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Nine area law libraries installed
By Hon. Tricia A. Zunker
Case law is defined generally as the law based on judicial opinions, including decisions that interpret statutes and constitutional provisions. Ho-Chunk case law also includes interpretation of custom and tradition. Within a written case decision, legal principles are enunciated and applied to the facts of that individual case. Case law is a constantly evolving body of law as new legal controversies (called cases of “first impression”) arise. A case is typically first heard in the Trial Court. A party dissatisfied with the result in the Trial Court may appeal to the Supreme Court. Supreme Court opinions are binding on the Trial Court.
Prior to local law library access, some, but not all Ho-Chunk case law was available online. Recent website issues have made retrieving case law online difficult, if not impossible. Further, not everyone has internet access anyway. People need to have access to the law to determine whether they have a possible cause of action or can establish a viable defense. Some people have transportation issues as well and cannot travel to Black River Falls to review case opinions, which were only available in hard copy at Wa Ehi Hoci. Having a law library in one’s community greatly increases access to the Judiciary for our People and for their attorneys by eliminating internet access issues and reducing long distance transportation concerns.
Law library locations include branch offices in: Tomah, Baraboo/Wisconsin Dells (House of Wellness), La Crosse, Madison, Twin Cities, Milwaukee, Chicago, Wittenberg and Green Bay (new building). Law library delivery and installation at these nine (9) sites was completed between September and October 2017. A full set of case law binders has been printed for Wisconsin Rapids, but an appropriate building for placement could not be determined. The existing law library for Black River Falls continues to be housed at Wa Ehi Hoci.
Some basic rules apply for use of the area law library. Please do not remove the binders or other law library documents from the building. After usage, return the binder to the shelf in the correct chronological order. No writing, defacing or damaging of binders is permitted. Please use utmost respect in your use of the area law library.
Much gratitude is extended for assistance with completion of this important project, including: support from the full Supreme Court; support from the Ho-Chunk Nation Legislature; the invaluable efforts of Sandy Martin and Lisa Peters; gracious use of space permitted by the Executive Department; necessary organizational efforts by branch office employees; and the assistance from other court staff at Wa Ehi Hoci who physically helped sort and move heavy boxes of case law binders. Pinagigi.
For any questions, comments or concerns about the law libraries, please contact Supreme Court Clerk Lisa Peters at:
lisa.peters@ho-chunk.com
or at (715) 284-2722.
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