The age of settlement: Peace rather than war.

Byline: GREGG HERMAN

For a number of years, I've put together a family law cases update program for the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, the State Bar Family Law Section and the state family court judges.

For the last several years, I have noted the dwindling number of family law cases decided by the appellate courts. Last year set a new record low - there were zero family law cases decided by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. There was one case recommended for publication by the Court of Appeals, but the issue was about frivolous costs, not strictly a family law issue. The total number of unpublished, but citable cases by the Court of Appeals in this field: three. Not so many years ago there would be 10 to 15 cases decided by the appellate courts in a given year.

This represents a significant change in the practice of family law. I was hired by my current law firm out of the District Attorney's office to serve as the firm litigator. For years, I was in court constantly, trying any number of cases per year. Today, any trial is a rare thing. Being a family law attorney has become a negotiation role. Some of this is due, I believe, to a general societal change which is concerned with the cost of litigation and rightly so, trials are expensive. A great deal, and consistent with the foregoing, is due to the widespread use of mediation.

As I've said before in this column, the almost total disappearance of trials is, overall, a good thing. Settlement saves cost and especially important this this field is more conducive to a positive future...