THE ORGANIZATION OF THE WISCONSIN COURT SYSTEM IS LARGELY A RESULT OF THE COURT REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1958. COMPONENTS OF THE COURT SYSTEM ARE A SUPREME COURT, CIRCUIT COURTS, COUNTY COURTS, AND MUNICIPAL COURTS WHERE ESTABLISHED BY LOCAL UNITS OF GOVERNMENT. THE SUPREME COURT HEARS ALL APPEALS FROM CIRCUIT COURTS AND MOST APPEALS FROM COUNTY COURTS. AT THE TRIAL COURT LEVEL, THERE ARE BOTH CIRCUIT AND COUNTY COURTS STATEWIDE. CIRCUIT COURTS HAVE GENERAL JURISDICTION OVER ALL CIVIL AND CRIMINAL MATTERS AND HEAR ALL APPEALS FROM MUNICIPAL COURTS AND STATE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES. COUNTY COURTS HAVE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OVER JUVENILES, PROBATE MATTERS, AND SMALL CLAIMS. PROCEDURES PERTAINING TO THE FOLLOWING AREAS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED: THE QUALIFICATIONS, SELECTION, AND TERMS OF THE JUDICIARY; THE DISCIPLINE AND REMOVAL OF JUDGES AND JUSTICES; RETIREMENT AND ACTIVE SERVICE; COMPENSATION; CONTINUING EDUCATION; AND JUDICIAL OFFICERS. THE SUPREME COURT HAS ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY OVER ALL STATE COURTS, AND THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THIS COURT IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEAD OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATOR OF COURTS ASSISTS THE SUPREME COURT. WISCONSIN HAS BEEN DIVIDED INTO ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICTS, KNOWN AS MULTIJUDGE TRIAL COURTS MADE UP OF ALL CIRCUIT AND COUNTY COURTS IN EACH DISTRICT. THE JUDICIAL COUNCIL, CREATED BY STATUTE, IS DIRECTLY CONCERNED WITH MAJOR POLICY ISSUES AFFECTING COURT OPERATION. THE STATE DOES NOT HAVE A CENTRALLY MANAGED PERSONNEL SYSTEM. THE DETAILED PROFILE OF THE COURT SYSTEM CONCERNS THE UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM APPROACH ADOPTED IN WISCONSIN, COMPETENT AND INDEPENDENT JUDGES, RULEMAKING AND ADMINISTRATION, COURT ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, COURT SYSTEM FINANCING AND BUDGETING, AND COURT RECORDS AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS. SOURCES OF DATA USED TO PREPARE THE PROFILE ARE LISTED. ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS OF THE COURT SYSTEM ARE INCLUDED. DATA ON SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE WISCONSIN COURT SYSTEM AND AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION STANDARDS RELATING TO COURT ORGANIZATION ARE PROVIDED. (DEP)