West's Wisconsin Statutes Annotated pulls together several essential research tools in one convenient location. In addition to statutes, constitutions, and court rules, it includes complete history notes, committee comments, court decision summaries, law review citations, and references to related practice aids, legal encyclopedias, and treatises. When conducting legislative history research, save time by relying on two unique features of the history note: prior laws (previous numerations) and effective dates of related acts. Another defining element of the
Statutes Annotated is the growing collection of "Notes of Decisions," or case annotations, grouped by points of law. Notes of decisions will also have key number topics to broaden your case research using West's Wisconsin Key Number Digest.
Each volume has a table of contents and legend for the abbreviations used in the text. The general subject index for the whole series can be found after the last volume on the shelf. Each book individually receives an annual pocket part, or a printed update, while the whole series updates via periodic "Interim Update Service" pamphlets. Check the preface of the pocket part to see what session laws are included in the latest update or verify it in Westlaw.
All three of our library locations have public access to Westlaw. When reading a particular statute, click "Currentness" to see the most recent act included in the content. Use the tabs to explore the same valuable sections found in the printed edition, run keyword searches, or browse using the popular name table. Download and email whole documents from our computers at no cost, or bring a laptop to connect to Westlaw through the State Law Library's wifi.
The State Law Library has retired volumes dating back to 1957. Books can be checked out from both the State Law Library and Dane County Law Library with a library card.
