(1) A circuit judge of the circuit court of any county may appoint and remove at any time, any retired or former circuit or county court judge to act, in matters referred by the judge and in conciliation matters. When a matter for conciliation is referred for such purpose, the conciliator shall have full authority to hear, determine and report findings to the court. Such conciliators may be appointed circuit court commissioners under SCR 75.02 (1).
807.09.Conciliators.
Ch. 807: Miscellaneous Provisions · Last amended 2001 · Last verified July 15, 2026
In one sentenceSection 807.09 lets a circuit judge appoint a retired or former circuit or county court judge as a conciliator with full authority to hear and report findings on referred matters, while the county’s circuit judges set the conciliator’s procedural rules and the county board funds compensation.
Full Text of Section 807.09
(2) The circuit judges of such county shall make rules, not inconsistent with law, governing procedure before and pertaining to such conciliators and the county board shall fix and provide for their compensation.
Plain-English Summary
Section 807.09 creates a role for retired judges to help resolve disputes outside the ordinary courtroom track. Subsection (1) lets a circuit judge of any county appoint, and remove at any time, a retired or former circuit or county court judge to act on matters the judge refers and in conciliation matters. Once a matter for conciliation is referred, the conciliator has full authority to hear it, determine it, and report findings to the court. These conciliators may also be appointed circuit court commissioners under SCR 75.02 (1).
Subsection (2) puts the surrounding administrative structure in the hands of the county. The circuit judges of the county must make rules, consistent with law, governing the procedure before and pertaining to the conciliators, and the county board must fix and provide for their compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can a circuit judge appoint as a conciliator?
Any retired or former circuit or county court judge, under subsection (1).
What authority does a conciliator have over a matter referred for conciliation?
Full authority to hear, determine, and report findings to the court, as subsection (1) provides.
Can a circuit judge remove a conciliator once appointed?
Yes, at any time, under subsection (1).
Can a conciliator also serve as a circuit court commissioner?
Yes. Subsection (1) states that such conciliators may be appointed circuit court commissioners under SCR 75.02 (1).
Who pays the conciliator, and who sets the rules for how conciliation proceeds?
Subsection (2) has the county’s circuit judges make the procedural rules and has the county board fix and provide for the conciliators’ compensation.
Amendment History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 746 (1975); 1975 c. 218; 1977 c. 187 s. 135; 1977 c. 323 s. 16; 2001 a. 61.
Source & verification. Section text and official notes are
reproduced verbatim from the Wisconsin Statutes, published by the
Wisconsin Legislature (Legislative Reference Bureau). Last verified July 15, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: wisconsin court appointed conciliatorretired judge conciliation wisconsincircuit court commissioner conciliator wisconsincounty board compensation conciliator wisconsin