The Court of Appeals was created in August 1978[1] to alleviate the Wisconsin Supreme Court's rising number of appellate cases.

Published Court of Appeals opinions are considered binding precedent until overruled by the Supreme Court; unpublished opinions are not.

The Court hears most appeals in three-judge panels, but appeals of circuit court decisions in misdemeanor, small claims, and municipal ordinance cases are decided by a single judge.

The Court of Appeals comprises 16 judges elected to six-year terms in four geographic districts.

Vacancies on the court are filled by gubernatorial appointment; following the appointment of a judge, a new election for that seat is scheduled in the next Spring election in which no other Appeals Court seat in that Appeals Court District is up for election, unless that election occurs less than five months from the date of the appointment.