809.62 Rule (Petition for review).

(1g) Definitions. In this section:

(a) “Adverse decision" means a final order or decision of the court of appeals, the result of which is contrary, in whole or in part, to the result sought in that court by any party seeking review.

(b) “Adverse decision" includes the court of appeals' denial of or failure to grant the full relief sought or the court of appeals' denial of the preferred form of relief.

(c) “Adverse decision" does not include a party's disagreement with the court of appeals' language or rationale in granting a party's requested relief.

(1m) General rule; time limits.

(a) A party may file with the supreme court a petition for review of an adverse decision of the court of appeals pursuant to s. 808.10.

(b) If a motion for reconsideration has been timely filed in the court of appeals under s. 809.24 (1), no party may file a petition for review in the supreme court until after the court of appeals issues an order denying the motion for reconsideration or an amended decision.

(c) If a motion for reconsideration is denied and a petition for review had been filed before the motion for reconsideration was filed, and if the time for filing a response to the petition had not expired when the motion for reconsideration was filed, a response to the petition may be filed within 14 days of the order denying the motion for reconsideration.

(d) If the court of appeals files an amended decision in response to the motion for reconsideration under s. 809.24 (1), any party who filed a petition for review prior to the filing of the motion for reconsideration must file with the clerk of the supreme court a notice affirming the pending petition, a notice withdrawing the pending petition, or an amendment to the pending petition within 14 days after the date of the filing of the court of appeals' amended decision.

(e) After the petitioning party files a notice affirming or withdrawing the pending petition or an amendment to the pending petition under par. (d), the responding party must file a response to the notice or amendment within 14 days after service of the notice or amendment. The response may be an affirmation of the responding party's earlier response or a new response.

(1r) Criteria for granting review. Supreme court review is a matter of judicial discretion, not of right, and will be granted only when special and important reasons are presented. The following, while neither controlling nor fully measuring the court's discretion, indicate criteria that will be considered:

(a) A real and significant question of federal or state constitutional law is presented.

(b) The petition for review demonstrates a need for the supreme court to consider establishing, implementing or changing a policy within its authority.

(c) A decision by the supreme court will help develop, clarify or harmonize the law, and

1. The case calls for the application of a new doctrine rather than merely the application of well-settled principles to the factual situation; or

2. The question presented is a novel one, the resolution of which will have statewide impact; or

3. The question presented is not factual in nature but rather is a question of law of the type that is likely to recur unless resolved by the supreme court.

(d) The court of appeals' decision is in conflict with controlling opinions of the United States Supreme Court or the supreme court or other court of appeals' decisions.

(e) The court of appeals' decision is in accord with opinions of the supreme court or the court of appeals but due to the passage of time or changing circumstances, such opinions are ripe for reexamination.

(2) Contents of petition. Except as provided in s. 809.32 (4), the petition must contain:

(a) A statement of the issues the petitioner seeks to have reviewed, the method or manner of raising the issues in the court of appeals and how the court of appeals decided the issues. The statement of issues shall also identify any issues the petitioner seeks to have reviewed that were not decided by the court of appeals. The statement of an issue shall be deemed to comprise every subsidiary issue as determined by the court. If deemed appropriate by the supreme court, the matter may be remanded to the court of appeals.

(b) A table of contents.

(c) A concise statement of the criteria of sub. (1r) relied upon to support the petition, or in the absence of any of the criteria, a concise statement of other substantial and compelling reasons for review.

(d) A statement of the case containing a description of the nature of the case; the procedural status of the case leading up to the review; the dispositions in the circuit court and court of appeals; and a statement of those facts not included in the opinion of the court of appeals relevant to the issues presented for review, with appropriate citation to the record.

(e) An argument amplifying the reasons relied on to support the petition, arranged in the order of the statement of issues presented. All contentions in support of the petition must be set forth in the petition. A memorandum in support of the petition is not permitted.

(f) An appendix containing, in the following order:

1. The decision and opinion of the court of appeals.

2. The judgments, orders, findings of fact, conclusions of law and memorandum decisions of the circuit court and administrative agencies necessary for an understanding of the petition.

3. Any other portions of the record necessary for an understanding of the petition.

4. A copy of any unpublished opinion cited under s. 809.23 (3) (a) or (b).

(2m) Inapplicable to parental consent to abortion cases. Subsection (2) does not apply to a petition for review of an appeal that is governed by s. 809.105. A petition governed by that section shall comply with s. 809.105 (11).

(2r) Application to termination of parental rights cases. This section applies to petitions for review of an appeal under s. 809.107, except as provided in s. 809.107 (6) (f).

(3) Response to petition. Except as provided in sub. (1m) and s. 809.32 (4) and (5), an opposing party may file a response to the petition within 14 days after the service of the petition. If an unpublished opinion is cited under s. 809.23 (3) (a) or (b), a copy of the opinion shall be provided in an appendix to the response. If filed, the response may contain any of the following:

(a) Any reasons for denying the petition.

(b) Any perceived defects that may prevent ruling on the merits of any issue in the petition.

(c) Any perceived misstatements of fact or law set forth in the petition that have a bearing on the question of what issues properly would be before the court if the petition were granted.

(d) Any alternative ground supporting the court of appeals result or a result less favorable to the opposing party than that granted by the court of appeals.

(e) Any other issues the court may need to decide if the petition is granted, in which case the statement shall indicate whether the other issues were raised before the court of appeals, the method or manner of raising the issues in the court of appeals, whether the court of appeals decided the issues, and how the court of appeals decided the issues.

(3m) Petition for cross-review.

(a) When required; time limit. A party who seeks to reverse, vacate, or modify an adverse decision of the court of appeals shall file a petition for cross-review within the period for filing a petition for review with the supreme court, or 30 days after the filing of a petition for review by another party, whichever is later.

(b) No cross-petition required.

1. A petition for cross-review is not necessary to enable an opposing party to defend the court of appeals' ultimate result or outcome based on any ground, whether or not that ground was ruled upon by the lower courts, as long as the supreme court's acceptance of that ground would not change the result or outcome below.

2. A petition for cross-review is not necessary to enable an opposing party to assert grounds that establish the party's right to a result that is less favorable to it than the result or outcome rendered by the court of appeals but more favorable to it than the result or outcome that might be awarded to the petitioner.

(c) Rights and obligations of parties. A party seeking cross-review has the same rights and obligations as a party seeking review under ch. 809, and any party opposing a petition for cross-review has the same rights and obligations as a party opposing review.

(4) Form and length requirements.

(a) The petition for review and response, if any, shall conform to s. 809.19 (8) (b) and (d) as to form and certification, shall be as short as possible, and may not exceed 35 pages in length if a monospaced font is used or 8,000 words if a proportional serif font is used, exclusive of appendix. The petition for review and the response shall have white front and back covers, and a party shall file 10 copies with the clerk of the supreme court.

(b) Electronic petition for review. An attorney filing a petition for review under this rule shall file with the clerk of the supreme court a copy of the petition for review or response in electronic form using the procedure under s. 809.19 (12) and may file a copy of an appendix to the petition for review or response in electronic form using the procedure under s. 809.19 (13). A self-represented party is not required to file an electronic copy of the petition for review or response, but may do so as provided for in this subsection. Notwithstanding s. 801.18 (9), the paper copy of the petition for review or response remains the official court record. An attorney who lacks technological capability to comply with this subsection may file a motion under s. 809.14 for relief from the electronic filing requirements at the time the attorney files the paper petition for review. An attorney shall show good cause why it is not feasible to file a copy of the petition of review electronically.

(c) Effect of electronic filing. Except as provided in s. 809.80 (3) (e), the date on which the clerk receives the paper copies of the petition for review shall be the official date of filing of the petition for review. Transmitting the electronic copy of a petition for review does not satisfy the filing requirements of this section.

(d) Timing of electronic filing. The electronic copy of the petition for review and response shall be electronically transmitted on or before the date that the paper petition for review and response is filed.

(4m) Combined response and petition for cross-review. When a party elects both to submit a response to the petition for review and to seek cross-review, its submission shall be titled “Combined Response and Petition for Cross-Review." The time limits set forth in sub. (3m) shall apply. The response portion of the combined document shall comply with the requirements of subs. (3) and (4). The cross-review portion of the combined document shall comply with the requirements of subs. (2) and (4), except that the requirement of sub. (2) (d) may be omitted. The cross-review portion shall be preceded by a blank white cover. A signature shall be required only at the conclusion of the cross-review portion of the combined document.

(5) Effect on court of appeals proceedings. Except as provided in s. 809.24, the filing of the petition stays further proceedings in the court of appeals.

(6) Conditions of grant of review. The supreme court may grant the petition or the petition for cross-review or both upon such conditions as it considers appropriate, including the filing of additional briefs. If a petition is granted, the parties cannot raise or argue issues not set forth in the petition unless ordered otherwise by the supreme court. The supreme court may limit the issues to be considered on review. If the issues to be considered on review are limited by the supreme court and do not include an issue that was identified in a petition and that was left undecided by the court of appeals, the supreme court shall remand that issue to the court of appeals upon remittitur, unless that issue has become moot or would have no effect.

History: Sup. Ct. Order, 83 Wis. 2d xiii (1978); Sup. Ct. Order, 92 Wis. 2d xiii (1979); Sup. Ct. Order, 104 Wis. 2d xi (1981); 1991 a. 263; Sup. Ct. Order No. 93-20, 179 Wis. 2d xxv (1993); 1993 a. 395; Sup. Ct. Order No. 00-02, 2001 WI 39, 242 Wis. 2d xxvii; Sup. Ct. Order No. 02-01, 2002 WI 120, 255 Wis. 2d xiii; Sup. Ct. Order No. 04-08, 2008 WI 108, filed 7-30-08, eff. 1-1-09; Sup. Ct. Order No. 08-15 and Sup. Ct. Order No. 08-18, 2009 WI 4, 311 Wis. 2d xxix; 2009 a. 25, 180; Sup. Ct. Order No. 10-01 and Sup. Ct. Order No. 10-02, 2010 WI 42, 323 Wis. 2d xxiii; 2017 a. 365.

Judicial Council Committee's Note, 1979: The caption of Rule 809.62 is amended to more properly describe the function of the Supreme Court in reviewing decisions of the Court of Appeals.

Judicial Council Committee's Note, 1981: Rule 809.62 is amended to regulate the form, contents and length of petitions for review. The amendments are intended to focus the petition for review on the criteria promulgated by the supreme court for granting a petition for review, to facilitate the efficient and effective consideration of the petition by the supreme court, and to develop a petition that may be used by the supreme court for consideration of the merits after review is granted.

Judicial Council Note, 2001: The time limit in sub. (3) has been changed from 10 to 14 days. Please see the comment to s. 808.07. The last sentence of sub. (4) specifies the color of the cover that should accompany a petition for review and the number of copies required. [Re Order No. 00-02 effective July 1, 2001]

NOTE: Sup. Ct. Order No. 04-08, 2008 WI 108, states, “The Judicial Council Committee Comments are not adopted, but will be published and may be consulted for guidance in interpreting and applying Wis. Stat. ss. 809.30, 809.32 and 809.62."

Judicial Council Committee Comments, July 2008: The definition in s. 809.62 (1g) codifies the holding in Neely v. State, 89 Wis. 2d 755, 757-58, 279 N.W.2d 255 (1979), to the effect that a party cannot seek review of a favorable result merely because of disagreement with the court of appeals' rationale. At the same time, s. 809.62 (1g) underscores the fact that a court of appeals' decision that is generally favorable to a party remains adverse to that party to the extent that it does not grant the party all the relief requested, i.e., the full relief or the preferred form of relief sought by the party. See also State v. Castillo, 213 Wis. 2d 488, 492, 570 N.W.2d 44 (1997).

NOTE: Sup. Ct. Order No. 08-15 and 08-18, 2009 WI 4, states “The following Comment to Wis. Stat. §§ (Rule) 809.62 (4) is not adopted but will be published and may be consulted for guidance in interpreting and applying the statute."

Comment, 2008: The electronic copy of a petition for review, response, or appendix is in addition to and not a replacement for the paper copies required under this rule. The filing requirement is satisfied only when the requisite number of paper copies is filed; the transmittal of an electronic copy does not satisfy requirements for a timely filing. A petition for review shall be physically received in the clerk's office within 30 days of the date of the decision of the court of appeals to invoke this court's appellate jurisdiction. St. John's Home v. Continental Casualty Co., 150 Wis. 2d 37, 441 N.W.2d 219 (1989), per curiam. [Re Order No. 08-15 and 08-18 effective July 1, 2009]

The supreme court has power to entertain petitions filed by the state in criminal cases. State v. Barrett, 89 Wis. 2d 367, 280 N.W.2d 114 (1979).

If the court of appeals reverses a defendant's conviction on grounds of insufficiency of evidence, the double jeopardy clause does not bar the supreme court from reviewing the case. State v. Bowden, 93 Wis. 2d 574, 288 N.W.2d 139 (1980).

“Decision" under sub. (1) [now sub. (1g)] means the result, disposition, or mandate reached by court, not the opinion. Neely v. State, 89 Wis. 2d 755, 279 N.W.2d 255 (1979).

The supreme court will not order a new trial if the majority concludes that there is prejudicial error but there is no majority with respect to a particular error. “Minority vote pooling" is rejected. State v. Gustafson, 121 Wis. 2d 459, 359 N.W.2d 920 (1985).

Petitions for review must be filed by 5:00 p.m. on the 30th day following the filing of the court of appeals decision. St. John's Home v. Continental Casualty Co. 150 Wis. 2d 37, 441 N.W.2d 219 (1989), per curiam.

Citation to an unpublished court of appeals decision to show conflict between districts for purposes of sub. (1) (d) [now sub. (1r) (d)] is appropriate. State v. Higginbotham, 162 Wis. 2d 978, 471 N.W.2d 24 (1991).

Issues before the court are issues presented in the petition for review and not the discrete arguments that may be made, pro or con, in the disposition of the issue. State v. Weber, 164 Wis. 2d 788, 476 N.W.2d 867 (1991).

Together, s. 809.32 (4) and 977.05 (4) (j) create a statutory, but not constitutional, right to counsel in petitions for review, provided counsel does not determine the appeal to be without merit. If counsel fails to timely file a petition for review, the defendant may petition for a writ of habeas corpus and the supreme court has the power to allow late filing. Schmelzer v. Murphy, 201 Wis. 2d 246, 548 N.W.2d 45 (1996), 95-1096.

The 30-day deadline for receipt of a petition for review is tolled on the date that a pro se prisoner delivers a correctly addressed petition to the proper prison authorities for mailing. State ex rel. Nichols v. Litscher, 2001 WI 119, 247 Wis. 2d 1013, 635 N.W.2d 292, 00-0853. See also, Brown v. Bradley, 2003 WI 14, 259 Wis. 2d 630, 658 N.W.2d 427, 01-3324.

Discretionary review by the Wisconsin supreme court. Wilson and Pokrass. WBB Feb. 1983.

Petitions for review by the Wisconsin supreme court. 1979 WLR 1176.