PACER is now offering free access to opinions in federal district courts using CM/ECF version 2.4 or higher. CM/ECF is the Federal Judiciary’s Case Management/Electronic Case Files System.
This applies to the Eastern District of Wisconsin which uses CM/ECF Version 2.5. The Western District of Wisconsin, however, apparently does not use the CM/ECF system.
The opinions are available under the “Reports” menu in PACER. You may also access opinions via existing reports and queries, such as the docket report. You will not be billed for accessing the written opinion document itself, but will be billed for the report or query used to identify the document.
Note that PACER only provides free access to opinions filed after the court is actively using version 2.4. Earlier opinions may be subject to fees.