June 2004
May convention celebrates 50th anniversaries recognizes members'
public service contributions
More than 1,000 members attended the 2004 State Bar Annual Convention
in Madison in May, the highest attendance since 1998. This year's
celebration included the swearing in of the State Bar president, and the
recognition of lawyers who passed the 50-year milestone in the legal
profession, lawyers who made outstanding pro bono, public service, or
law-related education contributions in 2003, and lawyers who have made a
difference during President George Burnett's term.
Annual Convention CLE Spotlight keynote speaker NAACP Chair Julian
Bond joined the State Bar to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Brown v.
Board of Education. Bond drew a crowd of more than 400. Read the text of
Bond's
speech.
Behnke sworn in as Bar president. In a moving and
groundbreaking ceremony, Michelle Behnke, Madison, was sworn in by Chief
Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson as the 49th State Bar president. Behnke's
husband, Darrell, who also is an attorney emceed the event for his wife,
a solo practitioner.
Surrounded by colleagues, friends, and family, Behnke, the first
African American and one of only a handful of women to hold the
statewide office, said, "I am proud and grateful to be proof of the fact
that this position is open to all people."
Behnke looks forward to addressing issues of diversity and
encouraging the expansion of pro bono work within the profession. "I am
committed to the idea that a variety of voices make for real and lasting
results," said Behnke. She will travel the state, talking with lawyers
and working with them to foster continuing change and progress within
the profession and the Bar.
Lawyers recognized for service to the profession and the
community. More than 25 of 131 men and women who celebrated 50
years in the practice of law were honored at the Members' Recognition
luncheon on May 7.
The Bench Bar Committee presented the Lifetime Jurist Achievement
Award to Hon. Robert A. Haase, Winnebago County Circuit
Court, for making a difference during his tenure on the bench.
Hon. John J. Perlich, La Crosse County Circuit Court
received the Judge of the Year Award, which recognizes a jurist who has
improved the judicial system during the past year by providing
leadership in advancing the quality of justice, judicial education, or
innovative programs.
Atty. Jordan Loeb accepted the Senior Lawyers Division Award
posthumously for his father, Leonard Loeb, from G. Lane Ware. The award,
which recognizes senior lawyers who have improved the legal system and
shown leadership in advancing the quality of justice for all, will
henceforth be known as the Leonard L. Loeb Senior Lawyers Division
Award.
President George Burnett presented the President's Award (above
right). "These 14 lawyers have varied accomplishments, which led them to
this award, but they share one thing in common," said Burnett. "Each
believes the continued strength and vitality of this profession depends
on our members' dedication of personal time and talent to the mission of
this profession."
Recipients included: Gerry Mowris, Mike Tobin, John Skilton, Marie
Stanton, John Walsh, Tom Zilavy, all of Madison; Gwen Connolly, William
Domina, Nathan Fishbach, and Gerardo Gonzalez, all of Milwaukee; Jo Ann
Prust, Marshall; John Bermingham, Oshkosh; and Dean Dietrich and William
Hess, both of Wausau. Visit www.wisbar.org/convention/2004 to learn more
about these and all convention award recipients.
Visit www.wisbar.org/convention/2004
for more convention coverage. The 2005 Annual Convention will be held
May 4 - 6 in Milwaukee.
Inside the Bar
