809.61 AnnotationDiscretionary review by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Pokrass. WBB Mar. 1985.
809.62809.62 Rule (Petition for review). 809.62(1g)(a)(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. 809.62(1g)(b)(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. 809.62(1g)(c)(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. 809.62(1m)(a)1.1. 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. The clerk shall docket the petition for review in the supreme court and notify the parties that the petition has been filed. 809.62(1m)(a)2.2. For electronic filing users in the court of appeals proceeding, the notice of activity constitutes service of the petition and provides notification that the petition is pending before the supreme court. Where service on the attorney general is required by s. 809.802 (1), service shall be made as provided in s. 809.802 (2). The clerk shall serve the notice of docketing on paper parties by traditional methods. The petitioner shall serve the petition for review on paper parties by traditional methods. 809.62(1m)(b)(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. 809.62(1m)(c)(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. 809.62(1m)(d)(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. 809.62(1m)(e)(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. 809.62(1r)(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: 809.62(1r)(a)(a) A real and significant question of federal or state constitutional law is presented. 809.62(1r)(b)(b) The petition for review demonstrates a need for the supreme court to consider establishing, implementing or changing a policy within its authority. 809.62(1r)(c)(c) A decision by the supreme court will help develop, clarify or harmonize the law, and 809.62(1r)(c)1.1. The case calls for the application of a new doctrine rather than merely the application of well-settled principles to the factual situation; or 809.62(1r)(c)2.2. The question presented is a novel one, the resolution of which will have statewide impact; or 809.62(1r)(c)3.3. 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. 809.62(1r)(d)(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. 809.62(1r)(e)(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. 809.62(2)(2) Contents of petition. Except as provided in s. 809.32 (4), the petition must contain: 809.62(2)(a)(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. 809.62(2)(c)(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. 809.62(2)(d)(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. 809.62(2)(e)(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. 809.62(2)(f)(f) As a separate document, an appendix containing, in the following order, all of the following: 809.62(2)(f)2.2. 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. 809.62(2)(f)3.3. Any other portions of the record necessary for an understanding of the petition. 809.62(2m)(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). 809.62(2r)(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). 809.62(3)(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: 809.62(3)(b)(b) Any perceived defects that may prevent ruling on the merits of any issue in the petition. 809.62(3)(c)(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. 809.62(3)(d)(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. 809.62(3)(e)(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. 809.62(3m)(a)(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. 809.62(3m)(b)1.1. 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. 809.62(3m)(b)2.2. 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. 809.62(3m)(c)(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. 809.62(4)(4) Form and length requirements. The petition for review and response, if any, shall conform to s. 809.19 (8) (b) and (bm) and (8g) as to form, pagination, and certification. The petition shall be as short as possible and may not exceed 35 pages in length if a monospaced font or handwriting is used, or 8,000 words if a proportional serif font is used, exclusive of appendix. The first page of the petition for review shall be a white cover page that includes the proper case caption, including the case number, and shall bear the title “Petition for Review.” The first page of the response shall be a white cover page that includes the proper case caption, including the case number, and shall bear the title “Response to Petition for Review.” 809.62(4m)(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, the first page shall be a white cover page that includes the proper case caption and case number, and shall bear the title “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. 809.62(5)(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. 809.62(6)(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 or petition for cross-review is granted, the petitioner or cross-petitioner cannot raise or argue issues not set forth in the petition or petition for cross-review 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 or petition for cross-review 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. 809.62 HistoryHistory: 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; Sup. Ct. Order No. 20-07, 2021 WI 37, 397 Wis. 2d xiii; 2021 a. 240 s. 30. 809.62 NoteJudicial 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.
809.62 NoteRule 809.62 (5) [7] is created to protect the review rights of all parties to a review in the Supreme Court by creating a cross-review provision for a decision being reviewed by the Supreme Court similar to the cross-appeal provision for a judgment or order being appealed to the Court of Appeals from a trial court found in Rule 809.10 (2) (b). New sub. 809.62 (5) gives a party the ability to file for cross-review with the Supreme Court up to an additional 30 days from the filing of a petition for review by another party to the decision rendered by the Court of Appeals. [Re Order effective Jan. 1, 1980]
809.62 NoteJudicial 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.
809.62 NoteSub. (1) incorporates criteria promulgated by the supreme court for granting a petition for review. In re Standards to Review Petitions to Appeal, 85 Wis. 2d xiii, 268 N.W.2d xxviii (1978).
809.62 NoteSub. (2) regulates the contents of the petition. Sub. (2) (a) requires that the petition contain a statement of the issues presented for review, the method or manner of raising the issues in the court of appeals, and how the court of appeals decided the issues. Correspondingly, sub. (6), formerly sub. (4), is amended to provide that if the petition is granted, the petitioner 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. These amendments establish that the parties are limited to the issues raised in the petition, but the supreme court may order the parties to argue issues not raised. Likewise, the supreme court may limit the issues to be reviewed. The petition informs the supreme court as to whether an issue had been raised in the court of appeals. If an issue was not raised in the court of appeals, then it is left to the judicial discretion of the supreme court as to whether it will grant the petition so as to allow the issue to be raised in the supreme court.
809.62 NoteSub. (2) (c) requires that the petition contain a concise statement of the criteria of sub. (1) 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. Supreme court review is a matter of discretion. The supreme court has promulgated the criteria as guidelines for the exercise of its discretion. In the absence of one of the criteria, the supreme court may grant a petition for review if the petitioner establishes other substantial and compelling reasons for review. The amendment requires that the petitioner either state criteria relied upon or in the absence of any of the criteria, state other substantial and compelling reasons for review. The burden is on the petitioner to explicitly define the other substantial and compelling reasons for review.
809.62 NoteSub. (2) (d) requires that the petition contain 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 trial 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 references to the record. The opinion of the court of appeals must be included in an appendix to the petition. Consequently, if the opinion of the court of appeals sets forth a complete statement of the facts relevant to the issues presented for review, the petition for review need not restate those facts. The petition need only state those facts not included in the opinion of the court of appeals relevant to the issues presented for review. The statement of facts must include appropriate references to the record.
809.62 NoteSub. (2) (e) provides that the petition must contain an argument amplifying the reasons relied on to support the petition, arranged in the order of the statement of issues presented. All contentions must be contained within the petition. There is no memorandum in support of the petition.
809.62 NoteThe appendix required by sub. (2) (f) will assure that all relevant supporting documents necessary for an understanding of the petition for review be before the supreme court for consideration. This will facilitate not only the review of the petition for review but will enhance the petition as an aid to the court in any subsequent review on the merits.
809.62 NoteSub. (4) is created to regulate the form and length of the petition for review and response. The form of the petition and response is based on Rule 809.19 for briefs as to printing requirements, page size and binding. The petition and response shall be as short as possible but shall not exceed 35 pages in length, exclusive of appendix.
809.62 NotePrior sub. (3) is renumbered sub. (5) and amended to allow the court of appeals to reconsider on its own motion a decision or opinion within 30 days of a filing of a petition for review.
809.62 NoteThe amendments to the rule refer to Rule 809.32 (4) which governs the filing of a petition for review in a criminal case where there has been a fully briefed appeal to the court of appeals and appointed counsel is of the opinion that a petition for review in the supreme court under Rule 809.62 would be frivolous and without any arguable merit.
809.62 NotePrior subs. (2) and (5), relating to the time for filing the response to the petition for review and the provisions for cross-review have been renumbered subs. (3) and (7), respectively, but have not been substantively altered. [Re Order effective Jan. 1, 1982]
809.62 NoteJudicial 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]
809.62 NoteNOTE: 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.” 809.62 NoteJudicial 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). 809.62 NoteAs an example, a criminal defendant seeking reversal of his conviction or, if that is not granted, resentencing, would be entitled to seek review of the court of appeals’ failure to grant a new trial, even if it did order resentencing. Similarly, a civil appellant challenging a verdict finding liability and, should that be denied, the amount of damages, would be entitled to seek review of the court of appeals’ failure to grant a new trial on liability, even if the court of appeals did order reassessment of damages.
809.62 NoteRules 809.62 (1m) and (1r) are former Rule 809.62 (1), divided into subsections and subtitled. Subtitles are added throughout Rule 809.62 to help practitioners and parties locate particular provisions.
809.62 NoteRule 809.62 (2) (a) is amended to require the petitioner to identify all issues on which it seeks review, including issues raised in the court of appeals but not decided in the court of appeals. The amendment to Rule 809.62 (2) (a) also clarifies that the statement of an issue incorporates all subsidiary issues. This amendment is adapted from the United States Supreme Court’s rules. See U.S. Sup. Ct. Rule 14.1(a). See also In the Interest of Jamie L., 172 Wis. 2d 218, 232-33, 493 N.W.2d 56 (1992). 809.62 NoteRule 809.62 (3) is amended to advise the respondent to apprise the supreme court, in the response to the petition, of any issues the court may need to decide if it grants review of the issue(s) identified in the petition. This applies whether or not the court of appeals actually decided the issues to be raised.
809.62 NoteThe amendments to Rule 809.62 (3) also advise the respondent to identify in its response any perceived misstatements of law or fact, or any defects (such as waiver, mootness, or estoppel) that could prevent the supreme court from reaching the merits of the issue presented in the petition. Compare U.S. Sup. Ct. Rule 15.2.
809.62 NoteRule 809.62 (3) (d) addresses the circumstance in which the respondent asserts an alternative ground to defend the court of appeals’ ultimate result or outcome, whether or not that ground was raised or ruled upon by the lower courts.
809.62 NoteRule 809.62 (3) (d) also addresses the circumstances in which the respondent asserts an alternative ground that would result in a judgment less favorable than that granted by the court of appeals but more favorable to the respondent than might be granted for the petitioner (e.g., remand for a new trial rather than a rendition of judgment for the petitioner). The language is modified from Tex. R. App. P. 53.3(c)(3).
809.62 NoteRule 809.62 (3) (d) and (e) are intended to facilitate the supreme court’s assessment of the issues presented for review, not to change current law regarding the application of waiver principles to a respondent. See State v. Holt, 128 Wis. 2d 110, 125, 382 N.W.2d 679 (Ct. App. 1985) (An appellate court may sustain a lower court’s holding on a theory or on reasoning not presented to the lower court.) 809.62 NoteImplicit in these amendments, although not expressly stated as in the federal rule, U.S. Sup. Ct. Rule 15.2, is the understanding that a respondent may be deemed to have waived issues or defects that do not go to jurisdiction if they are not called to the attention of the supreme court in a response to the petition. The supreme court retains its inherent authority to disregard any waiver and address the merits of an unpreserved argument or to engage in discretionary review under Wis. Stat. s. 751.06 or 752.35. See State v. Mikrut, 2004 WI 79, ¶38. The possible invocation of waiver for failure to raise such alleged defects in the response will encourage the respondent to inform the supreme court of such defects before the supreme court decides whether to expend scarce judicial resources on the case. See Oklahoma City v. Tuttle, 471 U.S. 808, 815-16 (1985). 809.62 NoteA number of other states have rules requiring the respondent to identify other issues it seeks to raise if review is granted, and either expressly or impliedly limiting the issues before the supreme court on a grant of review to those set forth in the petition and response. See Ariz. R. Civ. App. P. 23(e); Calif. App. R. 28(e)(2) & (5); Kan. R.S. & A. Cts. Rule 8.03(g)(1); N.C. R. App. P. 15(d) & 16(a); Oregon R. App. P. 9.20(2); Wash. R. App. 13.4(d).
809.62 NoteA leading handbook on United States Supreme Court practice describes the procedure in that Court as follows:
809.62 NoteA respondent may also choose to waive the right to oppose a petition, which seems clearly without merit. This will save time and money, without any substantial risk if respondent feels certain that certiorari will be denied. In order that the waiver will clearly be understood as based upon the lack of merit in the petition, the statement filed with the Court — which may be in the form of a letter to the Clerk — should contain language to this effect: “In view of the fact that the case clearly does not warrant review by this Court [as is shown by the opinion below], respondent waives the right to file a brief in opposition.” The letter may also request leave to file a response to the petition if the Court wishes to see one. This will seldom be necessary, since if the respondent has not filed a response, or has affirmatively waived the right to file, and if the Court believes that the petition may have some merit, the respondent will usually be requested to file a response — usually within 30 days from the request.
809.62 NoteIn recent years, in order to expedite the filing of responses in the more meritorious cases, the Solicitor General has waived the right to file opposition briefs in many cases deemed to be frivolous or insubstantial. States often do the same thing, especially in criminal cases. Such waivers should be filed promptly, in order to speed up the distribution of the petition and the disposition of the case. Usually such petitions are denied, even though the Court may call for a response if any of the Justices so request.
809.62 NoteStern, R., et al., Supreme Court Practice §6.37 at 374-75 (7th ed. 1993) (footnote omitted).
809.62 NoteRule 809.62 (3m) is former Rule 809.62 (7) renumbered and amended. The requirements governing petitions for cross-review fit more logically after the requirements for the petition and the response, contained in Rules 809.62 (2) and (3).
809.62 NoteAmended Rule 809.62 (3m) (a) replaces the permissive “may” with the mandatory “shall” to clarify that a petition for cross-review is mandatory if the respondent seeks to reverse, vacate, or modify an adverse decision of the court of appeals.
809.62 NoteAmended Rule 809.62 (3m) also clarifies when a respondent must raise an issue in a petition for cross-review, rather than raising the issue in a response to the petition or merely arguing it in the brief. Compare State v. Scheidell, 227 Wis. 2d 285, 288 n.1, 595 N.W.2d 661 (1999) (respondent cannot argue issue raised below unless the issue was raised in a petition for cross-review), with, e.g., In the Interest of Jamie L., 172 Wis. 2d 218, 232-33, 493 N.W.2d 56 (1992) (noting “general rule” that a petition for cross-review is not necessary to defend a judgment on any ground previously raised). Complicating these matters are holdings that a party may not petition for review (or cross-review) if it receives a favorable outcome from the court of appeals, State v. Castillo, 213 Wis. 2d 488, 492, 570 N.W.2d 44 (1997). 809.62 NoteRule 809.62 (3m) (b) clarifies that a respondent need not file a petition for cross-review to raise alternative issues or grounds in support of either (1) the court of appeals’ ultimate result or (2) a judgment less favorable than that granted by the court of appeals but more favorable to the respondent than might be granted for the petitioner. Any such alternative grounds for affirmance or lesser relief should, however, be identified in the response. See Rules 809.62 (3) (d), (3) (e) and (6).
809.62 NoteAmended Rule 809.62 (3m) (c) clarifies that a party opposing a petition for cross-review has the same rights and obligations as a respondent under Rule 809.62 (3).
809.62 NoteNew Rule 809.62 (4m) is created to permit a combined document when a party elects both to respond to the petition for review and to submit a petition for cross-review. The content and format requirements of the combined document are similar to the requirements for a combined brief of respondent and cross-appellant found in s. 809.19 (6) (b) 2.
