Court Updates, Work Resources & More
View up-to-date listings of court and state bar developments, resources for your practice, government orders, and more. Click to jump to a section below.
Updated February 2021
The State Bar's Ongoing Response
While these are challenging times, our dedicated team is working just as hard to assist you.
The State Bar is committed to your safety, health, and well-being, as well as that of our team. We are focused on providing continued assistance and services to you as best we can while trying to minimize disruption. Although we are limiting in-person functions, our core programs continue, including support from WisLAP, Practice 411 and the Ethics hotline.
Please note that the State Bar Center is currently closed to non-State Bar employees. Contact customer service if you need assistance at (608) 257-3838 or (800) 728-7788 (nationwide), or by email at service@wisbar.org.
Ongoing Efforts. The State Bar is actively monitoring this evolving pandemic, and taking direction from the Center for Disease Control, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, and other national and local health organizations. We will continue to make adjustments for our members and staff as the situation warrants. We will keep you informed on the developments on this webpage and in other communication channels.
About State Bar Meetings and Events
All meetings will be held in a teleconference format indefinitely. Visit WisBar Marketplace for up-to-date meeting information.
Please contact customer service if you have questions on events and meetings, at (608) 257-3838, (800) 728-7788 (nationwide), or by email at service@wisbar.org.
CLE Programming Continues
Although the State Bar has indefinitely suspended in-person PINNACLE® programming, events, and meetings, we’ve ramped up the use of technology to keep our members informed and connected. PINNACLE is maintaining a robust level of CLE programming, as well as webcast replays and OnDemand seminars.
Find a listing of coronavirus-related CLE programming on the WisBar Marketplace.
NEW: Fully searchable and affordable resources on legal topics
PINNpoint Enhanced Course Materials offers attorneys a way to quickly and efficiently learn about a discrete legal topic by providing supplemented course materials from previously-aired PINNACLE-produced webinars. Course materials are created by Wisconsin legal experts and include additional resources for added value.
See the full list of PINNpoint Enhanced Course Materials here.
Titles include:
- COVID-19-Related Hot Topics in Contracts
- Counseling Employers in a Pandemic
- Wisconsin’s Response to COVID-19
- COVID-19: Insurance, Business Continuity, and Other Issues for Business Owners
- COVID-19: Human Resources Considerations from FFCRA and Return-to-Work Planning
- COVID-19: Employee Benefits Issues
- COVID-19: Economic Relief for Small Businesses
- COVID 19: Ethical, Logistical, and Well-Being Considerations for Attorneys
Obtain up to 30 CLE Credits On-Demand Through 2021
At the request of the State Bar of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2020 temporarily eased CLE rules, and on Jan. 26, 2021, extended that order for 2021. Through the end of the 2021, lawyers can get all 30 credits through on-demand programs.
Lawyers must obtain 30 credits per two-year reporting period. CLE rules typically limit the number of on-demand CLE credits to 15. However, the court’s temporary order means lawyers who must obtain their 30 credits by the end of this year can obtain all of them through on-demand programs, rather than live in-person or live webcast programs. See a list of On-Demand CLE programs from PINNACLE.
Coronavirus and Your Firm and Practice: Resources & Advice
Here is a list of State Bar and other resources to help you and your law firm, respond to the ongoing pandemic, including the steps to create the plan best suited for your law firm and for your particular situation.
Get help with these additional resources:
Ethics, Business Continuity, and Disaster Planning
If you have confidential questions, please direct those to the Ethics Hotline at (800) 254-9154 or Practice411 at (800) 957-4670. For additional resources, turn to the Wisconsin Law Firm Self-Assessment section on business continuity and disaster planning.
Wisconsin Court Developments
See the "COVID-19" tab on the Wisconsin Court website for up-to-date information. Linked below are Supreme Court orders issued from March 18 to June 8, 2020.
Supreme Court Order re Resumption of in-Person Proceedings in Attorney Regulatory Matters (June 8, 2020)
Supreme Court order re Emergency Procedures Related to the Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act’s Temporary Moratorium on Eviction Filings (June 5, 2020)
Supreme Court order re Modification of Supreme Court Rule 40.03 (Diploma Privilege) Due to COVID-19 Pandemic (June 1, 2020)
Supreme Court Order re Matter of the Extension of Orders Concerning Remote Administration of Oaths at Depositions, Remote Hearings in Appellate Courts, Filing of Documents in Appellate Courts and Appellate Court Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic (May 22, 2020)
Supreme Court Order re Matter of the Extension of Orders and Interim Rule Concerning Continuation of Jury Trials, Suspension of Statutory Deadlines for Non-Criminal Jury Trials, and Remote Hearings During the COVID-19 Pandemic (May 22, 2020).
Supreme Court Order re Matter of the Final Report of the Wisconsin Courts COVID-19 Task Force (May 22, 2020)
FINAL REPORT: Chief Justice’s Wisconsin Courts COVID-19 Task Force (May 15, 2020)
Supreme Court Order re Emergency Procedures for the Witnessing of Wills, Codicils, Powers of Attorney for Health Care, and Declarations to Health Care Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic (May 4, 2020)
Supreme Court Order re Remote Administration of Oaths at Depositions Via Remote Audio-Visual Equipment During the Covid-19 Pandemic (EXTENSION) (April 28, 2020)
Supreme Court Order re Extension of Expiration of 2020 State Bar of Wisconsin Membership Cards (April 23, 2020)
Supreme Court re Extending Order on Remote Hearings and Clarifying Order for Juvenile Cases (April 15, 2020)
Supreme Court Order re Filing of Court Documents in Circuit and Appellate Courts (Temporary Mailbox Rule) (April 13, 2020)
Supreme Court Order re Appellate Court Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic – Supplemental Order Regarding Notices of Appearance, Motions, and Responses to Motions (April 8, 2020)
Supreme Court Order re Judicial Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic (April 3, 2020)
Supreme Court Order re Extension of Order on Appellate Court Operations, Deadlines (April 2, 2020)
Supreme Court Order re Remote Administration of Oaths at Depositions Via Remote Audio-Visual Equipment During the Covid-19 Pandemic (March 25, 2020)
Supreme Court Order re Admission to the Bar During The Covid-19 Pandemic (March 25, 2020)
Supreme Court Order re Jury Trials during COVID-19 (March 22, 2020)
Supreme Court Order re Videoconferencing during COVID-19 (March 22, 2020)
Supreme Court Order for Cancellation of 3-30-20 and 4-1-20 Arguments (March 22, 2020)
Circuit Court and Tribal Court Emergency Orders
Wisconsin Court System News Feed
Appellate Courts Remain Operational With Some Limitations in Service (March 18, 2020)
Supreme Court Temporarily Eases CLE Rules, Lawyers Can Get More On-Demand Credits (March 18, 2020)
Supreme Court Issues Order on Appellate Court Operations, Deadlines During Pandemic (March 18, 2020)
Federal Court Developments
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Other U.S. Court Orders and Updates
Government Orders
State of Wisconsin Executive Orders Page
State of Wisconsin Press Releases
State of Wisconsin Press Releases Page
