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Juror appreciation month

September is juror appreciation month, so we have compiled some resources that courts can use to reach out to jurors, jury selection, as well as information for prospective jurors curious about the system.

Juror outreach and education

The Wisconsin Court System has created a list of resources and ideas for how courts can participate in juror appreciation activities or education.

The American Bar Association also provides a juror appreciation kit, with customizable suggestions and samples.

Get a civics introduction with the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) video, Answering the call for jury service. NCSC also features jury management resources on their website, including the jury manager’s toolbox, relieving juror stress, and social media explainers for jurors.

NCSC’s Center for Jury Studies begins with a report on common issues facing courts and juries, and includes case studies and management considerations.

The jury and democracy: how jury deliberation promotes civic engagement and political participation, by John Gastil and others (2010) takes a deep dive into how jury service can help shape how citizens view themselves, others in the community, and their government as a whole.

Working with juries

The Wisconsin Jury Instructions are created and edited by the Wisconsin Jury Instructions Committees of the Wisconsin Judicial Conference, a project of the Wisconsin Court System’s Office of Judicial Education. Thousands of instructions have been created for civil, criminal, and juvenile matters. These instructions are edited and added to regularly, and are the first place to turn to for model jury instructions for a Wisconsin case.

Other model jury instructions, and Federal court instructions, can be found in books and databases held by our library. Ask a librarian for help finding examples from our collection.

Jury selection: the law, art and science of selecting a jury, by Ellen Kreitzberg and others (2025-2026) breaks down jury characteristics, juror challenges and selection, voir dire, and more. This book includes adaptable models to apply directly to your own work.

The science of persuasion: a litigator’s guide to juror decision making, by Brad Bradshaw (2014) examines the phases of a jury trial, and includes suggestions for presenting evidence, framing the litigation message, and building a rapport with the jury. This includes sample questionnaires and practical application elements.

Persuasion science for trial lawyers, by John. P. Blumberg uses psychology to examine effective strategies to communicate with and persuade jurors.

New books

by Noelle Brasch

New Book! Historic preservation law in a nutshell, by Sara C. Bronin Call number: KF 4310 .B76 2026 The 3rd edition of this title provides a summary of historic preservation law on local, state, federal, and international levels. The case law and statutes discussed touch on the varied parts of preservation including natural landscapes, shipwrecks, and more. Use this text to learn about the agencies and regulations aimed to protect our natural and cultural heritage. Topics include: Archaeological protections Repatriation and tribal land National Environmental Policy Act

New Book! Home foreclosures by Geoff Walsh et al. Call number: KF 697 .F6 W35 2026 Home Foreclosures is a helpful guide to navigating the foreclosure process and related litigation. This new edition contains practice tools and checklists along with updated information on statutes of limitation and notice defenses. Topics include: Authority to foreclose Foreclosure rescue scams Foreclosure on manufactured homes and condominiums

Check out our September new book list, with recent updates and additions to the library collections. 

Tech tip

by Heidi Yelk

Adding line numbers to a Word document

Collaborating with others over a long document, such as meeting minutes, a policy document, or contract, is much easier if there are points of reference, such as line numbers, to refer to.

Adding line numbers to Word documents is simple.  After you've created your document, navigate to "Layout" in the menu bar. Then choose "line numbers" and select the type of numbering system you wish to use.

The numbers will automatically appear in the left margin. Save the document. 

Now, it's ready to distribute for discussion. People can easily refer to particular parts of the document by using the line numbers in the margin. 

To remove the numbers, simply access "line numbers" again and choose "none."

Fall CLE classes

Our fall classes return to the legislative learning front!  Contact Jaden Henneman for questions about the classes, and how to sign up.

Basic Knowledge for Legislative Research in Wisconsin
Wednesday, September 23, Noon-1:00 PM
Live webcast – Register for Basic Knowledge for Legislative Research in Wisconsin

Go back to school with this basic class for understanding the legislative process in Wisconsin! Learn more about the format of legislative documents, the vocabulary, tips on reading statutes, and using information associated with the statutes to better understand and more easily research state law. This class is a great prequel to drafting file research and is appropriate for any legal researcher interested in the Wisconsin legislative process.

Concept to Codification
Wednesday, October 21, Noon-1:00 PM
Live Webcast – Register for Concept to Codification

Follow a bill through all the stages of the legislative process. This class starts with a proposal for a law, then follows that proposal through conception, drafting, introduction, hearings, debates, amendments, passage, approval, and finally codification into the statutes.

Intro to Legislative History
Wednesday, November 18, Noon-1:00 PM
Live Webcast – Register for Intro to Legislative History

I need the legislative history of a Wisconsin statute. Where do I start? What do I do? Participants will look at the primary resources used to research Wisconsin legislative history, learn about the online Wisconsin legislative drafting files, and learn some helpful tips and tricks along the way. This introductory class covers basic research strategies and sources.

OLR’s October Lunch & Learn

The Office of Lawyer Regulation’s next free online event is in October. Register for a lunch and learn on Tuesday, October 27 on the topic of lawyer wellness and mentorship. Presented by attorney JB Burtch, this session discusses his new book, "Raising the Bar: The Mentor Guidebook for New Lawyers" and discuss why mentoring matters, the benefits of mentoring for both mentor and mentee, and practical tips for effective mentoring.

Library news

by Carol Hassler

Labor Day holiday

All three libraries will be closed on Monday, September 7 for the Labor Day state holiday. Please send questions to wsll.ref@wicourts.gov or 608-267-9696, and we will respond as soon as possible the next day.

Lavinia Goodell display traveling to public libraries

The four-panel Lavinia display that the State Law Library hosted in 2024 is still traveling around the state!

Banners on display at the Whitewater Public Library

In September, enjoy this display at the Beloit Public Library. The Lavinia Goodell banners also have upcoming planned stops at UW-Whitewater, and Milton, WI. Would you like to host this traveling display in your library, museum, municipal building, or other cultural center? Contact coordinator Nancy Kopp at nancykopp@charter.net.

Court system webinar

Librarian Carol Hassler will present Understanding Wisconsin’s Court Systems to the South Central Library System in September. Wisconsin has hundreds of courts, including appellate, circuit, municipal, tribal, and administrative. Take a tour of the basic structure of Wisconsin’s courts. Get answers to common questions, and ask your own! Learn how to find and use guides and forms developed for these courts to better navigate these systems.

Legal research webinar

Join Wisconsin law librarians for a comprehensive tour of legal research issues and techniques in a 6 credit CLE webinar presented by the State Bar of Wisconsin. Legal research tools and strategies will be presented on November 4, from 8:30-2:45 p.m. and available on-demand afterwards. This webinar covers corporate research tips, state and local legal research, case preparation, and more.

September Snapshot

Cleveland Law Library / Cuyahoga County Law Library
Photo by Carol Hassler

The Cleveland/Cuyahoga County Law Library is a Cleveland, Ohio institution that provides services to a large constituency of private members, as well as judges, public officials, and their respective staff members. The library features extensive historical collections and unique architectural features, including historical work desks and shelving, wall friezes, and a mural by artist Max Bohn (1868-1923). The library resides in the Cuyahoga County Courthouse, which features statuary and murals depicting law’s development throughout the courthouse.

We are accepting snapshots! Do you have a photo highlighting libraries, attractions or points of historical interest? Send your photo to the editor at carol.hassler@wicourts.gov to be included in a future issue.

Wisconsin State Law Library  

Questions? Email the library or call (608) 267-9696
Send comments to the editor, Carol Hassler