Dane County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Named after Nathan Dane, Dane County was formed in 1836 and organized in 1839. It has a population of over half a million people and its land area covers 1,197 square miles. The county seat and largest city is Madison. Dane County's court system consists of a Circuit Court and 25 Municipal Courts. These courts resolve disputes and adjudicate offenses in the county, ensuring all residents have prompt and easy access to justice.

The highest court and sole trial court in the county is the Dane County Circuit Court in Madison. It has general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases but typically hears cases beyond the jurisdiction of Municipal Courts. It has exclusive jurisdiction over all criminal cases and can also hear civil, juvenile, probate, and family law matters. Municipal Courts in Dane County have exclusive jurisdiction over noncriminal traffic offenses and municipal ordinance violations within their jurisdictions. They can also hear juvenile matters, such as juvenile alcohol violations, drug offenses, curfew violations, and truancy.

In 2023, Dane County had a property crime rate of 1,561 per 100,000 population and a violent crime rate of 215 violent crimes per 100,000 residents. The Dane County's Annual Cases Filings portal shows that over 3,000 civil cases, about 2,000 family cases, over 27,000 criminal/traffic cases, about 1,000 probate matters, about 6,000 small claims, and over 800 juvenile cases are filed annually in the county's courts. The Dane County Clerk of Circuit Court maintains all public records from the Circuit Court, while the Clerks of each Municipal Court maintain their nonconfidential court records. These records are accessible to the public, and anyone can visit the county courts to view or obtain copies of the cases heard there. They can also search on the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access portal for nonconfidential court records from the Dane County Circuit Court. Some court records are sealed to preserve privacy or protect sensitive information and can only be accessed by specific court orders or authorized persons. Confidential court records in Dane County include:

• Adoption records
• Most juvenile records
• Identifying information about jurors
• Grand jury proceedings and records
• Medical and mental health records
• Financial information
• ‬Identifying information about confidential informants in criminal prosecutions
• Personally identifiable information such as social security number and driver's license number

In conclusion, the Dane County court system plays a crucial role in administering justice through handling diverse legal issues diligently and justly. The efficient management of criminal and civil cases by the Circuit and Municipal Courts makes Dane County a model in Wisconsin. Moreover, the county's provision of electronic access to public court records fosters public confidence in the judicial process.