The forms listed below are in the PDF format.
General Forms
- AO435 Transcript Order Form)
- Electronic Transcript of Court Proceedings (policy)
- Notice of Intent to Request Redaction (form)
- AO133 Bill of Costs (pdf)
- Rules governing Judicial Misconduct or Disability and Complaint Form
- Trial Exhibit Form (pdf) – To be reproduced on yellow paper
- Exhibit List and Procedure for Pro Se Litigants (pdf)(27kb)
- Pro Se Summary Judgment Procedure for Cases Assigned to Judge Crabb
- Notice Regarding 3582 Motions
- Default and Default Judgment Instructions
Attorney Admission Forms
- Application for Admission to Practice in the U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin (pdf) – Use this form when requesting permanent admission to practice before the U.S. District, Western District of Wisconsin. Don’t forget to read the Standards for Conduct.
- Standards for Professional Conduct within the Seventh Federal Judicial Circuit (pdf) – You must be familiar with these standards when applying to in this district.
- Criminal Justice Act Assigned Counsel and Civil Pro Bono Application Form (Western District of Wisconsin) (pdf) – In this district we appoint lawyers to represent indigent persons in many different types of cases. We choose from lawyers who have indicated their willingness to take such appointments. Please use this form to indicate such willingness.
Forms for Commencing an Action
- JS 44 – Civil Cover Sheet (pdf) – Please prepare this form and submit it at the time of filing your complaint or notice of removal.
- New Case Party Information(pdf) – Please use this form for submitting party information for opening of a shell case under CM/ECF.
- AO 440 – Summons in a Civil Action (pdf) – Use this form of summons. If you wish to type your own summons, then you must use the language provided in this form and provide a signature line for both the clerk of court and a deputy clerk.
- AO 441 – Third Party Summons in a Civil Action (pdf) – Use this summons form when filing a third-party complaint. If you wish to type your own summons, then you must use the language provided in this form and provide a signature line for both the clerk of court and a deputy clerk.
- AO 398 – Notice of Lawsuit and Request for Waiver of Service of Summons.(pdf) – This form is used in conjunction with form AO 399. Use these forms when requesting waiver of service of summons.
- AO 399 – Waiver of Service of Summons (pdf) – This form is used in conjunction with form AO 398. Use these forms when requesting waiver of service of summons.
- Pro Se / Non-Prisoner Complaint Package (pdf) – This form is for use by people who are filing civil actions in the U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin without counsel.
- Complaint for Filing Civil Rights Complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (pdf) – Use this form for filing a civil action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
- State Habeas Corpus Package – 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (pdf) – Complete this form to petition the court to grant a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254.
- AO 243 – Motion Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to Vacate, Set Aside or Correct Sentence by a Person in Federal Custody (pdf) – Complete this form to request the court to vacate, set aside or correct a sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255.
- Petition and Affidavit for Leave to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (pdf) – Use this form to request the court to waive prepayment of filing fees. A copy of this document is attached to the all the forms that require this petition.
- Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus by a Person in Federal Custody under 28 U.S.C. 2241 (pdf)
Forms Distributed by the Clerk at the Time of Commencing an Action
- Briefing Guidelines (pdf) – Summary of guidelines to follow when filing briefs.
- AO 85 – Notice, Consent, and Order of Reference-Exercise of Jurisdiction by a United States Magistrate Judge (pdf) – Complete the pertinent portions of this form and return it to the clerk’s office if you wish to proceed with your case before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. This form is distributed with all civil actions which are new to the U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin.
- Declination to Proceed before a U.S. Magistrate Judge – Complete this form and mail to the Clerk of Court’s Office within thirty (30) days from the date of service. Do not electronically file this form.
- Disclosure of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interest (pdf) – All corporate parties should complete this form and submit it to the clerk of court. This form is distributed with all civil actions which are new to the U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin, which involve corporate parties.
- Notice to Creditors in a United States Foreclosure Action (pdf) – This notice explains the role of creditors listed as defendants in U.S. foreclosure actions. This form is distributed with all civil foreclosure actions where the United States is plaintiff which are new to the U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin.
- AO 120 – Report on the Filing or Determination of an Action Regarding a Patent or Trademark (pdf) – The clerk’s office distributes this form to the director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 290 and/or 15 U.S.C. § 1116.
- AO 121 – Report on the Filing or Determination of an Action or Appeal Regarding a Copyright (pdf) – The clerk’s office distributes this form to the Register of Copyrights pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 508.
- Judge Crabb’s Order on Dispositive Motions (pdf) – This order sets the briefing schedule for dispositive motions in civil cases before Judge Crabb. The form is distributed witih all civil actions which are new to the U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin and assigned to Judge Crabb.
- Judge Shabaz’s Standard Order on Dispositive Motions (pdf) – This order sets forth the briefing schedule for dispositive motions in civil cases before Judge Shabaz. This form is distributed with all civil actions which are new to the U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin and are assigned to Judge Shabaz.
- Magistrate Judge Crocker’s Standard Order on Dispositive Motions (pdf) – This order sets forth the briefing schedule for dispositive motions in civil cases before Magistrate Judge Crocker. This form is distributed with all civil actions which are new to the U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin and are assigned to Magistrate Judge Crocker.
- Forms Distributed at the Time the Preliminary Pretrial Conference is Set
- These standing orders are distributed with the notice setting the preliminary pretrial conference.
- Judge Crabb’s Requirements for Preliminary Pretrial Conferences Held Before Her (pdf)
This document governs all preliminary pretrial conferences held before Judge Crabb in cases assigned to her in which all parties are represented by counsel. - Judge Crabb’s Standing Order Governing Preliminary Pretrial Conference (pdf)
This order governs all preliminary pretrial conferences held in cases assigned to Judge Crabb in which all parties are represented by counsel. - Judge Crabb’s Notice Regarding the Telephone Preliminary Pretrial Conference (pdf)
This notice governs all preliminary pretrial conferences in cases assigned to Judge Crabb in which there is a party proceeding pro se. - Judge Shabaz’s Order Scheduling Preliminary Pretrial Conference (pdf)
This order governs all preliminary pretrial conferences held in cases assigned to Judge Shabaz. - Magistrate Judge Crocker’s Standing Order Governing Preliminary Pretrial Conference (pdf)
This order governs all preliminary pretrial conferences held in cases assigned to Magistrate Judge Crocker in which all parties are represented by counsel. - Magistrate Judge Crocker’s Notice Regarding the Telephone Preliminary Pretrial Conference (pdf)
This notice governs all preliminary pretrial conferences in cases assigned to Magistrate Judge Crocker in which there is a party proceeding pro se.
Subpoena Forms
- AO 88 – Subpoena in a Civil Case (pdf) – Subpoena form to use in a civil case.
- AO 89 – Subpoena in a Criminal Case (pdf) – Subpoena form to use in a criminal case.
Appeal Forms
- Form 1 – Notice of Appeal (pdf) – Notice of appeal form from Appendix of forms to Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure.
- Appeal Information Packet for the U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit (pdf) – includes required forms.
- 7th Circuit Transcript Information Sheet (pdf)
- Federal Circuit Court of Appeals Transcript Purchase Order (pdf) – complete within 10 days of filing notice of appeal.(For further information see www.fedcir.gov)
Criminal Justice Act (CJA)

