Rotunda Report | State Bar of Wisconsin

Looking Back – and Forward on Grassroots!

Devin Martin — 2026-03-23 00:00:00

Mar. 23, 2026 – A critical part of the mission of the State Bar of Wisconsin is to advocate for policies that support the legal profession and access to justice for all. That includes educating Wisconsin’s lawmakers and the public about issues that impact the legal system. It’s an effort that continues year-round, long after the legislative session wraps up.

Over the course of the 2025-2026 legislative session, State Bar members engaged in the legislative process by sending emails, making phone calls, and posting social media messages using the State Bar’s Advocacy Network. The session’s grassroots efforts began by encouraging members to reach out to their lawmakers to introduce themselves and establish—or strengthen—a relationship with them as a constituent. Building working relationships with lawmakers outside the context of a specific issue is one of the best ways potential State Bar advocates can engage in the legislative process.

The biggest grassroots effort this session was a push to encourage lawmakers to include state funding for civil legal aid in the biennial budget. An increase in investment didn’t make it into the final budget bill, but the effort demonstrated to lawmakers the depth of support for legal aid programs within the legal community and helped lay the groundwork for funding in the future.

Devin Martin is the grassroots outreach coordinator with the State Bar of Wisconsin. He can be reached by email or by phone at (608) 250-6145.

In the next several months the State Bar will continue efforts to educate lawmakers, the public, and State Bar members on the State Bar’s Board of Governors’ legislative priorities. A future issue of Rotunda Report will outline a broader campaign on civil legal aid with our partners in the Civil Legal Aid Alliance of Wisconsin (CLAAW). In the meantime, stay subscribed to Rotunda Report newsletter and look for articles in Inside Track and Wisconsin Lawyer, and watch for emails from “State Bar of WI – Advocacy Network”. You can also follow us on X at @SBWRotundaRpt and other State Bar social media channels to keep up to date with happenings.

By sending emails, making phone calls, and reaching out to colleagues and encouraging them to do the same, the voice of the legal profession is being heard by lawmakers across Wisconsin. For all those who have reached out to share their thoughts with their legislators, we thank you. And for those who haven’t yet, there’s never a better time than now to get started. The Advocacy Network makes it quick and easy.

What You Can Do: State Bar Advocacy Network

State Bar members are encouraged to send a message to their lawmakers expressing support on legislative topics which positively affect the legal system using the Advocacy Network. Pre-written email messages are editable to suit your own thoughts and opinions and help to demonstrate the breadth of support for policies that prioritize access to justice. You can also "Choose Your Own" to craft messages to any of your elected officials, from President of the United States down to your local municipal officials.

End of Session Doesn't Mean End of Legislative Work

Lynne Davis — 2026-03-09 00:00:00

Mar. 9, 2026 – As the Wisconsin Legislature closes out the 2025-26 legislative session and many senators and representatives return to their districts until January 2027, lobbyists are often asked, “what do you do between the end of one session and the beginning of the next?” The end of the session doesn’t mean the end of legislative work. The State Bar of Wisconsin’s lobbyists continue their work during the seven to eight months of the 'off-season' focusing on legislative-related matters and laying the foundation for what comes ahead.

One of the primary activities the lobbyists undertake between adjournment and the general election involves working with the State Bar’s lobbying sections as they look ahead to the next legislative session. The lobbying sections meet year-round, typically between four and six times per year, and while they often take positions on bills introduced by legislators or other advocacy organizations, many lobbying sections also develop their own legislative initiatives, which can take months to years before finalizing.

Lynne Davis, is a lobbyist with the State Bar of Wisconsin. She can be reached by email, or by phone at (608) 852-3603.

The legislative off-season is an excellent opportunity for the lobbyists to work with these groups to draft bill language, share with other stakeholders impacted by the changes and negotiate language, and begin crafting an advocacy plan for the upcoming legislative session.

The other major focus is legislative study committees. The legislative study committee process is an opportunity for legislators and members of the public to collaborate on timely, complicated issues and provide solutions to the Wisconsin Legislature for consideration in the next session. Study committees cover a wide range of topics, many of great interest to members of the State Bar.

Often the legislature appoints attorneys with issue-area expertise to the committees to benefit from their expertise and real-world understanding of an issue. Past topics include reducing recidivism, access to civil legal services, minor guardianship, and increasing offender employment opportunities.

The lobbyists attend these hearings irrespective of whether members of the State Bar are appointed and remain engaged in study committees’ work, often sharing the progress with the interested sections. Section members can then anticipate legislation they are likely to see in the next session and be prepared to lobby, should those efforts result in legislation.

Once the general election is over, there is an added responsibility for the State Bar lobbyists to get to know the newly elected legislators. It is important to identify their background, specifically noting if any are attorneys, and prepare to meet with each of the new legislators (and many returning legislators) to introduce them to the State Bar and its lobbying program once the new session commences.

If State Bar members are interested in speaking with the State Bar lobbyists about a legislative matter, please feel free to contact them – Cale Battles, cbattles@wisbar.org, or Lynne Davis, ldavis@wisbar.org.

What You Can Do: State Bar Advocacy Network

State Bar members are encouraged to send a message to their lawmakers expressing support on legislative topics which positively affect the legal system using the Advocacy Network. Pre-written email messages are editable to suit your own thoughts and opinions and help to demonstrate the breadth of support for policies that prioritize access to justice. You can also "Choose Your Own" to craft messages to any of your elected officials, from President of the United States down to your local municipal officials.

Don't forget to subscribe to the Rotunda Report newsletter and follow us on X to stay informed and get involved in the legislative process.

Exoneree Compensation Left on the Table as Session Winds to Close

Devin Martin — 2026-02-23 00:00:00

Feb. 23, 2026 – Last week, the Assembly wrapped up their main body of work for the 2025-26 legislative session. The Senate expected to follow suit in a few weeks during the Mar. 17-19 floor session. Depending on action taken in the Senate, the Assembly may then return to finalize a few items or vote on a final tax and spending package that is being considered after new state budget estimates show a $2.5 billion surplus.

For advocates of a particular policy, it’s often disappointing when a topic that seems to have support ends up tabled at the end of session. However, tracking the evolution and outcome of an unsuccessful legislative attempt is helpful and can inform future advocacy.

Back in October, Senator Van Wanggaard (R - Racine) and Representative Jessie Rodriguez (R - Oak Creek) introduced Senate Bill 577 / Assembly Bill 583. The bill would increase the annual and lifetime caps for compensation for individuals wrongfully convicted of a crime to $50,000 for each year of wrongful imprisonment with a $1 million cap. The bill was covered in more detail in the Nov. 10, 2025 Rotunda Report.

Devin Martin is the grassroots outreach coordinator with the State Bar of Wisconsin. He can be reached by email or by phone at (608) 250-6145.

Upon introduction, SB 577/AB 583 enjoyed bipartisan support with 18 additional Assembly co-sponsors and 5 Senate co-sponsors. Since then, four additional legislators signed on to the bill, for a total of 29 sponsors/co-sponsors. The State Bar of Wisconsin, the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Catholic Conference all registered and testified in favor of the bill, with no organizations registering in opposition. While such support can indicate that a bill is likely to pass, it is not guaranteed.

On Feb. 2, 2026, Rep. Jessie Rodriguez offered Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 to the bill. The amendment made several changes to the original bill, but it retained the increase in compensation limits and the establishment of a new procedure for reviewing compensation claims for exonerees involving the Division of Hearings and Appeals (DHA) instead of the claims board.

This Substitute Amendment was adopted by a 10-0 vote by the Assembly Committee on State Affairs on Feb. 3. Despite the unanimous support in committee, the bill failed to be scheduled for a floor vote in the Assembly.

The State Bar’s Board of Governors believes in appropriately compensating exonerees for the injustice they have suffered and the years of freedom they have lost. The State Bar Advocacy Team remains committed to educating lawmakers on the importance of this goal. As a member, you can help advocate for justice for the wrongly convicted by reaching out to your lawmakers and sharing your viewpoint on the issue, too.

What You Can Do: State Bar Advocacy Network

State Bar members are encouraged to send a message to their lawmakers expressing support on legislative topics which positively affect the legal system using the Advocacy Network. Select "Choose Your Own" to craft messages to any of your elected officials, from President of the United States down to your local municipal officials.

Don't forget to subscribe to the Rotunda Report newsletter and follow us on X to stay informed and get involved in the legislative process.

Legislature Closes Out 2025-26 Session With Flurry of Action

Cale Battles — 2026-02-09 00:00:00

Feb. 9, 2026 – The Wisconsin Legislature’s last weeks of session are comparable to a student cramming for a week of finals. There is always a sense of urgency among legislators at this time to get their priorities and business done as quickly as possible, to avoid being caught up in last-minute session wrangling that could affect the passage of pending legislation.

Currently, the legislature has their final floor periods of the session scheduled from Feb. 10 to Feb. 19. An additional three floor days are scheduled from March 17 to March 19, but if we use past schedules as a model, they might only use these days for limited action, or one house might meet just to take up bills that have been amended or passed by one house and not the other.

Summary of Legislative Bills of Interest Being Considered by Legislature

Below is a short summary of proposals that might be of interest to State Bar members. Most of the proposals listed have positions taken by either the State Bar’s Board of Governors or by one of the Bar’s 13 active lobbying practice sections.

Assembly Bill 296/Senate Bill 300 - eliminating the 13-week limit on the garnishment of earnings of certain debtors.
Assembly Bill 320/Senate Bill 333 - increasing certain court fees and surcharges and indexing those amounts for inflation. (State Bar Board of Governors neutral on substitute amendment)
Assembly Bill 377/Senate Bill 357 - establishing English as the official state language, use of artificial intelligence or other machine-assisted translation tools in lieu of appointing English language interpreters, and use of English for governmental oral and written communication and for nongovernmental purposes. (multiple State Bar lobbying sections oppose)
Assembly Bill 390/Senate Bill 388 - access to an original impounded birth record. (Children and the Law Board opposes)
Assembly Bill 514/Senate Bill 546 - authorizing additional circuit court and criminal justice system positions. (State Bar Board of Governors supports)
Assembly Bill 583/Senate Bill 577 - resolution of claims against the state for wrongful imprisonment of innocent persons, exempting from taxation certain amounts an individual receives from the claims board or legislature, health benefits and other assistance for wrongfully imprisoned persons, and making an appropriation. (State Bar Board of Governors supports)
Assembly Bill 598/Senate Bill 578 - consent to admissions to certain health care facilities by patient representatives without requiring a petition for guardianship or protective placement. (Elder Law and Special Needs Board opposes)
Assembly Bill 972/Senate Bill 970 - financial exploitation of vulnerable adults. (Elder Law and Special Needs Board opposes)

Wisconsin Eye Returns

On February 2, Wisconsin Eye returned to the air, after having been shuttered in December of 2025 due to financial difficulties. WisEye is Wisconsin’s version of C-SPAN, a television and internet broadcasting service airing video from legislative floor sessions, committee public hearings and news interviews. Launched in 2007, the site archives previous broadcast footage and is searchable by committee or date.

Cale Battles is the government relations program manager with the State Bar of Wisconsin. He can be reached by email or by phone at (608) 250-6077.

A bipartisan deal reached in late January (Assembly Bill 974) would create a $10 million endowment for the organization, which will supplement continued fundraising efforts to meet immediate operational needs. For now, enough funding has been secured to resume broadcasting for the remainder of the month.

For questions or more information on pending legislation please feel free to contact State Bar Government Relations Coordinators, Lynne Davis (ldavis@wisbar.org) or Cale Battles (cbattles@wisbar.org). For grassroots advocacy questions please contact Devin Martin (dmartin@wisbar.org). To stay up date on budget news please subscribe to the Rotunda Report and follow us on X (formerly Twitter) to stay informed and get involved in the legislative process.

Family Law Income Change Notification Bill Becomes Law

Lynne Davis — 2026-01-26 00:00:00

Jan. 26, 2026 – Communication between parties involved in child support or maintenance orders is not always the strongest, particularly when it comes to discussing personal finances. While exchanging financial information is an annual requirement in Wisconsin for people in this situation, in real life, income changes significant enough to impact support payments may occur at any time of year. Previously, the law addressed this reality by requiring those paying support or maintenance to inform the other party of substantial income changes when they occur.

However, family law practitioners felt more could be done to ensure balance among parties, as child support or maintenance recipients may also experience a change of income significant enough to justify a modification of the order at any point in the year, but are not required to disclose that change until the annual exchange of finances. Additionally, payors may not realize their change in income was substantial enough to warrant a notification or may not believe income from a certain source required notification, as sources of income are not clearly defined in the current statutes.

Lynne Davis, is a lobbyist with the State Bar of Wisconsin. She can be reached by email, or by phone at (608) 852-3603.

To address these shortcomings, Governor Tony Evers recently signed Act 82 into law, legislation drafted by the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Family Law Section Board and introduced by Sen. Jesse James (R-Thorp) and Rep. Ron Tusler (R-Harrison).

The new Act makes two primary changes. Most notably, the law now requires both parties involved in child support or maintenance orders to provide notification when a substantial change of income occurs. With this information, either party may now elect to seek a change in the amount of child support based on the new income data. Second, the proposal codifies what is considered a source of income by cross-referencing the definition in DCF 150.02(13), so there is no doubt which type of income must be disclosed.

The Act mirrors changes made in 2022 to the annual financial exchange statute (2021 WI Act 259), carrying over specific provisions which allows certain information to be redacted for privacy or safety purposes.

Lastly, the proposal specifies where certain income is not a factor in child support calculations or if the payor is not considered a shared-placement parent.

The new law provides clear guidance to both parties, as well as ensuring both payors and payees are expected to be transparent with their income.

What You Can Do: State Bar Advocacy Network

Don't forget to subscribe to the Rotunda Report newsletter and follow us on X to stay informed and get involved in the legislative process.

Helpful Tips to Keep Up With the 2026 Spring Legislative Session

Devin Martin — 2026-01-12 00:00:00

Jan 12, 2026 – As Wisconsin’s 2025-26 biennial legislative session winds to a close with its final spring floor period, legislative activity can become overwhelming. Lawmakers will attempt to finish as much business as possible before campaigning begins, and it can become difficult for those trying to keep up with state government happenings.

The Legislative Calendar

The session calendar is a good place to start when following legislative activity. Among the first items that legislators vote on is a joint legislative resolution that establishes the calendar of both the Senate and the Assembly for the two-year session. The calendar was established with the passage of 2025 Senate Joint Resolution 1, which outlines the 16-month general business legislative session. The calendar is seasonal and in four specific segments: spring session in odd year (January-May), budget passage (June/July), fall session in odd year (September-November) and spring session in even years (January-March).

The legislature’s website lists the calendar dates as approved by the joint resolution, as well as a visual calendar. It is important to note that the legislature will not meet on all the dates set aside for the year, but they cannot meet outside of those dates. Floor session periods that remain will be Jan 13 to 15, Jan 20 to 22, Feb 10 to 19, Mar 17 to 19, with a final limited-business period Apr 14 to 16.

Outside of the legislature’s floor sessions, public hearings and executive sessions can be scheduled at any time, typically with about one week’s notice, and most often occur midweek. This stage is the precursor to floor action and provides an opportunity for public participation in the legislative process. Notice of these hearings is posted on the legislature’s committee schedule site. It’s important to note that hearings can be announced with as little as 24 hours’ notice.

The public can follow along and watch the Legislature in action. State Bar members and citizens can access information in real time and track any legislative action. Below is a helpful guide with links on how members can research and follow state government.

WisEye Closure

One major change and challenge for Capitol watchers in the new year is the shuttering of WisconsinEye (WisEye) due to a lack of funding and donations. For over 20 years, the private, nonprofit, nonpartisan television and internet broadcasting service aired video from legislative floor sessions, committee public hearings and news interviews to the public free of charge. At this time, it is not known whether the closure will be temporary or permanent, or whether a new organization or government entity will provide a similar service for the remainder of the session. There are active discussions within the legislature, philanthropic and nonprofit communities on finding sources of revenue to allow WisEye to resume coverage, but as of publication, there is no TV or internet video airing of legislative activity.

Legislative and Lobbying Reporting and News

For Capitol watchers who want to learn more about lobbying and the lobbying efforts of interest groups, the Wisconsin Ethics Commission (WEC) has created the Wisconsin Eye on Lobbying website. Lobbying principals and registered lobbyists must report any lobbying activities that they have conducted on legislation, budget matters or administrative rule, which are then posted on the WEC’s lobbying website in real time. Lobbying principles and registered lobbyists also must submit reports every six months as to the time and cost of these efforts.

Two sites that are a daily visit for politicians and lobbyists are the subscription-based Wheeler Report and Wispolitics.com. Both focus on aggregating state political news and post news releases, events and daily Capitol schedules.

WEC’s Eye on Lobbying - https://lobbying.wi.gov/Home/Welcome

WisPolitics - http://wispolitics.com/

The Wheeler Report - http://thewheelerreport.com/

Wisconsin Legislative Homepage

The state Legislature’s Home Page contains a wealth of information on current and previous sessions’ legislative action. The site also allows citizens to search for any legislative proposal or topic introduced.

The Wisconsin Legislative Notification Service is also located on the home page. This service allows anyone the ability to track a specific bill, topic, administrative code, committee action or legislation introduced by an elected official. Users can request weekly or daily email notifications when any legislative action occurs.

Legislative Notification Service - https://notify.legis.wisconsin.gov/login

Legislature Home Page - http://legis.wisconsin.gov/

Find a Proposal (Legislative Document Search) - https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/search

Senate Session Calendar - https://insession.legis.wisconsin.gov/senate

Assembly Session Calendar - https://insession.legis.wisconsin.gov/assembly

State Bar Advocacy

The State Bar’s Advocacy and Access to Justice and Communications Departments will offer up-to-date information on legislative and court developments. Members, lawmakers, and the public can subscribe to Rotunda Report, an e-newsletter that focuses on the State Bar’s legislative issues. The State Bar’s InsideTrack newsletter also frequently features articles on legislative developments and in-depth articles from members on the impact of recent law changes.

Devin Martin is the grassroots outreach coordinator with the State Bar of Wisconsin. He can be reached by email or by phone at (608) 250-6145.

SBW Government Relations Homepage - http://www.wisbar.org/aboutUs/GovernmentRelations

Rotunda Report - http://www.wisbar.org/newspublications/RotundaReport

Inside Track - http://www.wisbar.org/NewsPublications/InsideTrack

The Government Relations site also includes information on policy positions taken by the State Bar’s Board of Governors (BOG) (including printable factsheets) and the practice sections that have chosen to lobby.

State Bar BOG Priority Policy Positions - https://www.wisbar.org/aboutus/governmentrelations/pages/policy-positions.aspx

Track State Bar BOG Legislation of Interest - https://www.wisbar.org/aboutUs/GovernmentRelations/Pages/government-relations.aspx#/bills

SBW Section Positions - https://www.wisbar.org/aboutus/governmentrelations/pages/section-policies.aspx

State Bar’s Grassroots Advocacy Network

Launched in 2019, the State Bar’s grassroots Advocacy Network continues to grow outreach efforts to members and encourage lawyer participation in the legislative process. The perspectives, experiences, concerns and expertise of attorneys have a significant impact on the legislative process, and coordinated and sustained engagement leads to better policy outcomes for the legal profession and for access to justice.

You can learn more about top priorities, track bills, and take action by sending a message to your legislators at www.wisbar.org/GovRelations.

Advocacy Network Grassroots Toolkit

The Advocacy Network Grassroots Toolkit is an online and printable resource for members who’d like to learn to how become effective legislative advocates. Whether advocating for your clients, your profession, or for policies that improve access to justice for all, the Grassroots Toolkit is a great way to learn why and how to communicate with your elected officials. Combined with printable one-page factsheets of State Bar policy positions and personalized help from State Bar Grassroots coordinator Devin Martin, the prospective grassroot advocate has everything they need to drive forward positive legislative action. Those individuals, local bars, and law firms that are the most effective advocates have the opportunity to be recognized as “Advocacy Ambassadors” by simply documenting their efforts and submitting them as per the Toolkit guidelines.

Divorce by Affidavit Bill Signed as WI Act 40

Lynne Davis — 2025-12-08 00:00:00

Dec. 8, 2025 – In the best of circumstances, the process of divorce is unpleasant, even for those pursuing separation. Recently, Governor Evers signed Act 40 into law, which creates a new path for certain parties seeking divorce in Wisconsin. This change will provide separating families with a less stressful and more streamlined approach to divorce, while providing relief to overburdened family courts.

Drafted by the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Family Law Section Board and introduced by Rep. Ron Tusler (R – Harrison) and Sen. Eric Wimberger (R – Oconto), this new law allows, in certain circumstances, parties to avoid appearing before a judge to finalize a divorce.

Previously, when parties sought a divorce, they were required to appear in court to finalize the dissolution. In the vast majority of cases, this final step was considered perfunctory, as all aspects of the divorce had been settled. This final in-person appearance before a judge is often a financial and emotional stressor to the parties, burdensome, and, in some cases, frightening.

Lynne Davis, is a lobbyist with the State Bar of Wisconsin. She can be reached by email, or by phone at (608) 852-3603.

In recognition of this, the Family Law Section Board sought a change in the law to create an optional path in the final phase of dissolution by allowing the court to grant a final judgment of divorce without the parties having to appear in court – a divorce by affidavit.

Conducting a final hearing by affidavit is not a new concept. During the pandemic, when courthouses were shut down, some counties experimented with this process and found it to be efficient, reducing the backlog in family courts. Parties who finalized their divorce in this manner also appreciated not having to take time off work, find transportation to the courthouse, arrange childcare, and, significantly, avoid paying attorney fees for the time spent in court. Additionally, and perhaps most meaningfully, parties cited reduced stress, knowing they would not have to go to court for their final hearing.

For Act 40 to apply, both parties will have to be represented by attorneys or work with an attorney mediator, complete affidavits attesting to information typically provided at a hearing, and disclose if they are involved in a domestic violence case, among other requirements. The law also maintains judicial discretion by allowing a judge or commissioner to require the parties to appear in court if deemed necessary.

Giving parties the option to select how to proceed with a final hearing alleviates burdens on the court system and allows parties to decide what best suits their situation, resulting in a savings of time, money, and stress.

What You Can Do: State Bar Advocacy Network

Don't forget to subscribe to the Rotunda Report newsletter and follow us on X to stay informed and get involved in the legislative process.

Nominations Open for the 2026 Jurist Awards!

2025-12-08 00:00:00

Dec. 8, 2025 – The Bench and Bar Committee is now seeking nominations for the Judge of the Year and Lifetime Jurist Awards. These awards honor outstanding members of the judiciary and will be given at the State Bar of Wisconsin's 2026 Annual Meeting and Conference in LaCrosse.

The Judge of the Year Award honors an outstanding circuit court judge who exhibits judicial independence and excellence. The right candidate will have exceeded the call of judicial office, has made significant recent contributions to improving the judicial system, and has been a leader in advancing the quality of justice, judicial education, or innovative programs.

The Lifetime Jurist Achievement Award honors a judge who currently serves or has served as a circuit court judge and has exhibited long-term excellence as a judge. The judge must have demonstrated high ideals, exemplary personal character, judicial competence, and must have affected the judicial system in a distinctive manner.

The eligibility requirements as well as a nomination form may be found at http://www.wisbar.org/juristawards. Nominations must be supported by letters of recommendation and can be submitted along with any accompanying materials electronically or by regular mail. The nominations should be submitted to lroys@wisbar.org or to:

Bench and Bar Committee
c/o Lisa Roys
State Bar of Wisconsin
PO Box 7158
Madison, WI 53707

The deadline for nomination is January 31, 2026, but we encourage you to submit nominations early. Members of the Bench and Bar Committee review all nomination materials and make the final judicial award selections.

Legislators Introduce Bill to Increase Exoneree Compensation

Lynne Davis — 2025-11-10 00:00:00

Nov. 10, 2025 – The practice of law is a system in which those involved do their best with the information provided. Unfortunately, because this is an imperfect system, innocent people can be charged with, and sometimes convicted of, a crime they never committed.

To help correct these wrongs, organizations across the country pursue justice on behalf of those who were wrongfully convicted. In Wisconsin, the UW Law School’s Wisconsin Innocence Project does just that – seeking to exonerate the innocent. Law students, working in consultation with professors, have secured the release of more than 30 wrongfully convicted persons throughout the years since its inception, and they regularly review over 100 claims of innocence annually.

However, being exonerated of a crime is just the beginning. Upon release, sometimes after decades of wrongful imprisonment, exonerees are left with little to no resources to rely on as they re-enter society. Over a century ago, Wisconsin became the first state to pass laws to compensate individuals who were wrongly convicted, but those laws have not been updated in decades. Now Wisconsin’s limits on compensation are the lowest of any such statute in the nation.

Lynne Davis, is a lobbyist with the State Bar of Wisconsin. She can be reached by email, or by phone at (608) 852-3603.

Sen. Van Wanggaard (R - Racine) and Rep. Jessie Rodriguez (R - Oak Creek) are aiming to ensure better justice for exonerees with the recent introduction of Senate Bill 577 / Assembly Bill 583. The State Bar of Wisconsin’s Board of Governors supports their effort to compensate those wrongfully convicted for the time and freedom they lost.

This bill’s most notable change is to increase the annual and lifetime caps for compensation that exonerees can receive, from $5,000 per year and $25,000 per lifetime, to $50,000 for each year of wrongful imprisonment with a $1 million cap. In addition, exonerees could be eligible for health insurance for each year imprisoned, with a five-year maximum. Exonerees may also seek transition assistance from the Department of Corrections, and request that records related to the case be sealed. The bill would also create a timelier process for hearing and deciding compensation claims, while ensuring that undeserving individuals—such as those who committed related offenses or subsequent serious felonies—do not receive a windfall.

Even one innocent person going to prison is a tragedy. Wisconsin can help to perfect an imperfect justice system by passing SB 577 / AB 583 to ensure that exonerees are appropriately compensated for the injustice they have suffered and the years of freedom they have lost.

Please take a moment to contact your legislators and ask that they join the State Bar Board of Governors in supporting this legislation.

What You Can Do: State Bar of Wisconsin Advocacy Network

You can send a message of support for increasing exoneree compensation using the Advocacy Network. Use the "Send a Message to Wisconsin State Officials" option to craft a custom message expressing your support on this topic or any other. Messages sent through the network come from you and aren't automatically linked to the State Bar of Wisconsin.

Don't forget to subscribe to the Rotunda Report newsletter and follow us on X to stay informed and get involved in the legislative process.

State Bar Issues Receive Renewed Interest in Fall Session

Cale Battles — 2025-10-27 00:00:00

Oct. 27, 2025 – The Wisconsin Legislature returned after a summer hiatus to begin deliberations on legislative matters during the 2025-26 fall floor session. After a limited floor period in September, legislative activity increased throughout October with numerous committee hearings and floor days in both chambers. The fall floor session will conclude in November, with floor periods scheduled between Nov 11 to Nov 20.

After the holidays, the legislature will return for the final floor periods of the session scheduled from Jan 13 to Jan 22, Feb 10 to Feb 19, and Mar 17 to Mar 19. If the past is any indication, the March floor period might only be used for limited action, or one house might meet for a single day to conclude any outstanding business from the other chamber.

State Bar Issues on Criminal Justice Staffing and Court Fee Increases Proposed

Governor Tony Evers and legislative leaders reached a budget compromise in early July that included 43 new assistant district attorney (ADA) positions and 12.5 support positions for State Public Defenders. While these positions helped address a growing need in these important criminal justice agencies, legislators and stakeholders have indicated that more needs to be done. Rep. David Steffen (R-Howard) and Sen. Eric Wimberger (R-Oconto), along with others, introduced Assembly Bill 514 and Senate Bill 546, which they called the “Justice for All Act.”

The drafted legislation provides position authority for 30.5 assistant district attorneys (ADAs), 13.0 assistant state public defenders (ASPDs), 23.0 State Public Defender (SPD) support staff, and 2.0 circuit court judges (and a corresponding 2.0 court reporters) in 2027-28, and 64.5 ADAs, 22.0 ASPDs, 41.0 SPD support staff, and 4.0 circuit court judges (and a corresponding 4.0 court reporters) in 2028-29. The bill adds four circuit court branches in Brown County (August 1, 2027), in Menominee and Shawano County (August 1, 2027), in Brown County (August 1, 2028) and in Kenosha County (August 1, 2028). It should be noted that funding for the new positions would need to be requested by agencies in their respective requests for the 2027-29 biennial budget. The State Bar Board of Governors supports the position increases and will advocate for fully funding the positions.

Cale Battles, is the government relations program manager with the State Bar of Wisconsin. He can be reached by email, or by phone at (608) 250-6077.

Additionally, legislation to increase court fees received a public hearing in the Assembly Judiciary Committee in late September. Assembly Bill 320 and Senate Bill 333, proposed by Rep. Scott Allen (R-Waukesha) and Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine), would apply an inflationary increase to every statutory court fee based on the last time the fee was adjusted. The State Bar testified against the proposal in committee due to access to justice concerns for individuals and the impact of the higher fees on participants seeking justice during times of significant emotional or financial distress. A subsequent amendment was filed that would direct fees back into the court system. The State Bar continues to monitor and review the legislation.

Exoneree Compensation Considered

Recently, a bipartisan group of legislators circulated a legislative co-sponsorship memo that would update the claims limit for individuals that were wrongly convicted and imprisoned. The last time these amounts were updated was in 1980. The current limits have a cap of $5,000 per year with a maximum compensation of $25,000. This process is done through the Wisconsin Claims Board. Currently the only option to receive more than the maximum of $25,000 is to have the full legislature authorize a larger amount.

The legislative proposal, similar to previously introduced legislation, would increase not only the yearly amounts to $50,000 but also the maximum amount to $1 million. The proposal would also create a transition plan for the exoneree and provide for health care. The State Bar Board of Governors believes that government must ensure that exonerees are appropriately compensated for the injustice they suffered and the years of freedom they lost, including both financial compensation and social support services.”

What You Can Do: State Bar of Wisconsin Advocacy Network

Don't forget to subscribe to the Rotunda Report newsletter and follow us on X to stay informed and get involved in the legislative process.

Rural Wisconsin Needs a New Crop of Attorneys

Devin Martin — 2025-10-13 00:00:00

Oct. 13, 2025 – It’s harvest time, and this year promises a potential record crop for corn as well as healthy yields for soy, cranberries, and potatoes. But amidst the bounty of Wisconsin’s farms, a shortage is deepening inside its rural courtrooms and law firms. Rural Wisconsin simply doesn't have enough attorneys, with repercussions that could affect thousands of its residents.

More than 60% of the state's lawyers are based in three urban counties – Milwaukee, Dane, and Waukesha. The majority of Wisconsin’s counties have less than one active attorney per 1,000 residents. There are several counties in the state with fewer than 20 practicing lawyers in the entire county—and a handful with fewer than 10 lawyers each.

Among them, increasing numbers are approaching retirement age. In many cases, retiring attorneys in rural areas aren’t being replaced, and communities that already suffer a shortage of legal access become even more underserved. When an entire region no longer has enough lawyers, vital legal needs go unmet and access to justice is jeopardized. This is a threat to American values, where justice is a birthright for all people, regardless of race, nationality, gender, religion, income, or where one lives or makes their living.

Devin Martin, is the grassroots outreach coordinator with the State Bar of Wisconsin. He can be reached by email, or by phone at (608) 250-6145.

One way the State Bar of Wisconsin is working to address this shortage is through the Rural Practice Development Program, an initiative designed to help bridge the gap in legal services throughout the state. The program offers a $10,000 financial stipend plus other benefits for attorneys to relocate to underserved rural communities, establish or join a practice, and immerse themselves in local life. The first three attorneys accepted into the program were featured in the May 28 issue of Inside Track.

Another way is through education, engagement, and support of members at events like the Wisconsin Solo & Small Firm Conference (WSSFC). Held annually at the Kalahari Resort in Lake Delton, WSSFC tailors its educational programs to the needs of small firms and solo practitioners. It is an excellent resource for attorneys interested in exploring what it might be like to work in or hang their own shingle in a small town. WSSFC attendees regularly give feedback that the conference is an extremely valuable (and family-friendly) way to keep up to date with issues that affect them most.

Finally, the State Bar continues to advocate for state support for loan assistance repayment programs (LRAPs) that entice attorneys to start or move their legal practice to rural areas where they are sorely needed. Such programs have been successful in recruiting health professionals to underserved rural areas in Wisconsin.

One example of such a program for the legal profession was 2019 Assembly Bill 512. This bill would have created pilot programs through the Public Defender Board that would pay up to $20,000 per year of qualifying student loans to attorneys who take at least 50 public defense appointments in certain rural counties. The proposed program would have targeted two pressing needs within our state's justice system: the need for more attorneys to establish practices in rural areas, and the need for more private bar public defenders. Unfortunately, the proposed legislation did not pass and has not yet been reintroduced into the legislature.

A Wisconsin rural attorney loan repayment program could help bring lawyers to counties that need them and public defenders to unrepresented clients, but lawmakers need to hear from constituents in the legal community to make it happen. Send a message to your legislators on addressing the rural attorney shortage by using the Advocacy Network today.

What You Can Do: Advocacy Network

Show your support for this initiative today by clicking here to send a message to your state Senator and Representative. The action site is easy to use and only takes a moment of your time. If you have questions about the proposed legislation, LRAP programs, or the State Bar’s rural attorney initiatives, reach out to Devin Martin at dmartin@wisbar.org or call 608-250-6145.

Don't forget to subscribe to the Rotunda Report newsletter and follow us on X (formerly Twitter) to stay informed and get involved in the legislative process.

Renewed Hope for 'Raise the Age' Efforts

Lynne Davis — 2025-09-22 00:00:00

Sept. 22, 2025 – With the start of a new school year, high school students, particularly those with a driver’s license, find themselves with a new or renewed sense of independence. School sports and clubs mean more time with friends and less time with family. Those activities often lead to stronger friendships and more time spent unsupervised.

While teenagers can engage in plenty of activities that are safe and healthy, poor decisions can have serious consequences leading to encounters with the justice system. In Wisconsin, those penalties can be even more significant for 17-year-olds.

Since 1996, 17-year-olds have been treated as adults in Wisconsin’s criminal justice system, with no ability to be waived into the juvenile court system. Depending on the crime, minors younger than seventeen may be waived into the adult court system as well. Prosecution in adult court can lead to long-lasting negative impacts, not only on the lives of youth offenders and those who care for them, but also for victims and the public at large, because adult court takes an entirely different approach when it comes to those found guilty of a crime.

The juvenile justice system provides specialized services tailored to the rehabilitation of youth, and can provide an alternative to incarceration, often in the form of restitution and community service, with a heavy focus on treatment that reduces the likelihood of reoffending.

Lynne Davis, is a lobbyist with the State Bar of Wisconsin. She can be reached by email, or by phone at (608) 852-3603.

This is in stark contrast to the adult court system, which provides little in the way of rehabilitation. Studies^[1] repeatedly show that youth placed in adult prisons reoffend after release at higher rates than those placed in a juvenile institution. Simply put, the adult criminal justice system is neither adequately equipped nor designed to handle juveniles.

The State Bar of Wisconsin’s Board of Governors hopes to change the way Wisconsin handles 17-year-old offenders by returning their original jurisdiction to the juvenile justice system. Doing so would provide those teens the resources needed to rehabilitate, rather than recidivate. When treated as juveniles, teens have a better chance to learn from the situation and take steps to find success in the future. This would not prevent waiving youth accused of seriously dangerous or heinous crimes into adult courts when appropriate.

With roughly six months left in the 2025-2026 legislative session, there is still plenty of time for lawmakers to pass legislation returning 17-year-olds to the juvenile justice system. Past legislative sessions have seen bills introduced that would make this change, and the State Bar Board of Governors hopes to see the reintroduction and final passage of similar legislation.

State Bar lobbyists will be hitting the Capitol steps in Madison to ensure legislators are aware of the need and support for this change, and we ask State Bar members to echo that same support to the legislators in your district.

What You Can Do: The Advocacy Network

Lawmakers in Wisconsin need to hear from members of the State Bar about why returning 17-year-olds to the juvenile justice system helps create better outcomes for victims, offenders, and the public at large. You can help by reaching out to your legislators using our Advocacy Network. Pre-written email messages are editable to suit your own thoughts and opinions and help to demonstrate the breadth of support for policies that prioritize access to justice.

Don't forget to subscribe to the Rotunda Report newsletter and follow us on X (formerly Twitter) to stay informed and get involved in the legislative process.

Endnotes

[1] Dept. of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Juvenile Transfer Laws: An Effective Deterrent to Delinquency? June 2010.

Turning 18: A Legal Guide

Devin Martin — 2025-09-08 00:00:00

Sept. 8, 2025 – The first cold front of the season marks the end of summer and the beginning of a new chapter for thousands of young people across Wisconsin and the wider nation. Younger children return to school, a grade older, with the familiar backpack and maybe a new pair of shoes. Meanwhile, a fresh cohort has now graduated from high school and looks forward to the next phase of their lives beyond secondary education. Whether that means preparing to enter college or technical school, finding employment or becoming a trade apprentice, enlisting in military service, or simply taking a bit of time off, in most jurisdictions of the world, the 18th year marks the start of a young person’s new life as a bonafide adult.

What follows is a brief guide to help young people and their parents navigate the exciting new landscape of legal rights and responsibilities of the “age of majority.”

What are some of the rights you gain after age 18 (as a U.S. citizen) that you didn’t have before?

Vote in federal, state and local elections
Run for and hold local or state public office
Participate in jury service

In addition, most people* age 18 or older, regardless of citizenship, can generally do the following:

Enlist in military service without parental consent
Marry without parental or legal guardian consent
Adopt children
Make a valid estate plan
Work for pay without restrictions placed on minors
Obtain a driver’s license (must be a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, or conditional resident)
Sue someone in court
Make a financial contract (e.g., rent an apartment, buy a car, take out a loan) in your own name
Apply for credit in your own name
Buy lottery tickets, legally gamble (except for most casinos), and get a tattoo
Make independent medical decisions and donate blood or organs
Purchase firearms

* People under legal adult guardianship due to disability will need to check with their guardian, their attorney, or the court about their rights.

What are some of the responsibilities people have after age 18 that they didn’t have before?

You may be sued by others for property damage or bodily injury that you cause (for example, in a car accident that was your fault)
You may be sued by others on contracts you make
All males are required to register for the selective service (military draft)
Criminal charges will be tried in adult criminal court rather than juvenile court. This begins at age 17 in Wisconsin. In some circumstances, a person as young as 14 can be “waived” into adult court and treated as an adult for criminal law purposes.
Supporting yourself financially, as parents/legal guardians are no longer required to do so
You assume control and responsibility for your own medical and financial decisions and medical and academic records. At age 18, all parental and guardianship rights are terminated; parents or guardians can only make medical or financial decisions for you with your explicit consent or court approval.

Signing Contracts and Leases

Over the coming weeks and months, many young adults are likely to find themselves in situations in which they will need to sign contracts like rental agreements for the first time.

Devin Martin, is the grassroots outreach coordinator with the State Bar of Wisconsin. He can be reached by email, or by phone at (608) 250-6145.

Attorneys advise young adults to remember some general rules to follow when asked to sign a contract:

Don’t sign anything until you are sure you understand the agreement
Read the entire contract before signing it
Ask questions about anything in the contract you don’t understand
Cross out parts of the contract that conflict with your agreement
Write in parts of your agreement that are not in the contract
Don’t sign a contract if it contains any blank spaces – either fill them in or cross them out if they do not apply
Be concerned if someone asks you to sign a contract without reading it
Don’t be intimidated
Don’t be taken in by friendly folks
Don’t assume that a printed form contract must be okay
Never sign anything unless you understand why you are being asked to sign and what you are agreeing to do
Be sure that you get a complete, accurate, signed copy of the contract

Lawyers also have specific reminders for people who are signing their first lease.

A landlord or property owner has the right to:

Set the amount of rent
Set rules for occupancy, except that a landlord in Wisconsin cannot discriminate based on a tenant’s sex, race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religion, national origin, marital status, family status, lawful source of income, age, or ancestry
Collect for damages to the property and sell the rental unit (if there is a written lease, it continues to its expiration date)

A tenant has the right to:

Use the rental unit in accordance with the rules
Occupy the rental unit without unjust interference or discrimination by the landlord
Expect the property to be safe and kept in reasonably good repair

A tenant should also do the following before renting a property:

See the specific unit he or she intends to rent – not a “model” unit
Note the unit’s condition and report any need for painting, cleaning, or repairs
Read the lease and any related notices or disclosures
For a complete list of necessary disclosures, visit tenantresourcecenter.org

For more helpful advice for 18-year-olds, please visit the “For Educators” section of Wisbar.org and download our guide, What You Should Know about Wisconsin Law: Your Legal Rights & Responsibilities.

Any Given Session Day

2025-08-11 00:00:00

Governor and Legislative Leaders Reach Compromise, Pass Budget

Cale Battles & Lynne Davis — 2025-07-14 00:00:00

July 14, 2025 – After months of twists and turns, a final agreement between Republican leaders in the Senate and Assembly, Gov. Tony Evers, and Senate Democratic leaders was reached and the 2025-2027 state budget was signed into law in the early morning hours of July 3.

The votes did not come easy, as narrow majorities in each chamber meant GOP leaders struggled to pass the budget relying solely on Republican members. Ultimately, the Senate passed the bill 19-14, including five Democratic senators supporting the measure, and the Assembly followed suit several hours later with a vote of 59-39, including six Democrats in favor.

The final budget included several tax reductions on income and retirement funds, in addition to increased spending on childcare, the University of Wisconsin System, and K-12 education. As part of the agreement, the Governor refrained from using his powerful line-item veto pen on the agreed-upon items, but 23 other items not covered by the agreement were altered.

Justice System Investments for both Prosecution and Defense

As previously shared in the June 23 Rotunda Report article, the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) made significant investments in the state’s justice system early in the budget process, and those measures remained in the final budget. Notably, funding was provided for pay progression to retain experienced attorneys in both district attorney and State Public Defender (SPD) offices.

Cale Battles, is the Government Relations Program manager with the State Bar of Wisconsin. He can be reached by email, or by phone at (608) 250-6077.

Lynne Davis, is a lobbyist with the State Bar of Wisconsin. She can be reached by email, or by phone at (608) 852-3603.

In addition, the JFC proposed 42 new assistant district attorney (ADA) positions across 23 counties, and 12.5 support positions were added to the SPD’s office. During the final JFC budget hearing, 12.5 additional ADA positions were funded in Milwaukee County as well, bringing the total number of new ADA positions to 54.5 statewide. The funding for the Milwaukee positions comes from a change in state law allowing Milwaukee County to retain 100% of fine and forfeiture revenues from violations of state traffic laws.

Judicial Council to Receive Much-Needed Staff Attorney

Another item included in the final budget agreement was funding for a staff attorney to assist the Wisconsin Judicial Council with their research and legislative or judicial proposals. The Judicial Council is a 21-member statutory board that plays a pivotal role in the development of court rules and procedures. In 2017, funding for a staff attorney was removed by the legislature, leaving the administrative tasks to the volunteer appointees. This funding will greatly improve the Council’s effectiveness and efficiency.

Civil Legal Aid Funding Not Included in Final Agreement

While there were great victories in the budget for several State Bar of Wisconsin Board of Governors-supported issues, one issue remains unchanged – the state’s investment in civil legal aid, or lack thereof.

In February, Gov. Evers included increased funding in his budget proposal, but Republican leaders removed the funding early in the budget process. Advocates from the Civil Legal Aid Alliance of Wisconsin joined the State Bar in aggressively advocating for funds to be reinstated in the final budget, asking Wisconsin lawmakers for an increase of $9 million in General Purpose Revenue (GPR) to provide civil legal services for veterans, victims of domestic abuse, older adults, and underserved rural communities.

In addition to the GPR funding, advocates requested additional support from the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program in the amount of $8 million and the removal of a $75,000 cap for individual provider grantees. Unfortunately, those efforts were unsuccessful, and the current $1 million TANF allocation, designated exclusively for survivors of domestic violence, continues to be the only funding that legal services providers will receive over the next two years.

The fight for funding continues, however, as the effort to educate elected officials about the importance of civil legal aid remains steadfast. The State Bar’s Advocacy Network remains available to share thoughts on the budget, including the need for the state to invest in civil legal aid in the future, with legislators.

What You Can Do: State Bar of Wisconsin Advocacy Network

State Bar members are encouraged to send a message to their lawmakers expressing thoughts about the budget by using the Advocacy Network. "Choose Your Own" to craft messages to any of your elected officials, from President of the United States down to your local municipal officials.

Don't forget to subscribe to the Rotunda Report newsletter and follow us on X (formerly Twitter) to stay informed and get involved in the legislative process.

Governor and Legislative Leaders Find Compromise to Finish Biennial Budget Impasse

Cale Battles — 2025-07-01 00:00:00

July 1, 2025 – After months of twists and turns, a final budget agreement between Republican leaders in the Senate and Assembly, Governor Tony Evers, and Senate Democratic leaders appears to be headed for passage and the Governor’s signature in the next few days. With narrower majorities this cycle, Republican legislators grappled with finding a path forward to pass the budget with only Republican votes, particularly in the Senate where it became evident that gathering the necessary 17 votes from Republican members was increasingly difficult.

The final compromise agreement included several tax reductions on income and retirement funds, in addition to increased spending on childcare, the University of Wisconsin System, and K-12 education. As part of the agreement, the Governor won’t use his powerful line-item veto pen on the agreed-upon items, but other items not covered by the agreement can be stricken.

Civil Legal Aid Funding Not Included in Final Agreement

The State Bar and Civil Legal Aid Alliance of Wisconsin (CLAAW) were aggressively advocating for increased state investment in civil legal aid. Governor Evers included increased funding in his budget proposal in February, but Republican leaders removed the funding early in the budget process. Advocates continued to work on funding, asking Wisconsin lawmakers for an increase of $9 million in General Purpose Revenue (GPR) to provide civil legal services for veterans, victims of domestic abuse, seniors, and underserved rural communities.

Cale Battles, is the Government Relations Program manager with the State Bar of Wisconsin. He can be reached by email, or by phone at (608) 250-6077.

In addition to the GPR funding, advocates requested additional support from the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Currently, $1 million dollars per biennium is allocated from TANF dollars, designated exclusively for survivors of domestic violence to receive civil legal services. CLAAW requested an additional increase of $8 million in TANF funds and the removal of a $75,000 cap for individual provider grantees. Unfortunately, neither increase was included in the final compromise budget language.

Judicial Council Receives Staffing and Criminal Justice Investments Remain

One important but often overlooked item included in the final budget agreement was funding for a staff member to assist the Wisconsin Judicial Council. The Judicial Council is a 21-member statutory board that plays a pivotal role in the development of court rules and procedures. In 2017, funding for a staff assistant was removed by the legislature, leaving the administrative tasks to the volunteer appointees. This funding will greatly improve the Council’s effectiveness and efficiency.

Budget items for District Attorneys, Assistant District Attorneys, and the State Public Defender’s Office were already addressed in a previous budget action. Those items will remain in the final budget and include investments in pay progression to retain experienced staff, 42 new Assistant District Attorney positions across 23 counties to help address high caseloads, and 12.5 new support staff positions in the Public Defender’s office.

In the Governor and legislature’s budget agreement, Milwaukee County will receive an additional 12.5 Assistant District Attorney positions. The funding for these new positions will come from a change in state law which allows Milwaukee County to retain 100% of fine and forfeiture revenues from violations of state traffic laws instead of depositing a portion into the state’s common school fund.

What You Can Do: State Bar of Wisconsin Advocacy Network

You can contact your legislators to share your thoughts about the budget using the Advocacy Network. Select "Send a message to Wisconsin State Officials" and craft a message to your state representative, senator, and Governor Evers about funding priorities that impact Wisconsin's justice system and courts.

Don't forget to subscribe to the Rotunda Report newsletter and follow us on X (formerly Twitter) to stay informed and get involved in the legislative process.

Summer Budget Update

Devin Martin — 2025-06-23 00:00:00

June 23, 2025 – Wisconsin lawmakers continue to deliberate on the 2025-2027 biennial budget. On June 17, the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) voted to recommend critical funding for Wisconsin’s criminal justice system. Proposed items supported by the State Bar’s Board of Governors include:

Funding for a one step increase in the salary structure for the upcoming fiscal years for Assistant District and Deputy District Attorneys and State Public Defenders.
Adding 42 new General Purpose Revenue (GPR) Assistant District Attorney positions anticipated to start on October 1, 2025.
Providing needed updates to the District Attorney Information Technology program.
Adding 12.5 new GPR support positions for the State Public Defender’s office to address workload issues.

The State Bar of Wisconsin’s elected leadership, including Ryan M. Billings, President; Dan Gartzke, President-Elect, and Past President Dean R. Dietrich responded with a statement saying that “the State Bar appreciates the support for funding increases to address a critical and ongoing need to recruit and retain experienced prosecutors and defenders. The State Bar will continue to be engaged and involved in finding solutions that support our justice system. Attracting and retaining the dedicated professionals that work every day to provide a fair and equitable legal system for all remains a high priority.”

Like much of the budget votes and deliberations, there were differences between the Republican majority’s motion that moved forward and the minority Democrats, who offered their own funding motion that did not proceed. Democratic members sought to convert temporary ADA positions, originally created using federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars, to permanent ones using state GPR money. The motion would have also funded more State Public Defender staff and raised the private bar rate for violent felony cases to $125. Both parties’ motions supported pay progression, which facilitates recruitment and retention for Assistant District Attorneys and State Public Defender staff in a very competitive job market.

Devin Martin, is the grassroots outreach coordinator with the State Bar of Wisconsin. He can be reached by email, or by phone at (608) 250-6145.

The JFC was poised to vote on funding for civil legal aid on June 19, along with many other budget items, but that hearing was postponed. The State Bar continues to advocate for increased state funding and there is still time to contact your legislators and ask them to increase funding for civil legal aid in this budget. However, members should act fast as the topic could come up for a vote again at any time over the next few days or weeks.

Finally, the State Bar continues to support funding for Judicial Council. Despite playing a unique and important role for Wisconsin’s courts, the Judicial Council has remained in an unfunded limbo since 2017. While the council continues to hold meetings and conduct business, without the support of a staff attorney, it functions at a level incapable of fully fulfilling its mission and purpose. The State Bar supports the Judicial Council’s funding requests so that it can continue to carry out the tasks it was created to do.

What You Can Do: State Bar of Wisconsin Advocacy Network

Don't forget to subscribe to the Rotunda Report newsletter and follow us on X (formerly Twitter) to stay informed and get involved in the legislative process.

Lawmakers Recognize Need for New Criminal Justice Positions

Devin Martin — 2025-06-09 00:00:00

Jun 9, 2025 – The Wisconsin Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee will soon consider a key State Bar Board of Governors priority: adequate funding for Wisconsin’s justice system. This includes judges, District Attorney (DA) and Assistant District Attorneys (ADAs), and the State Public Defender (SPD).

Wisconsin legislators made major investments in the criminal justice system in the 2023-2025 budget that helped avert a constitutional crisis. But prosecutors and the SPD continue to struggle under the burden of high caseloads, unfilled positions, and a need for additional attorney positions and support staff. In April, the president of the Wisconsin District Attorneys Association Mindy Tempelis said the state is short 126 prosecutors.

To ensure that our legal system continues to deliver justice, legislators should focus on enhancing staffing and compensation to address workload challenges, retain staff, build support, and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the criminal justice system. Key requests from DAs and the SPD include:

Converting federally funded and program funded positions to GPR funding

ADAs: Convert 29.5 federal and program funded positions to GPR funding.
SPD: Create 52.5 new positions, including 6.5 appellate attorneys and 46 support staff such as paralegals, investigators, legal secretaries, and others to replace 65 expiring federally funded positions.

Additional Staffing and Support

ADAs: Create 47 new General Revenue-funded assistant district attorney positions to alleviate caseload burdens.
Create 1 new position and allocate funding to support the District Attorney Information Technology program.

Devin Martin, is the grassroots outreach coordinator with the State Bar of Wisconsin. He can be reached by email, or by phone at (608) 250-6145.

Enhanced Private Bar Reimbursement: Increase the private bar reimbursement rate paid for appointments to violent felony cases from $100 per hour to $125 per hour.

Pay Progression: Allocate money for merit-based pay progression for current staff attorneys.

Lawmakers are working quickly to build a budget over the coming weeks, and there have been proposals to make targeted increases in prosecutor positions for Waukesha, Washington, and Brown counties. It is important that justice system leaders and interested attorneys across the state make their voice heard soon.

What You Can Do: State Bar of Wisconsin Advocacy Network

State Bar members can continue to advocate for ongoing investments in funding and staffing for District Attorney and State Public Defender offices by communicating your support to your elected officials using the Advocacy Network. Pre-written email messages are editable to suit your own thoughts and opinions and help to demonstrate the breadth of support for policies that prioritize access to justice. The State Bar is committed to working with all political parties and leaders to address these concerns and advocate for funding.

Don't forget to subscribe to the Rotunda Report newsletter and follow us on X (formerly Twitter) to stay informed and get involved in the legislative process.

Legislature Begins Biennial Budget Deliberations

Cale Battles — 2025-05-12 00:00:00

May 12, 2025 – The Wisconsin Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee (JFC) began the biennial budget review process last week with the committee’s first action to remove over 600 items from the Governor’s proposal.

The action starts the four-to-six-week process that the Republican-led committee will undertake in rewriting Governor Evers’ biennial budget proposal. The vote was not unexpected as Republican leaders indicated early in the process that they would build their budget from last year’s spending figures.

Included in the 600 items were several issues of interest to the State Bar of Wisconsin. The Governor’s proposed increases to Civil Legal Needs Funding were removed by the committee, but advocates, including the State Bar, proposed a more direct and targeted investment.

That proposal includes $9 million in General Purpose Revenue (GPR) and an additional $8 million in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) federal dollars. The funding would be administered by the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation (WisTAF) to support nonprofit organizations that provide essential legal services to vulnerable populations.

Additional Items Removed

Other items with State Bar interest that were removed from the budget included a proposal to return 17-year-olds to juvenile court, as well as a provision that would change the expungement process and one that would provide additional funding for counties that operate treatment and diversion (TAD) programs.

Cale Battles, is the government relations program manager with the State Bar of Wisconsin. He can be reached by email, or by phone at (608) 250-6077.

Other State Bar items of support remain under consideration as the committee continues their work. These include pay progression for Assistant District Attorneys and State Public Defenders, additional positions for District Attorney offices and the State Public Defender and an increase in the private bar rate to $125 an hour for a serious case appointment.

The committee and ultimately the legislature will still need to affirmatively approve and vote to fund those items as budget deliberations continue.

What Happens Next in the Budget Process?

The Joint Finance Committee will continue voting on funding proposals submitted by state agencies and other individual proposals put forward over the next few weeks. Committee co-chairs have both indicated they expect their work to be complete by mid- to late June. The Legislature would then debate and vote on the proposal in late June or possibly into July.

For that timeline to stick, several big items will need to be determined at a frenetic pace. Republicans continue to indicate that a budget won’t get passed until an agreement is made with the Governor on a tax cut using the state’s current surplus. Legislative leaders recently reported that they have had discussions with Governor Evers and his team regarding a potential tax plan that could move the budget process forward.

Unresolved issues beyond a tax proposal include K-12 and higher education funding, as well as looming uncertainty over federal funding reductions for certain programs including Medicaid. Republicans have also indicated a potentially longer process involving the careful drafting of spending provisions due to the Governor’s veto authority, clarified by Jeffery LeMieux v. Tony Evers.

Wisconsin is unique in that the state continues to operate on previous budget year appropriation if a budget does not pass by the end of the fiscal year on June 30th. For instance, the 2007-09 budget wasn’t signed into law until October 26, 2007. This allows Wisconsin to avoid any sort of government shutdown and allows state government to continue to operate until a budget is passed and signed into law.

What You Can Do: State Bar of Wisconsin Advocacy Network

If you wish to contact your state legislators about budget provisions such as civil legal aid or justice system funding, you can use the State Bar’s Advocacy Network to easily share your support with just a few clicks. If you have questions, contact the State Bar Grassroots Coordinator Devin Martin, dmartin@wisbar.org.

Don't forget to subscribe to the Rotunda Report newsletter and follow us on X (formerly Twitter) to stay informed and get involved in the legislative process.

Wisconsin Legal Aid Advocates Call for $16 Million Boost to Civil Legal Services

Devin Martin — 2025-04-28 00:00:00

April 28, 2025 – Civil legal aid providers across Wisconsin are urging lawmakers to make a transformative investment in justice by increasing state funding for civil legal aid programs by $16 million over the upcoming biennium. The proposed funding, which includes both General Purpose Revenue (GPR) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) federal dollars, would be administered by the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation (WisTAF) to support nonprofit organizations that provide essential legal services to vulnerable populations.

These targeted investments aim to close the justice gap that disproportionately affects low-income individuals, especially in rural areas where attorney shortages are common. Advocates say that this funding request isn’t just a matter of access—it’s a matter of smart fiscal policy.

The funding proposal was developed by the Civil Legal Aid Alliance of Wisconsin (CLAAW). It includes two critical components:

Civil Legal Aid Services Expansion

CLAAW recommends allocating $9 million in GPR funding over the 2025-2027 biennium. These funds would support nonprofit legal aid organizations to serve the following needs:

Victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or other crimes
Elderly individuals experiencing fraud, abuse, or financial exploitation
Individuals with disabilities or special health care needs facing non-landlord/tenant civil legal issues
At-risk, abused, or neglected children
Veterans dealing with civil legal issues not related to landlord/tenant issues
People facing civil legal barriers to employment
Residents in rural communities with limited access to legal representation not related to landlord/tenant issues

Devin Martin, is the grassroots outreach coordinator with the State Bar of Wisconsin. He can be reached by email, or by phone at (608) 250-6145.

Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse Civil Legal Services

CLAAW recommends allocating $8 million of TANF federal funding over the 2025-2027 biennium, through the Department of Children and Families. This proposal would also eliminate an existing cap on individual grant amounts, allowing for larger, more impactful grants and streamlining support for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse.

What You Can Do: State Bar of Wisconsin Advocacy Network

Currently, the Joint Finance Committee is working to collect feedback from Wisconsinites on their budget priorities. All members can lend their voices to help get this issue over the finish line. Share your thoughts on civil legal aid with your state legislators today.

You can participate in one of the two remaining in-person hearings, or use the dedicated website or email address to submit written comments:https://legis.wisconsin.gov/topics/budgetcomments/ or budget.comments@legis.wisconsin.gov.You can also send a message through our Advocacy Network. Pre-written email messages are editable to suit your own thoughts and opinions and help to demonstrate the breadth of support for civil legal aid funding within the legal profession.

Don't forget to subscribe to the Rotunda Report newsletter and follow us on X (formerly Twitter) to stay informed and get involved in the legislative process.