The number of courts was expanded via legislation as the population of the state grew.
The circuit courts are organized into nine judicial administrative districts.
On March 6, 2020, Governor Tony Evers signed bipartisan legislation to create 12 new circuit court branches to be elected in spring 2021 and take office in fall 2021.
[1] The current system was implemented by a 1977 act of the Wisconsin Legislature (1977 Wisconsin Act 187), authorized by an April 1977 referendum to amend the state constitution.
The act also created the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.