Ozaukee County Circuit Court, Wisconsin Sealing & Redaction Procedures

CRITICAL

An unrepresented party must obtain court permission before disclosing report information or providing a report copy to anyone else, including a professional they consult or retain.

If any unrepresented party desires to disclose the information contained in the report(s) or to provide a copy of a report to any other person, including professionals they wish to consult or retain, they must obtain court permission to do so.

CRITICAL

Attorneys of record and guardians ad litem may share report information and copies with consulted or retained professionals only to further the litigation, and those professionals must maintain confidentiality.

Attorneys of record and any guardian ad litem may disclose information contained in the report(s) and provide copies of the report(s) to professionals they consult or retain only to further the subject litigation. Said professionals shall maintain the confidentiality of the report(s) and the information they contain.

CRITICAL

An unrepresented party may review a report at the Clerk of Circuit Court's office but may not receive or make a copy or take notes.

An unrepresented party may review in the office of the Clerk of Circuit Court, but not receive or make a copy or notes of the report(s).

CRITICAL

Custody, visitation, and psychological-evaluation reports and their contents are confidential, must be kept confidential by attorneys, guardians ad litem, and parties, and may not be disclosed to people unassociated with the litigation.

All records and reports related to custody and visitation studies and psychological evaluations (herein after called “reports”) and the information they contain are confidential. Attorneys of record, any guardian ad litem, and all parties, whether represented or unrepresented, shall maintain the confidentiality of said report(s) and the information they contain. Said report(s) and information shall not be disclosed to anyone not associated with the pending litigation.

CRITICAL

The confidentiality of appropriate paternity records must be maintained as required by law.

The confidentiality of all appropriate paternity records shall be maintained pursuant to law.

CRITICAL

Attorneys may not provide copies of the reports to any party.

Attorneys shall not provide a copy to any of the parties.

CRITICAL

Expunged criminal-record cases are inaccessible without a court order, and the clerk must take steps to preserve their confidentiality.

Any case in which a criminal record has been expunged shall be closed to access to anyone without a court order authorizing access to the file. The clerk of circuit courts shall take appropriate steps to ensure confidentiality of all expunged criminal records.

CRITICAL

Anyone in the listed categories who obtains a report may disclose it or its contents only to a party to the case or the previously identified professionals.

Attorneys of record, any guardian ad litem, and represented and unrepresented parties who obtain a copy of the report shall not disclose the report(s) or the information contained in them to any person other than a party to the case or the above-mentioned professionals.

CRITICAL

In divorce actions, only parties and attorneys of record may view or copy financial disclosure statements and other confidential financial information.

Only parties to the action and attorneys of record will be allowed to view and copy financial disclosure statements and other confidential financial information in divorce actions.

CRITICAL

Pre-sentence investigations are confidential and may be viewed only by attorneys of record or unrepresented defendants.

Pursuant to Wis. Stat. Sec. 972.15(4) pre-sentence investigations are confidential and may be viewed only by the attorneys of record or unrepresented defendants

CRITICAL

Medical and hospital records must be filed confidentially and remain accessible only to parties and attorneys of record, with no copies, until introduced at trial; the rule excludes specified vehicle-related criminal or forfeiture records.

Filers must file medical and hospital records as confidential documents. Medical and hospital records remain confidential when filed with the court until such time, if any, as they are introduced into evidence at trial. Until then, only parties to the action and attorneys of record may view medical and hospital records. No copies may be made. This rule does not apply to medical and hospital records relating to blood testing for the presence of alcohol and/or controlled substances or other drugs in a criminal or forfeiture action involving the operation of a vehicle.

CRITICAL

Reports from professionals consulted or retained outside a court order by an attorney, guardian ad litem, or unrepresented party are also subject to the confidentiality rule.

In cases where an attorney, guardian ad litem or an unrepresented party consults with and/or retains any professional(s) not ordered by the court, the report(s) of such professionals shall also be subject to this confidentiality rule.

WARNING

A party may review a report with their attorney but may not take notes.

A party may review a copy of the report with his or her attorney, but may not take notes.

INFO

When no written or clear statutory policy governs access to confidential records, the clerk of circuit courts decides access in the clerk's discretion.

In situations not covered by written policy or clear statutory policy, the clerk of circuit courts shall exercise discretion when deciding who has access to confidential records.

INFO

The circuit court may authorize disclosure of confidential information and, where law permits, classify files or portions of files as confidential.

The circuit court retains the authority to authorize disclosure of otherwise confidential information as well as the authority, where permitted by law, to classify files or parts of files as confidential