defense efforts in criminal cases;

• effective strategies for achieving client-centered objectives across two legal systems; and

• ethical guidance on advising noncitizen clients with criminal exposure.

Crimmigration 2026 helps you give your noncitizen clients the best representation possible. Find out more on WisBar’s Marketplace.