Outreach initiative designed to expose public to state-level courtroom work

City Times Staff

Local residents will have a chance next week rarely affording to those living in the Stevens Point Area- witness a court of appeals case.

A three-judge panel of the District IV Court of Appeals will travel to Stevens Point on Nov. 23 to hear oral argument in an appeal of issues relating to a real estate case that originated in the Wood County Circuit Court.

The case is being taken “on the road” as part of an outreach initiative that gives people outside the Madison area a chance to observe oral argument in person.

The appellate court judges normally sit in Madison, where the District IV Court of Appeals is headquartered. District IV hears appeals from circuit courts in 24 counties, in an area roughly encompassing the southwest third of the state.

The argument involves Bushman Farms, Inc. v. Dairyland Real Estate, LLC, a case with revolves around contract language and real estate commission.

The argument will be held in the Branch 2 Courtroom at the Portage County Courthouse, 1516 Church Street, Stevens Point at 10:30 AM.

The District IV panel is comprised of judges JoAnne F. Kloppenburg, Paul B. Higginbotham and Brian W. Blanchard.

The oral argument is open to the public .

Clerk of Courts Trish Baker said it was “quite an honor” to have the appeals court hear arguments locally.

“The judges do not make it out of their home court (Madison) too often – so this is a special visit,” Baker said in an email statement.