WI · jury_instructions
Wis JI-Children 200
Preliminary Instruction
This is a fact-finding proceeding on a petition which alleges that a child is in need of
protection or services. It is conducted pursuant to the Children's Code of this state. It is a
civil, not a criminal, proceeding.
This hearing is a part of a process which was started by the filing of a petition by
(petitioner). The petition alleges that (child) (insert grounds under Wis. Stat. § 48.13).
Your role is to determine whether the allegations in the petition have been proved. In
doing so, you should not consider what the final result of this proceeding might be. If you
determine that the allegations of the petition have been proved, it is my responsibility to
determine what services should be ordered.
The petitioner, __________________, is represented in this proceeding by Attorney
_____________.
[The mother of (child) is (___________). She is represented by Attorney
___________.] [The father of (child) is (___________). He is represented by Attorney
___________.] 1
[The interests of (child) will be represented by Attorney ____________, who is the
child's guardian ad litem.] [(Child) will be represented by Attorney ________________.] 2
[(Child) is not in the courtroom because the laws governing this proceeding do not require
that (he) (she) attend.]
At the end of this hearing, you will be given a special verdict to answer. I will give
you further instructions on the law that applies to the verdict questions.
I want to remind you that (child) and (his) (her) family have a statutory right to keep
their identities confidential. This is why these hearings are closed to the public. You must
never disclose the identity of the child or family members to anyone.
History
Wis JI-Children 200 (2009). ©2009, Regents, Univ. of Wis. Prepared by the Wisconsin Jury Instructions Committees of the Wisconsin Judicial Conference with the University of Wisconsin Law School; posted by the Wisconsin State Law Library with the University's permission.
Provenance
- Source
- wilawlibrary.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-24
- Edition
- 2026-09-24
- Content hash
ac8e6a4b2e82174ca9caa153d0f6fe27799ab73ad2b6e09ba49237325fa9e83c
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