May 15, 2024 – Preparation and specificity are two things young attorneys should keep uppermost in mind when arguing to judges and juries, according to two circuit court judges.

“If you really know your case forwards and backwards, it gives you an opportunity to listen to what’s happening in the courtroom, rather than going through your notes quickly to make sure you understand what’s going on,” said Pierce County Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth Rohl.

“Having that preparation means you’re ready to step in and respond to anything that comes up.”

When conducting your first trial, Rock County Circuit Court Judge Ashley Morse recommends that you narrow down the theory of your case.

“Sometimes when people are new, they’re afraid they’re going to get it wrong and they throw everything out to see if something’s going to stick with the judge or the jury,” Morse said.

“But it’s more effective if you can tell a story and really speak to something specific.”

The State Bar of Wisconsin interviewed Morse and Rohl at the Young Lawyers Conference in Madison in March.

Get Tips from Judges at the Annual Meeting & Conference, June 19-21

Several panels that include judges will present at the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Annual Meeting & Conference, June 19-21 in Green Bay. Those include:

• “Using Artificial Intelligence with Both the Benefits and Risks in Mind” – Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Scott Schlegel (plenary).

• “Judicial and Expert Witness Perspectives on the Discovery of Electronically Stored Information” – Former Wisconsin Appeals Court Judge Michael Fitzpatrick.

• “Guidance from the Bench to Young Lawyers” – Brown County Circuit Court Tammy Jo Hock (president judge), Wisconsin Court of Appeals Thomas M. Hruz (District III, Wausau), Outagamie County Circuit Court Yadira Rein.

• “Point/Counterpoint: Advantages and Pitfalls of the Mediation/Arbitration Hybrid Process” – Former Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Michael Dwyer.

• “THC & FCC: Tips, Tricks and Takeaways for Handling Marijuana Issues in Family Court and Beyond” – Kenosha County Circuit Court Commissioner Elizabeth Pfeuffer.

• “Five Important Wisconsin Legal Developments Affecting Women Lawyers and the Women Who Advanced Them” – Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, Milwaukee Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan, Wisconsin Supreme Court Commissioner Nancy Kopp.

Learn more about the AMC or register now.