July 15, 2026 – The Wisconsin Supreme Court denied a records request for Notice of Voting Eligibility (NVE) forms because a 5-2 majority interpreted the guardianship statutes as excepting the forms from a public records request in
Wisconsin Voter Alliance (WVA) v. Secord, 2026 WI 27. “The legislature said, with limited exceptions, ‘court records pertinent to the finding of incompetency are closed,’” wrote Justice Janet C. Protasiewicz for the majority. “Thus, the [WVA] does not have a right
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What Crimes Have the Longest Sentences in Milwaukee?
Posted on July 15, 2026 in Criminal Defense
Being charged with a serious felony in Wisconsin changes your life overnight. While every criminal charge should be taken seriously, some offenses carry penalties that can keep someone in prison for decades or even for the rest of their life.
Wisconsin uses a felony classification system that assigns different maximum penalties based on the crime involved. If they believe the circumstances warrant it, prosecutors may also seek sentence enhancements that
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Title IX and ‘Sex’: What B.P.J. Means for Wisconsin Schools
The Supreme Court of the United States has at last addressed a years’ long debate: How is the term “sex” defined under Title IX? In its landmark decision West Virginia v. B.P.J., the Court found the term means one’s sex at birth, rather than one’s gender identity. As a result, the Court determined public institutions may implement sex-based eligibility restrictions for women’s and girls’ sports focused on the athlete’s sex assigned at birth without violating Title IX. The Court
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Wisconsin Supreme Court: Sovereign Immunity Stops Covenant Enforcement
July 7, 2026 – Tribal sovereign immunity defeated a claim to bind real estate covenants to the Menominee Indian Tribe and its representative, a 4-3 Wisconsin Supreme Court majority held in Legend Lake Property Owners Association, Inc. v. Keshena, 2026 WI 21.
“We conclude that nothing abrogates, waives, or otherwise precludes the Tribe’s sovereign immunity in this case,” wrote Justice Susan M. Crawford for the majority. “Accordingly, we affirm the circuit court’s judgment of dismissal.”
Chief Justice
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Supreme Court: 48-Hour Rule Didn’t Affect Circuit Court Competency
July 7, 2026 – The lack of an examiner’s required written report no later than 48 hours before the final involuntary civil commitment hearing “did not deprive the circuit court of competency to proceed,” a unanimous Wisconsin Supreme Court held in
Outagamie County v. M.J.B., 2026 WI 23. “Although this time limit protects important interests,” wrote Justice Susan M. Crawford, “nothing in the statutory scheme suggests that the legislature intended that failing to make the examiners’ reports accessible
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Supreme Court: Recommitment Hearing Hearsay Only Harmless Error
July 7, 2026 – A 2023 civil commitment order had sufficient evidence to support it beyond the alleged hearsay, and collateral consequences made the issue suitable for resolution, a 5-2 majority of the Wisconsin Supreme Court decided in Waukesha County v. R.D.T., 2026 WI 24.
“We hold that Ryden’s appeal is not moot,” wrote Justice Rebecca Frank Dallet for the majority. “We further conclude that the order should not be vacated because, even if the circuit court erred,
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Using Social Media During a Bitter Divorce Can Make It Worse
Posted on July 05, 2026 in Divorce
Few things are harder than going through a contested divorce. Not only are you separating from a person you may have planned to spend your life with, but you have to spend that separation intensely negotiating topics that would make even the best of friends struggle to get along.
While there are some things that people who are going through contested divorces can do to make the process easier for
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Wisconsin Supreme Court: Minority Grant Program Unconstitutional
June 19, 2026 – A state program designed to encourage retention of minority students in private and technical colleges failed strict scrutiny under recent U.S. Supreme Court precedent, the Wisconsin Supreme Court decided in Rabiebna v. Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB), 2026 WI 20 (June 18, 2026).
“We hold that [the] HEAB has failed to demonstrate that the legislature’s goals of increasing diversity and equalizing educational opportunities for certain students are compelling in this instance,” wrote Justice Annette
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Update: Wisconsin Supreme Court Grants Petition for Review that Asks Court to Reevaluate Its Approach to Statutory Interpretation
On June 16, 2026, the Wisconsin Supreme Court voted 6-1 to grant review in Abby Windows, LLC v. LIRC, 2024AP001013. The Court’s order scheduled briefing in the case to begin in July of 2026, meaning that the Court will presumably hear and decide the case during the 2026-27 term. Justice Rebecca Grassl Bradley, whose term expires on July 31, 2026, dissented to the Court’s order granting review. The order did not provide Justice Grassl Bradley’s reasoning.
As discussed in
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Wisconsin Supreme Court: Consumer Act Didn’t Apply to Lease
June 16, 2026 – The Wisconsin Consumer Act (WCA) didn’t apply to a residential lease dispute, the Wisconsin Supreme Court held, reversing the court of appeals in Koble Investments v. Marquardt, 2026 WI 19 (June 5, 2026).
Six members joined the majority opinion written by Justice Rebecca Grassl Bradley, who concluded “Wis. Stat. § 427.104 does not govern a residential lease under which rent is payable on a monthly basis because it is not an ‘agreement to
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Wisconsin Supreme Court Confirms the Consumer Act Does Not Govern Residential Leases
On June 5, 2026, the Wisconsin Supreme Court issued its decision in Koble Investments v. Marquardt, 2026 WI 19, reversing a court of appeals ruling that had unsettled residential landlord-tenant law across the state. The Court of Appeals originally held that a residential lease is a “consumer transaction” subject to the Wisconsin Consumer Act (“WCA”) debt-collection prohibitions and that the lease was void and unenforceable under Wis. Stat. § 704.44(10) and Wis. Admin Code § ATCP 134.08(10), exposing landlords
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Wisconsin Supreme Court Restores Balance in Landmark Koble Housing Case
For a brief period in Wisconsin, owning rental housing carried significant legal risk. After the Court of Appeals decision in Koble Investments v. Marquardt, litigation spread across the state. In more than 60 cases, tenants invoked Koble, and class actions followed. What began as a single appellate decision quickly became a statewide liability issue for landlords.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court’s reversal did more than correct an error. It halted a cascade that was already affecting the housing market.
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Wisconsin Court of Appeals: Intent Didn’t Prevent Election Fraud
June 5, 2026 – A City of Milwaukee election official wanted to show it’s easy to fraudulently obtain absentee military ballots.
In succeeding, she committed election fraud, the District I Wisconsin Court of Appeals affirmed in State v. Zapata, No. 2025AP425-CR (May 12, 2026).
“We conclude that Wis. Stat. § 12.13(3)(i) prohibits making false statements for the purpose of actually or constructively obtaining an absentee ballot, and [Kimberly D.] Zapata constructively obtained the ballots she requested,” wrote
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Wisconsin Supreme Court: No Colloquy to Stipulate to Involuntary Commitment
All justices agreed that due process doesn’t require a colloquy for a stipulation to an involuntary commitment and medication order, but applying that principle leaves critical questions unanswered.
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Don’t Mess With the Beaver: What the Buc-ee’s Lawsuit Says About Trademark Enforcement
Think of all the travel centers you know. Now, think of which one of those has the largest convenience store with 75,593 square feet. If you still cannot figure it out, think of the smiling beaver wearing a red hat with a yellow circular background. You guessed it, we are going to talk about Buc-ee’s!
Buc-ee’s is a cultural phenomenon that, despite having over 50 locations and spanning over 12 states, has a legal team that actively monitors
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The Accelerated Law School Hiring Cycle Hurts Our Profession
I want to begin by sharing my experience navigating the law school hiring cycle. During 1L, I was fortunate to be accepted into the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Diversity Clerkship Program. I applied and interviewed in January 2024, was accepted into the program in February, interviewed with employers shortly afterward, and ultimately secured a placement in March. In 2024, that was incredibly fast. I withdrew applications from several employers who would not even begin reviewing applications until late March.
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