Juneau County Court Records
How To Find Court Records in Juneau County in 2026
JuneauRecords.org provides access to publicly available information related to court records in Juneau County, Wisconsin. Members of the public seeking court records may find case-level data including party names, case numbers, hearing dates, docket entries, and disposition information, subject to applicable access restrictions under state law and court rules. The following record categories are among those that may be available through official channels:
- Criminal case records (felony, misdemeanor, and ordinance violations)
- Civil case records (small claims, general civil, and money judgments)
- Family court records (divorce, legal separation, and paternity)
- Probate and estate records
- Traffic and forfeiture cases
- Juvenile court records (subject to confidentiality restrictions)
Court records in Juneau County may be searched through five primary methods. First, members of the public may visit the Clerk of Court office in person during regular business hours to request access to case files and docket information. Second, courthouse public access terminals are available on-site for self-service case lookups at no charge. Third, online court search tools allow remote access to case index data. Fourth, the Wisconsin Court System's statewide judicial search platform provides case information across all circuit courts. Fifth, written or mail requests submitted to the Clerk of Court office allow individuals who cannot appear in person to obtain records, subject to applicable fees and processing times.
Juneau County Clerk of Court
220 E. State St., Room 170
Mauston, WI 53948
Phone: (608) 847-9300
Clerk of Court – Juneau County
Are Court Records Public In Juneau County
Court records in Juneau County are presumptively open to the public under current Wisconsin law. Wisconsin Statute § 19.35 establishes the right of any person to inspect public records maintained by government entities, including court records, subject to specific statutory exceptions. The Wisconsin Court System further affirms that circuit court records are accessible to the public unless a court order, statute, or court rule restricts access.
Records that are open to public inspection include:
- Case docket entries and case index information
- Party names (plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent)
- Scheduled hearing dates and courtroom assignments
- Filed motions, complaints, petitions, and answers
- Court orders and final judgments
- Sentencing entries and disposition information
Records that may be confidential, sealed, redacted, or restricted include:
- Juvenile court records, which are protected under Wisconsin Statute § 938.396
- Adoption records and related proceedings
- Certain mental health commitment records
- Sealed filings ordered by the court
- Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth in certain filings
- Expunged criminal records
A distinction exists between courthouse inspection and online access. While the case index and docket information for most circuit court cases are available through the statewide online system, full document images are not always accessible remotely. Certain case types and restricted filings are viewable only at the courthouse terminal or upon a formal records request.
What Are Court Records in Juneau County?
Court records are the official written documentation of all proceedings conducted before a court of law. In practical terms, a court record encompasses every document filed with the court, every order issued by a judge, and every entry made in the official case docket from the time a case is initiated through its final disposition and any subsequent appeal.
A docket entry is a chronological log of case activity, recording filings, hearings, rulings, and status changes. A full case file contains the underlying documents themselves, including pleadings, motions, exhibits, and orders. Civil court records document disputes between private parties or between a party and a government entity, while criminal court records document proceedings initiated by the state against an individual charged with a violation of law. Filed pleadings represent the initial and responsive documents submitted by parties, whereas final judgments represent the court's conclusive resolution of the matter.
Public filings are those submitted without restriction and accessible under the open-records framework. Sealed or restricted filings are those the court has ordered withheld from public view, either by statute or judicial discretion. Trial court records are maintained at the circuit court level, while appellate records are maintained by the Wisconsin Court of Appeals and the Wisconsin Supreme Court through the Wisconsin Court System.
As stated in the mission of the Juneau County Clerk of Courts office, "The mission of the Clerk of Courts is to facilitate the creation, maintenance, disposition, and preservation of the written record of all proceedings." Records are created at the moment of filing, updated with each subsequent court action, and retained according to applicable judicial retention schedules following final disposition.
What's Included in a Juneau County Court Record?
A court record in Juneau County may include a range of case-specific information depending on the case type and applicable public-access rules. The following categories of information are among those that may appear within a court record:
- Case identification: Case number, court name, division, and filing date
- Party information: Names of plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, and attorneys of record
- Case classification: Case type (criminal, civil, family, probate, traffic) and current case status
- Docket entries: A chronological log of all filings, hearings, rulings, and case events
- Hearing information: Scheduled and past hearing dates, courtroom assignments, and continuances
- Filed documents: Motions, complaints, petitions, answers, notices, and supporting exhibits where not restricted
- Judicial orders: Temporary orders, restraining orders, injunctions, and final judgments
- Outcome information: Dismissals, verdicts, pleas, convictions, sentencing entries, custody rulings, probate orders, and appellate decisions
- Financial and administrative data: Filing fees, assessed costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where publicly shown
Records that are excluded or restricted from public access include sealed filings, expunged matters, juvenile case files, adoption records, protected personal identifiers, and certain exhibits containing sensitive information. The extent of available information varies by case type and the specific orders entered in each matter.
Types of Courts in Juneau County
Juneau County is served by the Juneau County Circuit Court, which functions as the trial court of general jurisdiction under the Wisconsin unified court system. The circuit court hears the full range of cases filed at the trial level, including felony and misdemeanor criminal matters, civil disputes, family law proceedings, probate and estate matters, juvenile cases, traffic and forfeiture violations, and small claims actions. The Clerk of Court maintains the official record for all circuit court proceedings.
Wisconsin's court structure, as described by the Wisconsin Court System, consists of four levels: the circuit courts (trial courts), the Court of Appeals (intermediate appellate court), the Supreme Court (court of last resort), and the municipal courts (limited jurisdiction courts for municipal ordinance violations). Municipal courts in Wisconsin are operated by individual municipalities and handle local ordinance violations; their records are maintained separately from circuit court records.
What Types of Cases Do Juneau County Courts Hear
The Juneau County Circuit Court exercises general jurisdiction and hears the following categories of cases:
- Criminal: Felonies, misdemeanors, and ordinance violations prosecuted by the state
- Civil: Contract disputes, personal injury claims, money judgments, and landlord-tenant matters
- Family: Divorce, legal separation, paternity, child custody, child support, and domestic abuse injunctions
- Probate: Estate administration, guardianship, and mental health commitments
- Juvenile: Delinquency, child in need of protection or services (CHIPS), and termination of parental rights
- Traffic: Moving violations, operating while intoxicated (OWI), and related forfeiture matters
- Small Claims: Civil money disputes up to the statutory limit under Wisconsin law
Appeals from the Juneau County Circuit Court are heard by the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District IV, with further review available before the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
How to Search Juneau County Court Records for Free?
Members of the public may search Juneau County court records at no cost through several methods. In-person inspection of case files and docket information at the Clerk of Court office is available free of charge during regular business hours. Courthouse public access terminals allow self-service case lookups on-site without a fee.
The primary free online tool is the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (CCAP) system, accessible through the case search portal on the Wisconsin Court System website. CCAP provides public access to case index information for Wisconsin Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and circuit court cases. Searches may be conducted by party name, case number, or attorney name at no charge.
The Clerk of Court Quick Links page provides direct access to the Court Record Search (CCAP), circuit court eFiling, circuit court forms, and fee schedules.
Fees apply when copies or certified copies of records are requested. Under current Wisconsin court fee schedules, the following charges are applicable:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Plain paper copy (per page) | $1.25 |
| Certified copy (per document) | $5.00 + copy fees |
| Electronic copy (where available) | Varies |
| Research fee (clerk staff time) | Varies by request |
Members of the public who require certified copies or extensive research assistance should submit a written request to the Clerk of Court office and inquire about applicable fees at the time of the request.
How Long Does Juneau County Keep Court Records?
The retention of court records in Juneau County is governed by the Wisconsin Public Records Board's retention schedules and applicable judicial records management rules. Retention periods vary by case type and the nature of the record.
Under current Wisconsin judicial records retention policy:
- Felony criminal records are retained permanently in the case index; physical case files may be retained for extended periods or transferred to archival storage.
- Misdemeanor and civil records are subject to retention schedules that may range from several years to permanent retention depending on the nature of the judgment.
- Probate records involving final decrees and estate settlements are retained permanently.
- Traffic and forfeiture records are subject to shorter retention periods.
- Juvenile records are subject to separate retention and confidentiality rules under Wisconsin Statute § 938.396.
Paper files may be destroyed following imaging, microfilming, or transfer to archival storage, provided the record content is preserved in an accessible format. Older records may exist in paper files, microfilm, county archives, or the Wisconsin Historical Society's judicial archives. A distinction exists among destruction (permanent elimination of a record), archival retention (transfer to long-term storage), sealing (restriction of access without destruction), redaction (removal of specific information from a viewable record), and expungement (legal elimination of a record from public view pursuant to court order or statute).
How To Find a Court Docket in Juneau County
A court docket is the official chronological log of all actions taken in a case, distinct from the full case file. While the full case file contains the actual documents filed by parties and issued by the court, the docket records the date, type, and sequence of each filing and court action. The docket serves as the index and timeline of a case from initiation through final disposition.
Dockets for Juneau County Circuit Court cases are available through the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (CCAP) system at the case search portal. To locate a docket, a user may search by the party's name, the case number, or the attorney of record. Search results display the case index entry, and selecting a specific case provides the docket entries associated with that matter.
A typical court docket contains:
- Filing date and case number
- Party names and attorney information
- Chronological list of all filings and court actions
- Hearing dates, continuances, and courtroom assignments
- Motion entries and ruling notations
- Minute entries summarizing court proceedings
- Status updates and case disposition entries
A docket does not include the full text of filed documents, sealed entries, exhibits, or confidential attachments. Document images, where available, may require in-person inspection or a formal records request submitted to the Juneau County Clerk of Court. The Clerk of Courts office hours are 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, closed on holidays. Hearing calendars and daily court schedules may be obtained directly from the Clerk of Court office or through the CCAP system's scheduling information.
As affirmed by the Wisconsin Court System, public access to court records supports the principle of judicial transparency, and the CCAP system is the primary tool through which members of the public may access docket-level information for Juneau County circuit court cases without charge.