Press Release | State Bar of Wisconsin

State Bar of Wisconsin Statement on New Chief Justice

Kathleen A. Brost & Larry J. Martin — 2021-04-14 00:00:00

April 14, 2021 – The State Bar of Wisconsin welcomes Chief Justice Annette Ziegler as she begins her term as leader of the Wisconsin court system. We look forward to her leadership and continuing to work with all seven justices to further our common goal of strengthening the relationship between the bench and the bar, advancing public trust of the legal profession, and promoting a high-functioning justice system.

We also extend our sincere thanks and gratitude to Chief Justice Patience Roggensack for her leadership during her three terms. In particular, Chief Justice Roggensack led the court system through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic to keep it operational and justice moving forward. We also want to thank her for her advocacy in advancing research to ensure best practices are implemented, including the use of business courts and treatment courts across Wisconsin. We look forward to working with her in the years to come.

Kathy A. Brost, President, State Bar of Wisconsin.

Larry J. Martin, Executive Director, State Bar of Wisconsin.

The State Bar Supports Kenosha's Legal Community

Kathleen A. Brost, Larry J. Martin & Joseph M. Cardamone — 2020-08-26 00:00:00

To our colleagues in Kenosha County:

The State Bar of Wisconsin joins the state and the nation in expressing deep concern for you and the Kenosha community following the Aug. 23 shooting of Jacob Blake and the ensuing riots, property destruction, and tragic deaths of two individuals. No words can adequately express our concern for all victims in the wake of this civil unrest. However, we can offer our support to you and our ongoing commitment to advancing a fair and just legal system.

The State Bar of Wisconsin may be of help to you and your family during this difficult time. Please feel free to contact:

WisLAP, our lawyer assistance program, (800) 543-2625. The WisLAP hotline, available to you at any time, provides confidential assistance to help you and your family cope with problems related to the stress you may be facing.
Practice411™, the State Bar’s Law Management Assistance Program, (800) 957-4670 or practicehelp@wisbar.org. Practice411 can provide guidance to you as you reestablish your business or help you through other practice management issues.
The State Bar Ethics Hotline, (608) 229-2017 or (800) 254-9154, for any questions you may have regarding lawyer obligations during civil unrest.

The State Bar remains committed to racial equity. We stand for the rule of law and the right to peacefully protest. We also stand against violence and destruction to personal and public property. We must insist on real change by stepping up our efforts to combat racial injustice and disparities, advance equal justice, and promote diversity and inclusion. Jill Kastner, State Bar immediate past president, is leading our Racial Justice Leadership Group. We encourage you to visit our Racial Equity resource webpage to learn more. We welcome your ideas and suggestions on what more we can do.

You are in our thoughts.

Sincerely,

Kathy A. Brost, President
State Bar of Wisconsin

Larry J. Martin, Executive Director
State Bar of Wisconsin

Joseph M. Cardamone III
District 1 Governor

State Bar Condemns Attorney Behavior in Shorewood Protest

2020-06-08 00:00:00

June 7, 2020 – As the leadership of the State Bar of Wisconsin, we are disturbed and disgusted by the actions of an attorney who allegedly spat in the face of a protestor during a demonstration on Saturday.

We do not condone this behavior under any circumstance – period. The State Bar of Wisconsin champions integrity, civility, and respect in dealings with the public, colleagues, clients, and the courts. The behavior of lawyers and others directly contributes to the public’s confidence in our justice system. We unequivocally support equal justice and the right of all citizens to peacefully protest.

News reports indicate local Shorewood officials are handling this matter with charges being referred to the district attorney’s office this week. While the State Bar has no authority to discipline lawyers, the State of Wisconsin Office of Lawyer Regulation investigates complaints and ultimately the Wisconsin Supreme Court imposes sanctions on licensed attorneys.

Jill Kastner, president
Kathy Brost, president-elect
Cheryl Daniels, incoming president-elect
Chris Rogers, past president
Larry Martin, executive director

State Bar Recognizes Journalists with Golden Gavel Awards

2019-02-01 00:00:00

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FEB. 1, 2019

CONTACT:

Joyce Hastings
State Bar of Wisconsin
(608) 250–6126
jhastings@wisbar.org

State Bar Recognizes Journalists with Golden Gavel Awards

Madison, WI – The State Bar of Wisconsin applauds the recipients of the 2018 Golden Gavel Awards for their important contributions to the public’s understanding of our system of law and justice.

This year’s Golden Gavel Award winners are:

Abigail Bostwick, Jamie Taylor and Brian Jopek, Reporters

Lakeland Times

for “Iron County Murder Series”

Danielle Kaeding, Reporter

Wisconsin Public Radio

for “Justice Delayed for Those Who Can Least Afford It?”

Golden Gavel Certificates of Commendation are going to:

Paul Srubas, Reporter

Green Bay Press Gazette

for “Big Brother was Definitely Watching as George Burch Killed Nicole VanderHeyden”

Edward Byrne, Columnist

The Brillion News

for “Legal Beagle”

Austin Montgomery, Staff Writer

Beloit Daily News

“Out on Bail, Suspected of Gunplay”

Robert Hornacek, Reporter

WLUK–TV

“Hemp on Tribal Lands”

The winners in the Print Media/Newspaper/Photography Golden Gavel categories of the competition are being recognized at the Wisconsin Newspaper Association’s convention in Madison. The winner of the Broadcast category will be presented at the Wisconsin Broadcaster’s Association Summer Conference in Elkhart Lake.

The State Bar of Wisconsin created the Golden Gavel Awards competition in 1985. Visit the Golden Gavel Award page or email jhastings@wisbar.org to learn more.

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The State Bar of Wisconsin is the mandatory professional association, created by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, for attorneys who hold a Wisconsin law license. With more than 25,000 members, the State Bar aids the courts in improving the administration of justice, provides continuing legal education for its members to help them maintain their expertise, and assists Wisconsin lawyers in carrying out community service initiatives to educate the public about the legal system and the value of lawyers. For more information, visit www.wisbar.org.

State Bar Candidates Named for President-elect, Treasurer, and Judicial Council

2018-12-07 00:00:00

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Kristen Durst
State Bar of Wisconsin
(608) 250-6025
kdurst@wisbar.org

State Bar Candidates Named for President–elect, Treasurer, and Judicial Council

Madison, WI – Grant Birtch and Kathleen Brost have accepted nominations to run for 2019 State Bar of Wisconsin president–elect. Birtch is with Von Briesen and Roper S.C. in Neenah, and Brost is with Legacy Private Trust Co., Neenah.

The president–elect serves a one–year term before becoming president for the 2019–20 year. The nominees for treasurer are Eric Andrews, McCoy Leavitt Laskey LLC, Waukesha; and Kathryn Bullon, Deerhaven Consulting Services, Sombra, Ontario, Canada. The treasurer serves a two–year term.

The candidates for Judicial Council representative are Howard Bichler of Wisconsin Judicare, Cumberland; and Sarah Zylstra of Boardman & Clark LLP, Madison. The Judicial Council representative serves three years.

The candidates are nominated by the State Bar Nomination Committee. Committee members were appointed by State Bar President Chris Rogers for the State Bar’s April 2019 election cycle. State Bar members can also run for an officer position by filing a petition signed by 100 active State Bar members.

The State Bar mails election ballots to its member attorneys in mid–April to be returned by April 26, 2019. Persons elected take office July 1, 2019.

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That's a Fine Idea! State Bar Reveals 2018 Top Legal Innovators

2018-11-07 00:00:00

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOV. 7, 2018

CONTACT:
Kristen Durst
State Bar of Wisconsin
(608) 250–6025
kdurst@wisbar.org

That’s a Fine Idea! State Bar Reveals 2018 Top Legal Innovators

Madison, WI – For the fifth year, the State Bar of Wisconsin is honoring the state’s top legal innovators through the organization’s “That’s a Fine Idea: Legal Innovation Wisconsin” initiative.

This year the State Bar honors six legal innovator big ideas, including one lifetime–award winner.

Lifetime Innovator Emerly Harlan: Champion of Diversity

Diversity in the legal profession is a challenge that might never be solved outright, but Milwaukee attorney Emery K. Harlan, a partner with MWH Law Group LLP, is doing his part to help. Harlan’s current firm has 16 attorneys, including eight African Americans, one Hispanic, and 10 females. Harlan was a founder of the National Association of Women and Minority Owned Law Firms, created in 2001 to promote diversity by fostering successful relationships between diverse attorneys and both private and public legal clients. During the past couple years at MWH and for many years before that at his previous firm, Gonzalez, Saggio & Harlan, Harlan worked to hire and promote minority and female attorneys.

Sheila Sullivan and Team: Standing Up for Crime Victims

The state’s Legal Services Corporation–funded civil legal aid providers, Legal Action of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Judicare, have established a victim rights project aimed at helping those who have survived crimes, particularly domestic violence and sexual assault. The pilot project began in fall 2017 with funding and support from the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Office of Crime Victim Services, and thanks to a partnership with Wisconsin Judicare, the services are available statewide. The team includes project supervisor Sheila Sullivan and project attorneys Ann Rufo, Becca Donaldson, Kori Ashley, Susan Lund, and Rachel Sattler of Legal Action Wisconsin as well as attorneys William Baynard and Amanda Rabe and supervising attorney Beth Ann Richlen of Judicare. More than 200 people from nearly half of Wisconsin’s 72 counties have received information, advice, or full legal representation since last December, and 91 cases were open as of mid–September.

Abby Churchill: Helping Transgender Clients

Transgender people face unique legal challenges, and Abby Churchill founded the nonprofit law center Trans Law Help Wisconsin to assist. The Trans Law Help Team has held six clinics to provide general legal information about the name and gender change process, which is more complicated than most clients think. The Trans Law Help team also is developing a statewide attorney referral network, with an eye toward developing resources outside of Madison and Milwaukee. The issue of inaccurate documents such as birth certificates, driver’s licenses, and passports can affect transgender people in any number of realms, from obtaining employment, to securing a loan, to providing proof of identity to law enforcement.

Heidi Wegleitner, Rebeka Pritchett, Raphael Ramos, Don Tolbert, Maggie Niebler–Brown, and Sofia Ascorbe: Eviction Defense for Low–Income Tenants

Tenants facing eviction, most of whom typically self–represent and lose their cases, have a better chance of gaining legal help in the Milwaukee and Madison areas thanks to the efforts of the respective local offices of Legal Action of Wisconsin, which have launched twin Eviction Defense Projects during the past couple of years. The Milwaukee County effort, staffed by project director Raphael Ramos, staff attorney Sofia Ascorbe, and paralegal Don Tolbert, has served 966 clients since early 2017 with help from 73 volunteer attorneys and 25 Marquette University Law School students. The Dane County project, begun in early 2018 and run by attorney Heidi Wegleitner and paralegal Rebeka Pritchett, has served 210 clients with 361 hours from 16 active pro bono attorneys and more than 100 hours of student help. Attorney Maggie Niebler–Brown coordinates the organization’s overall Volunteer Lawyers Project, while Deedee Peterson supervises its development.

Collin Schaefer, Anne Smith, Eric Englund, and Louis Condon: Seeding Success for Startups

Entrepreneurs starting companies often focus on their product or service ideas and the funding they need to birth those ideas. But they’re sometimes less mindful of careful planning around corporate governance, such as formation of necessary advisory and governance boards and the completion of proper legal forms. Madison–area attorneys Anne Smith, Eric Englund, and Louis Condon and angel investor and entrepreneur Terry Sivesind founded an organization called Madison Seed Accelerator, Inc. (aka Madworks) in 2014 that has evolved to tackle this set of governance challenges, prompted by the need they saw and encouragement from the entrepreneurial community. Madworks has since worked with several dozen startup companies to ensure they build a solid foundation. Program manager Collin Schaefer, who is also an attorney, says the goal of the pro bono program is to build companies that last.

Karen Renee: Creating a One–stop Shop for Finding Court Reporters

Karen Renee has been a court reporter in the Milwaukee area for about a decade and has owned Milwaukee Court Reporters for the past five years. She created eCourtReporters.com to provide a platform where attorneys and paralegals can, with the click of a few buttons, choose court reporters and videographers based on their qualifications, certifications, years of experience, pricing, availability, and customer ratings. The database now has nearly 7,000 entries in almost all 50 states.

More information about our 2018 Wisconsin Legal Innovators and their work is available here.

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Free Legal Assistance Available to Those Impacted by Wisconsin Flooding

2018-11-06 00:00:00

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 6, 2018
Kristen Durst
State Bar of Wisconsin
(608) 250-6025
kdurst@wisbar.org

FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE IMPACTED BY WISCONSIN FLOODING

Madison, WI –– A toll–free legal hotline is available to victims of Wisconsin’s recently declared federal disaster area in Crawford, Dane, Juneau, La Crosse, Marquette, Monroe, Richland, Sauk and Vernon counties. Individuals who were impacted by the devastating floods and storms in August and September may call the hotline at 877–947–5291 if they are facing legal issues and are unable to afford a lawyer. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday–Friday. Questions may also be submitted online at wi.freelegalanswers.org.

The type of legal assistance available may include:

· Assistance with securing Federal Emergency Management Agency and other government benefits available to disaster survivors;

· Help with life, medical and property insurance claims;

· Assistance with home repair contracts and contractors;

· Replacement of wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the disaster;

· Help with consumer protection matters, remedies and procedures;

· Counseling on mortgage–foreclosure problems;

· Counseling on landlord–tenant problems.

The service allows callers to receive limited legal assistance from a volunteer lawyer, and is a partnership between the State Bar of Wisconsin, the State Bar’s Young Lawyers Division, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Wisconsin Emergency Management and others.

On Oct. 18, 2018, Governor Scott Walker announced that a federal disaster declaration had been approved by President Donald J. Trump. Under the declaration, individuals, families and businesses in Crawford, Dane, Juneau, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Sauk and Vernon counties are now eligible to apply for federal disaster assistance. On Nov. 1, 2018, FEMA announced assistance had been extended to Marquette County.

Residents and businesses in federally declared counties can register with FEMA at DisasterAssistance.gov or 800–621–3362. The last day to register for FEMA assistance is Dec. 17, 2018.

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Greater Wisconsin Initiative Highlights Need for More Rural Lawyers

2018-10-03 00:00:00

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oct. 3, 2018

CONTACT:

Kristen Durst

State Bar of Wisconsin

(608) 250–6025

Bus Tour Highlights Need for More Rural Lawyers

Will make stops in Lancaster, Potosi, Black River Falls, Whitehall, and Pepin on Oct. 5 and 6

Madison, WI – A bus of lawyers and law students will be departing from The State Bar of Wisconsin on Friday, Oct. 5, 2018, and heading to Buffalo, Jackson, Pepin, Trempealeau, Crawford, and Grant counties to connect with local judges, attorneys, and community and business leaders.

The Greater Wisconsin Initiative Bus Tour is an effort to help address the needs of rural Wisconsin communities where populations are aging and retiring, including Wisconsin’s lawyer population. The tour will highlight the many benefits of practicing law in smaller, rural communities to younger lawyers and law students.

In Wisconsin, the majority of lawyers in practice in urban areas. Out of Wisconsin’s 72 counties, fifteen counties have 10 or fewer attorneys actively practicing law. Nine of those counties are in northern Wisconsin.

“This tour will offer networking opportunities both within the legal community and communities–at–large,” says State Bar of Wisconsin planning group member Chad Schimmelpfenning. “We hope to encourage young lawyers to consider living and practicing in rural areas," where Schimmelpfenning says they can quickly make an impact on their communities. “Whether it’s advocating for change or providing services to the less fortunate, rural practice puts those attorneys in an immediate position to lead.”

Greater Wisconsin Initiative Bus Tour Details:

· Bus Departs from the State Bar of Wisconsin in Madison on Friday, Oct. 5 at 7:30 a.m.

· Will stop in Lancaster on Friday, Oct. 5 at approx. 9:15 a.m. for a tour of the Grant County courthouse.

· The tour next heads to Potosi where they will have lunch at Potosi Brewery, 209 S. Main Street, and will meeting local attorneys and judges. At 12:30 they’ll tour the Potosi Brewery.

· Dinner reception on Friday, Oct. 5 from 5:45 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Best Western Lodge, 600 Oasis Road, Black River Falls.

· Networking lunch in Pepin on Saturday, Oct. 6 11:45 a.m.–2:00 p.m. at Villa Bellezza, 1420 3^rd St..

For more information on the Greater Wisconsin Initiative, visit http://www.wisbar.org/aboutus/leadership/Pages/Greater–Wisconsin–Initiative.aspx.

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The State Bar of Wisconsin is the mandatory professional association, created by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, for attorneys who hold a Wisconsin law license. With more than 24,000 members, the State Bar aids the courts in improving the administration of justice, provides continuing legal education for its members to help them maintain their expertise, and assists Wisconsin lawyers in carrying out community service initiatives to educate the public about the legal system and the value of lawyers. For more information, visit www.wisbar.org.

Enter the 2018 Golden Gavel Awards Competition

2018-09-28 00:00:00

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEPT 28, 2018

Contact:
Kristen Durst
State Bar of Wisconsin
(608) 250-6025
kdurst@wisbar.org

Enter the 2018 Golden Gavel Awards Competition

Madison, WI – Did you broadcast or post a story that enhanced the public’s understanding of the justice system between July 1, 2017 & June 30, 2018?

If you did, you’re invited to enter it in the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Golden Gavel Award competition. The deadline is Friday, Oct 26. There is no entry fee and submitting an entry is simple. All that’s needed is a link to your story or other material and a completed entry form.

The State Bar sponsors these annual awards because we recognize that most Wisconsin residents rely on the media to keep them informed about important justice-related issues. Our goal is to improve the public’s understanding of the legal system by encouraging outstanding media coverage of those issues.

A judging committee composed of lawyers, educators and media representatives will select winning entries based on informational value and educational merit, creativity, thoroughness, reportorial and other technical skills and impact.

Two types of awards are presented, at the discretion of the judging committee: Golden Gavel Awards are presented for outstanding contributions to public understanding of our system of law and justice, and Certificates of Commendation are presented for entries judged to be noteworthy examples of public service messages or other activities that enhance the public’s understanding of the justice system.

For more information, contact State Bar Public Relations Coordinator Kristen Durst at 608-250-6025 or via email at kdurst@wisbar.org.

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State Bar of Wisconsin Board of Governors Approves New Criminal Justice Policy Positions

2018-06-21 00:00:00

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 20, 2018

CONTACT:
Kristen Durst
State Bar of Wisconsin
(608) 250-6025
kdurst@wisbar.org

STATE BAR OF WISCONSIN BOARD OF GOVERNORS APPROVES

NEW CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICY POSITIONS

Lake Geneva, WI – The State Bar of Wisconsin’s Board of Governors has unanimously voted to adopt several new policy positions related to criminal sentencing procedures. Approval by the elected 52–member board that manages and directs the State Bar allows the Bar to advocate on behalf of Wisconsin’s 25,000 member attorneys on issues that are legislative priorities to the legal profession and the administration of justice.

At their June 20, 2018, meeting, the Board of Governors voted to support the following positions:

1. The State Bar of Wisconsin supports reforming bail and pretrial detention laws so as to moveaway from the use of cash bail and toward the use of a validated risk–assessment instrument as a basis for pretrial detention decisions.

The State Bar supports using scientific risk assessment, instead of cash bail, in determining whether someone who is charged with a criminal offense is released before trial. The current practice of using cash bail disproportionately affects low income and low risk individuals who may have difficulty obtaining the necessary funds to make bail. Additionally, decisions based on the nature of the offense and access to cash can lead to the release of high risk and dangerous defendants.

2. The State Bar of Wisconsin supports amending the extraordinary health condition (EHC)release statute, Wisconsin Stat. § 302.113(9g), so as to facilitate the prompt release from prison ofinmates who suffer from an EHC and who no longer pose a threat to public safety.

Expanding opportunities for early release due to extraordinary health conditions for people who no longer present a threat to public safety would assist with the enormous financial burdens placed on the prison system by aging and sick prisoners as well as reflect end of life realities faced by prisoners. According to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation millions of dollars could be saved.

Currently procedures make it difficult for inmates to obtain early release based on an extraordinary health condition. Proposed changes would streamline the process.

3. The State Bar of Wisconsin supports amending the geriatric release statute, Wisconsin Stat. § 302.113(9g), so as to make the statutory procedures and standards for geriatric release availableto inmates with indeterminate (i.e., pre–Truth–in–Sentencing)sentences.

Older prisoners who were sentenced prior to truth–in–sentencing currently are not eligible for early re lease on the basis of age. Expanding opportunities for early release for older prisoners who no longer present a threat to public safety would assist with the enormous financial burdens placed on the system by an aging and sick population as well as reflect end of life issues.

4. The State Bar supports establishing a process by which a person on parole release or extended supervision can obtain an early discharge from supervision.

When individuals are released from prison, they are almost always subject to a period of supervision in the community with significant restrictions on their liberty. This period of supervision can last a decade or more. However, almost all repeat–offending occurs in the first five years after release. The State Bar supports creating a process by which individuals who have been doing well on supervision can be granted an early discharge.

5. The State Bar of Wisconsin supports requiring the regular collection and dissemination of dataon racial disparities in the criminal justice system by appropriate agencies, and permit the consideration of such data by decision makers in the system.

The new policy positions are the work product of the State Bar of Wisconsin's Mass and Disparate Incarceration Committee and the Criminal Law Section.