Attorneys, judges, CCAP eager for Supreme Court to approve mandatory appellate e-filing rule.

Byline: Michaela Paukner, mpaukner@wislawjournal.com

Attorneys, judges and CCAP staff called on Wednesday for the Wisconsin Supreme Court to approvemandatory electronic filing in the state's Courts of Appeals.

The state Supreme Court held a public hearing Wednesday onRule Petition 20-07, whichasks the high court to approve mandatory e-filing in the appellate courts and amend the rules as needed to have the system in place. The proposed start date is July 1.

In 2019, CCAP began working with the Courts of Appeals and state Supreme Court on an e-filing pilot project. The purpose was to set up a comprehensive filing system similar to what's used in the circuit courts. Attorneys have been required to fileeverything electronically in the lower courts since 2016. The Courts of Appeals have been accepting electronic briefs and appendices since2009.

The clerk's office rolled out voluntary participation for the four appellate courts in the state beginning in August, and the appellate system now accepts electronic filings for any matter.

"This process worked well for circuit-court filing, and we think it will work well for appellate filing, too," said Marcia Vandercook, a member of the appellate e-filing committee, during Wednesday's hearing.

District III Deputy Chief Judge Lisa Stark described thesystem as well-used and accepted by judges. She said they haven't had any major concerns or missing filings, and CCAP staff has been very helpful in designing a program that meets their needs and reflects their workflows.

"This has been terrific," Stark said. "It has not affected the ability of my colleagues to do their work."

She estimated that about a third of judges are working entirely electronically, a third are still using paper and a third are doing a mix of both.

James Goldschmidt, attorney at Quarles & Brady and chair-elect of the State Bar of Wisconsin's appellate practice section, said the section has strong support for the rule petition. He saidmembers heard from appellate practitioners from around the state who are in support of e-filing.

"In fact, we would respectfully say it's about time," Goldschmidt said.

The section heard...