Family Law Appeals

Sometimes, trial court judges make mistakes, like we all do. If a judge makes a mistake in applying the law to the facts, the injured party may request that the Court of Appeals review the judge’s decisions and, if necessary, correct the lower court’s error. The Court of Appeals is divided into four geographic districts. The court decides cases in panels of three judges, who read briefs submitted by both parties, then issue a decision. The Court of Appeals may uphold the judge’s original decision, reverse it, or decide that a mix of both upholding and reversing some parts of the decision is most appropriate.

The only court above the Court of Appeals in Wisconsin is the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which takes just a tiny percentage of the number of cases it is asked to review. Its primary function is to clarify law, so it generally accepts cases involving law that is somewhat ambiguous.

Most of our appeals cases were handled originally by a different attorney at the trial court level, but the client subsequently hires our firm for an appellate lawyer to challenge the result received.