How to Search Brown County Court Records
The main portal for Brown County Court records is Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, known as WCCA. It is free, and it covers public circuit court case summaries entered into the state CCAP system. You can reach it at wcca.wicourts.gov. The Brown County Clerk of Circuit Court links to the same tool. WCCA shows case numbers, captions, parties, filing dates, status, and docket events. It is a summary system, not a full document library.
Before you start, gather a few details. A case number is the fastest way to find a file. If you do not have one, use the full name of a party or a business name, and a date of birth helps narrow the list. Pick Brown County in the county menu to keep results local.
- Open the WCCA case search page and accept the terms the site shows.
- Choose Brown as the county, then type a case number or a party name.
- Add a first name, middle name, or birth date to narrow a person search.
- Review the result list and click a case number to open the case detail.
- Ask the Clerk of Circuit Court for a copy when you need a certified document.
WCCA accepts shorthand for case numbers. Typing 22CF1800 returns case 2022CF001800. The simple search form uses the fields below.
| Field | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| County | Dropdown | Optional | Choose Brown for county-only results. |
| Case number | Text | Optional | Shorthand works, such as 22CF1800. |
| Last name | Text | Optional | Required when you search a person by name. |
| First name | Text | Optional | Narrows a name search. |
| Birth date | Date | Optional | Helps separate people with the same name. |
| Business name | Text | Optional | Use instead of person-name fields. |
The Wisconsin court system runs the WCCA search behind a short disclaimer screen. The image gives a sense of the layout before you begin a Brown County Court records search.
Once you open a case, the detail page lists hearings, docket entries, and any public warrant events tied to the file.
The Brown County Judicial System
Wisconsin uses a single-level trial court called the Circuit Court. Brown County Circuit Court is a court of general jurisdiction, so it hears most case types unless a statute sends the matter somewhere else. Below it sits the municipal court, which handles local ordinance and municipal traffic cases. Above it are two appellate courts. The Wisconsin Court System overview explains how these levels fit together.
The county runs eight circuit branches. The Honorable Tammy Jo Hock serves as presiding judge. Court commissioners and the Register in Probate work with the branches to keep cases moving. Appeals from the circuit court go to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, and the Wisconsin Supreme Court has the final word on selected matters.
Case flow: Municipal Court › Brown County Circuit Court › Wisconsin Court of Appeals › Wisconsin Supreme Court
| Court | Jurisdiction | Case Types |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Supreme Court | Court of last resort | Selected appeals; statewide court administration |
| Wisconsin Court of Appeals | Intermediate appellate | Reviews circuit court decisions |
| Brown County Circuit Court | General jurisdiction trial court | Civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic, juvenile, small claims |
| Municipal Court | Local ordinance court | City ordinance and municipal traffic citations |
The county's own Circuit Court page lists the courthouse address, the presiding judge, and quick links to court services.
From that page you can reach the clerk, the branch directory, and the online payment tools.
Brown County Courthouses and Offices
Most Brown County Court business happens at the courthouse in downtown Green Bay. The jail and the District Attorney sit a short distance away. The Brown County government homepage links to every department and to the office directory.
The cards below give the main public offices that handle Brown County Court records and related services.
Brown County Courthouse
100 South Jefferson Street
Green Bay, WI 54301
920-448-4110
District Attorney's Office
300 East Walnut Street
Green Bay, WI 54301
920-448-4190
Types of Court Records Available in Brown County
Brown County Court records cover a wide range of cases. The circuit court files civil suits, criminal charges, family matters, probate estates, and traffic cases. Each type carries its own set of documents and its own access rules. Some files are fully public. Others are sealed by statute or by a judge's order.
The circuit court produces most of these records. The Register in Probate keeps estate, guardianship, and mental health files. Municipal courts hold their own local citation records. Here are the main categories the public asks about.
- Criminal records - felony and misdemeanor charges, bond, plea, and sentence entries.
- Civil records - lawsuits, money judgments, liens, and small claims.
- Family and divorce records - divorce, custody, support, and injunction cases.
- Probate records - estates, wills, guardianships, and trust accountings.
- Traffic records - citations, forfeitures, and court traffic cases.
What Brown County Court Records Show
A Brown County Court record packs a lot of detail into a few screens. The header gives the case number, the caption, and the filing date. The body lists parties, charges, hearings, and the final disposition. The Clerk of Circuit Court keeps the official version of each file.
The table maps the common fields you will see in a public case summary.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Case Number | Year, two-letter type code, and sequence, such as 2022CF001800. |
| Filing Date | The date the case opened with the clerk. |
| Parties | Names and roles, such as plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, or respondent. |
| Charges / Cause | Statute cite and description for each count or claim. |
| Disposition | The outcome of a charge, claim, or case. |
| Sentence / Judgment | Jail, prison, probation, fines, or the money result. |
Public Access Laws for Brown County Court Records
Wisconsin starts from a strong open-records policy. The public is entitled to the greatest possible information about government affairs. That rule reaches the county, the sheriff, the clerk, and other custodians. Access is broad but not absolute. Some records are closed by other statutes, and court rules add their own access and retention limits.
A records custodian must find the records, apply any exemptions, give access or copies when required, and explain a denial. When access is wrongly denied, a requester can ask a court to step in. The statutes below set the core of that framework.
Key Statutes:
Wis. Stat. § 19.31 - declares that the public should get the fullest information about government acts.
Wis. Stat. § 19.35 - sets the right to inspect and copy records and what fees may apply.
Wis. Stat. § 19.37 - lets a requester seek a court order when a custodian denies access.
Records That Are Restricted or Confidential
Not every Brown County Court record is open. Several categories stay closed by law. Juvenile records are kept separate and confidential under Wis. Stat. § 938.396. Adoption files are closed under Wis. Stat. § 48.93. Mental health treatment records are confidential under Wis. Stat. § 51.30. Expunged cases are sealed or removed under court rule.
To view a sealed file, a person usually must be a party, an attorney of record, or someone with a court order. A motion to the assigned branch is the normal route. Staff at the clerk's office can explain the process, but they cannot give legal advice.
Specialty Courts in Brown County
Brown County runs several treatment courts for people who qualify. The Wisconsin DOJ Criminal Justice Coordinating Council lists them on its Brown County treatment court page. The Adult Drug Court started in 2010 and takes part in cases after conviction; violent offenders are not allowed. The Mental Health Court began in 2015 for people with a diagnosis who need steady monitoring.
The county also runs a Veterans Treatment Court, an OWI Treatment Court, and a Heroin/Opioid Court. Most are high-risk programs that use the RANT assessment and admit people after a plea or conviction. The Brown County Circuit Court page covers how these branches and treatment courts fit together.
Brown County Sheriff and Jail
Sheriff Todd J. Delain leads the Brown County Sheriff's Office. The office runs patrol, investigations, courthouse security, and the jail. Its main page lists the entrance rules and the long list of items barred from the courthouse.
The jail uses an online roster you can search by name or by booking number. The Jail Inmate Lookup Tool shows current and released inmates.
For the full roster details, see the Brown County inmate records page, and check warrant records for how warrants appear in court files.
Marriage, Divorce, and Probate Records
Three different offices handle these records in Brown County. The County Clerk issues marriage licenses. The Register of Deeds issues marriage and post-2016 divorce certificates. The Clerk of Circuit Court holds divorce judgments and decrees. The marriage license page walks through the checklist and fees.
See marriage and divorce records and probate records for the full process. These probate terms come up often.
- Testator
- A person who makes a will.
- Executor
- The person named to carry out the terms of a will.
- Conservator
- A person the court appoints to manage another adult's money or property.
Brown County Court Records Fees
Fees depend on the service. Copy and search fees are set by the clerk, and the county asks you to call Records Management before you pay so the amount is correct. Filing and certificate fees are fixed by statewide rules. The county's payment page explains the online options.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Wisconsin circuit eFiling | $35 per case, per party |
| Attorney-mediator eFiling | $70 |
| Vital record, first certified copy | $20 |
| Each additional vital record copy | $3 |
| Copy and search fees | Call Records Management, 920-448-4521 |
The eFiling fee rose by $15 on May 1, 2024 under Wis. Stat. § 801.18 and related law. Filing fees cannot be paid through the county's AllPaid system; use the Wisconsin Court System site instead.
How to Read a Brown County Court Record
Case codes tell you the case type at a glance. CF means felony, CM means misdemeanor, CV means civil, FA means family, PR means probate, and TR means a traffic forfeiture. A charge is not the same as a conviction. The charge is what the state accuses; the conviction is the finding or plea that proves guilt.
The disposition line is the one to read closely. It shows whether a case ended in a plea, a dismissal, a finding, or a transfer. A dismissal can be with or without prejudice, and that wording controls whether the matter can come back.
Accuracy and Record Limitations
Online court data updates as the clerk enters it, so a brand-new filing may not show up the same day. WCCA is a summary system, not the official file. For anything you plan to rely on, confirm the detail with the office that keeps the record.
Note: Always confirm a Brown County Court record with the Clerk of Circuit Court before you rely on it for a legal, financial, or background decision.
History of Brown County Courts
Brown County was created on October 26, 1818, and named for General Jacob Brown. The county seat moved from De Pere to Green Bay after an April 1854 vote. The current courthouse rose between 1908 and 1911, designed by architect C.E. Bell, who also designed the South Dakota capitol. The county's About page covers the wider county story.
A ten-million-dollar restoration finished in 1992, and the building was rededicated in January 1993. The courthouse still serves as the home of the Brown County Court records system today.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I search Brown County court records online?
Use Wisconsin Circuit Court Access at wcca.wicourts.gov. Choose Brown County, then search by case number, party name, or business name, with an optional birth date. WCCA shows public case summaries from the state CCAP system. It is not a full document library. For copies or certified documents, contact the Clerk of Circuit Court Records Management at 920-448-4521.
Where is the Brown County Courthouse?
The courthouse is at 100 South Jefferson Street, Green Bay, WI 54301. It fills the downtown block bounded by Walnut, Jefferson, Doty, and Adams Streets. Since October 14, 2025, all visitors enter through a single point on the East Walnut Street side. The old Doty Street entrance is now an emergency exit only. Arrive early because every visitor passes through screening.
Who is the Brown County Clerk of Circuit Court?
John A. Vander Leest is the Clerk of Circuit Court. The main phone is 920-448-4155, and the office sits at 100 South Jefferson Street in Green Bay. Hours run 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The clerk keeps the official court files, collects fees, and runs the jury system for the county.
More on the Brown County Court Records FAQ page.