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  • September 01, 2004

    Inside the Bar September 2004: State Bar recognizes outstanding legal reporting

    The media plays a key role in shaping the public's perception of the legal system. Each year, through the Wisconsin Gavel Awards competition, the State Bar Media-Law Relations Committee recognizes articles and broadcasts that foster understanding of the legal system or further its improvement.

    Inside the Bar
    September 2004

    State Bar recognizes outstanding legal reporting

    The media plays a key role in shaping the public's perception of the legal system. Each year, through the Wisconsin Gavel Awards competition, the State Bar Media-Law Relations Committee recognizes articles and broadcasts that foster understanding of the legal system or further its improvement.

    Bill Lueders, Robert Zintara,  Andy Hall  and     Dee J. Hall, and Michelle Behnke

    2003 Golden Gavel Award recipients included: (from left) Bill Lueders, acccepting for his father Bill Lueders, Isthmus; Robert Zintara, New Richmond News; Andy Hall and Dee J. Hall, Wisconsin State Journal; and State Bar President Michelle Behnke

    State Bar President Michelle Behnke presented the awards at the Board of Governors meeting on July 23.

    Wisconsin State Journal reporters Dee J. Hall, Andy Hall, Scott Milfred, and Anita Clark wrote a series of articles titled "Justice for Sale," which uncovered the unethical practices of former Outagamie County District Attorney Vince Biskupic, who was rebuked by the Wisconsin State Ethics Board for allowing individuals to avoid criminal prosecution by paying significant sums of money into various funds directed by Biskupic himself.

    New Richmond News reporter Robert Zientara was recognized for his article, "No Lawyer No Problem," about pro se litigants. The article described the difficulties faced by the court system and unrepresented people who wish to access it and outlined a program being developed by the St. Croix Valley Bar Association to alleviate this growing problem.

    Isthmus news editor Bill Lueders was recognized for his article "Supreme Choice," detailing last year's race between Pat Roggensack and Ed Brunner for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Lueders developed important ideas about the effect judicial candidates' political ideologies can have on their rulings as judges and that decisions are not always just about the rule of law. He scrutinized the candidates' opinions and rulings to capture their often-elusive political leanings on various issues.

    Golden Gavel Certificate of Commendation recipients include: Joe Knaapen, Door County Advocate, "Lawyer Regulation;" Sid Schwartz, The Janesville Gazette, "A Case of Mistaken Identity;" and Dan Sprehe and Marge Pitrof, WUWM-FM, "Changing Juries."

    Visit www.wisbar.org/gavel to read this year's winning entries.

    Inside the Bar


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