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  • June 14, 2010

    Justice Prosser encourages 2010 U.W. Law School graduates to be visionary optimists

    UW Admissions 1

    U.W Law School graduates prepare for swearing-in ceremony.

    June 14, 2010 – Today, 162 U.W. Law School graduates were admitted to practice. The new lawyers were welcomed to the profession by all seven Wisconsin Supreme Court justices, U.W. Law School professors, State Bar President Douglas Kammer and Director of Board of Bar Examiners (BBE) Jacquelynn B. Rothstein.

    Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson presided over the four ceremonies. Justices N. Patrick Crooks, Patience Roggensack, and Annette Ziegler, and Michael J. Gableman administered the oath in the supreme court hearing room.

    Following each swearing-in ceremony, Justice David T. Prosser spoke to the new lawyers. “This is a day of celebration, the culmination of years of study and hard work and sacrifice and you all deserve hearty congratulations. Graduating from a great university law school is a very significant accomplishment. Almost invariably your hard work has been encouraged and supported by other people – spouses, parents, family, and close friends. They take tremendous pride in honoring you here today.” In what has become a Wisconsin Supreme court tradition in the past few year, Justice Prosser invited the new lawyers to applaud family members for their support and encouragement immediately following swearing-in ceremony.

    UW Admissions 2

    U.W. Law School graduates check in at the Capitol.

    “Thanking family and friends in this manner has become a ritual of the court,” Prosser said. “It’s important because it reminds young lawyers that we seldom obtain anything of real significance without the help and the support of others. Being a lawyer is a big deal but don’t let that fact cause you to lose your humility. You may also owe debts of gratitude to professional colleagues including faculty at the U.W. Law School who gave you some sort of special boost along the way. Whatever these good people have done to help you, you can do in the future to help others.

    “All of you are about to participate in a time-honored Wisconsin tradition,” continued Prosser. “In a few moments you will sign your names in a book, the latest volume in the complete record of Wisconsin attorneys dating stretching all the way back before statehood in 1848. Virtually every person who has ever been a member of the Wisconsin Bar has signed one of these books. When you step forward to sign your name in the book, I ask you to think about some of the people who have signed these volumes before you. They include some of the best minds and most valuable citizens in this state’s history, going back to the first governor of Wisconsin Nelson Dewey. They include men and women who have been giants of the legal professionse counselors, creative advocates, and brilliant scholars people who have served as role models for the Bar and as mentors for young lawyers.”

    Noting that many attorneys have made life better for people and for society as a whole and many have been “absolute pillars of the communities in which they live,” Prosser continued, “Sadly, some who have signed their names, perhaps in a moment of hope and promise, exactly like this, perhaps in the presence of smiling admiring family members, somehow after they left this chamber. They lost their way and they appeared here again as a respondent in a disciplinary action,” he said.

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    U.W. Law School graduates line up for swearing-in ceremony.

    The Attorney’s Oath. “The oath you have taken goes well beyond a pledge – not to betray clients, not to disgrace the legal profession, not to violate the law,” said Prosser. “The oath is a carefully written summary of code of professional responsibility. It stresses that the law is a great calling for dedicated professionals who are committed to uphold high ethical standards and are determined to provide service to others.”

    A noble profession. Noting that each of the supreme court justices have, over time, the opportunity and privilege to address new attorneys with the hope of imparting some insight or inspiration, Prosser pointed out that his colleagues’ messages focus on service, professionalism, commitment to excellence, courage to take a stand, high ideals, and excellent moral character.

    “When the Chief Justice speaks she often singles out an attorney who has made a significant pro bono contribution,” said Prosser. “She points to that attorney as one whose service should be admired and whose example should be followed.

    “Justice Crooks frequently speaks of the indispensible commitment to excellence explaining that truly great lawyers are not willing to settle for mediocrity,” he said. “Justice Bradley likes to emphasize courage, courage to take a stand, courage to reject inappropriate compromise, courage to stand up and do the right thing. Justice Roggensack often urges new admittees to consider public service, even to the extent of running for public office.

    “I want to speak to you about optimism and vision,” continued Prosser. “This is a very difficult economic climate for new lawyers, you know that. It doesn’t help very much to observe that there have been difficult times in the past or the there will be difficult times in the future, because those platitudes will not solve the problems of today. I doubt there is any member of this court or member of the Bar here who has not suffered setbacks and disappointments. Successful people do not permit themselves to become discouraged. They find a way to succeed by serving people, by meeting some need that needs to be met, by adapting to circumstances, by being creative.

    Noting a quote by British author, Sir Antony Jay, “Men grow to the stature to which they are stretched when they are young,” Prosser said, “Let me just change that to ‘Attorneys grow to the stature to which they are stretched when they are young.’ These times provide the challenges to stretch all of us as we have never been stretched before. We must be creative and bold and visionary optimists. We have all the talents and tools to rise to the occasion, and we are confident that you will. Best of luck to you,” concluded Prosser.

    The State Bar welcomes the following new members:

    UW Admissions 4

    U. W. Law School graduates take the oath in the Supreme Court Hearing Room.

    Neeraj Agarwal, Madison

    Daniel S. Allen, Grand Blanc, Mich.

    Ellen M. Anderson, Chippewa Falls

    Megan K. Arrogante, Madison

    Crystal A. Banse, Milwaukee

    Nathaniel Barber, Prairie du Chien

    Karan Mohinder Basu, Madison

    Nicholas R. Becht, Menomonee Falls

    Christopher J. Behrens, Madison

    James E. Biese, Green Bay

    Mary Elisabeth Blandford, Racine

    David Lee Bonner, Chicago

    Kevin P. Boyle, Fitchburg

    Jared Joseph Broeckert, Madison

    UW Admissions 5

    In what has become a Wisconsin Supreme Court tradition, new lawyers applaud family members for their support and encouragement immediately following swearing-in ceremony.

    G. Michael Bumm, Madison

    Regina Aanstad Butler, Eau Claire

    Pablo Anthony Cardona, Waukesha

    Anthony John Catalino, Madison

    Rachel Ann Centinario, Madison

    Andres Alfredo Cerritos, Chicago

    Joshua R. Christensen, Washington, D.C.

    Eric David Christoffersen, Stoughton

    Anu Chudasama, Madison

    Catherine Darcy Copeland, Columbus, Ohio

    Cass Cousins, Madison

    Andrew Loyd Cumings, Madison

    William O’Brien Daily, Elm Grove

    Brigid Eileen Daly, Madison

    UW Admissions 6

    Justice David Prosser welcomes new lawyers.

    Megha Desai, Madison

    James Malcolm DeVoy IV, Las Vegas, Nev.

    Nelson Donovan, Madison

    Aris E. L. Dutka, Livingston, N.J.

    Hilary D. Edwards, Madison

    Jonathan R. Eiden, Oshkosh

    Nadia A. Elnagy, Minneapolis

    Margaret R. Engebretson, Balsam Lake

    Luca Lopes Fagundes, Egg Harbor

    Jennifer M. Falligant, Madison

    Kyle B. Flanagan, Wausau

    Courtney Elizabeth Flynn, Birmingham, Mich.

    Jacob B. Frost, Madison

    James H. Gesbeck, Madison

    Catherine M. Giljohann, Madison

    UW Admissions 7

    Justice Annette Ziegler welcomes new lawyer.

    Ashley Nicole Gillard, Leawood, Kan.

    Suzanne Glisch, Milwaukee

    Meredith L. Gray, Kirkland, Wash.

    Jennifer Hanna, Madison

    Bruce J. Harnitz, Madison

    Chandra N. Harvey, De Forest

    Andrew Hawes, Chicago

    Ashley Lynn Hawley, Wausau

    Brennan T. Haworth, Madison

    Michelle D. Hemphill, Chicago

    Angela R. Hendrickson, Madison

    Sarah Lee Branson Henery, Madison

    Cayla B. Henn, Madison

    UW Admissions 8

    New lawyers meet representative from the Young Lawyers Division.

    Michael W. Horgan, Madison

    Dave Houze III, Atlanta

    Tyler Ronald Inda, Madison

    Tom Isenbarger, Madison

    Brandy Jackson, Madison

    Matthew Luis Jalandoni, Madison

    Kevin D. Janis, Wausau

    Rochelle Johnson, Milwaukee

    Allison Elyse Kahrnoff, Madison

    Robert J. Karsten, Milwaukee

    Ryan Kastelic, Madison

    Catherine Kellett, Madison

    Sara R. Kelton, Madison

    Yousuf Khan, Milwaukee

    UW Admissions 9

    New lawyers meet representative from the Dane County Bar.

    Nicole Lynn Kieper, Madison

    Peter J. Kind, Monroe

    Vanessa Klemish, Bloomer

    Hanna R. Kolberg, Madison

    Timothy Jay Kuhn, Carlsbad, Calif.

    Emily E. Lange-Novak, Madison

    Andrew Louis Larson, Wausau

    Kyung Jin Lee, Madison

    Kelly A. Lehn, Wisconsin Rapids

    Benoit Letendre, Baraboo

    Matthew J. Lind, Madison

    J. Matthew Linstroth, Madison

    Keith Llanas, Milwaukee

    Kristen Elizabeth Lonergan, Appleton

    UW Admissions 10

    Aris E. L. Dutka, Livingston, N.J., signs supreme court roll. Dutka is heading east to take the New York Bar exam.

    Brittany Lopez, Milwaukee

    SanJuanita Lopez, Madison

    Shawn Edward Lovell, Madison

    Ryan Masse, Madison

    Joshua M. Mathy, Madison

    Katrina Elizabeth McCann, Appleton

    Deborah Rebekah McCleod, Madison

    David McClintick, Madison

    Kathryn Maxine McDonald, Oakdale

    Sara Millar, Madison

    Reisha Mitchell, Madison

    Kerry M. Mohan, Madison

    Faun Michelle Moses, Madison

    Ryan Moze, Madison

    UW Admissions 11

    Cass Cousins, Madison, is heading to St. Croix Center as a special prosecutor. Margaret R. Engebretson, Balsam Lake, is considering her options, including thinking of hanging out her own shingle.

    Katherine Muller, Shorewood, Minn.

    Philip A. Myers, Jefferson

    Heath G. Mynsberge, Oshkosh

    Bethany Christine Nelson, Madison

    Patrick P. Neuman, Madison

    Daniel Mark Norland, La Crosse

    Jesse J. Norris, Madison

    Zhi-Xiang Oh, Seattle

    Narith Ol, Rochester, Minn.

    Nathan Otis, Madison

    Garett T. Pankratz, Madison

    Rebecca Paulson, Madison

    Nadya E. Perez-Reyes, Milwaukee

    Sherrice M. Perry, Madison

    UW Admissions 12

    Ellen M. Anderson, Chippewa Falls, gets a hearty hug from her daughter. Anderson has been working in the Stipend Program with the district attorneys’ office in Eau Claire. She is excited to be able to continue her work there.

    Megan Ann Phillips, Madison

    Ryan M. Plisch, Appleton

    Christopher R. Pollek, Madison

    Peter J. Quinn, Madison

    Thomas P. Raisbeck, Lancaster

    Peter Rank, Madison

    Haley Rea, Madison

    Bob Reed, Madison

    Jake L. Remington, Madison

    Ashley J. Richter, Madison

    Andrew J. Rima, Madison

    Amanda Jo Rodenkirch, Madison

    Gorjan Rosoklija, Madison

    Kyle D. Rostowfske, Stoughton

    UW Admissions 14

    Anu Chudasama, Madison, with her parents. Chudasama is heading to New York where she hopes to practice international law. 

    Mark Ryan Ruszkiewicz, Waukesha

    Katelyn P. Sandfort, Wausau

    Edward Michael Saulters, Rockford, Ill.

    Jennifer M. Schank, La Crosse

    Ashley M. Senary, Madison

    Mark R. Sericati, Madison

    Lillian S. Shields, Washington, D.C.

    Bonnie Smith, Stevens Point

    Lindsey Elizabeth Smith, Grand Rapids, Mich.

    Mi-Sang Song, West Chester, Ohio

    Patricia Spatafora, Madison

    Adam Stevenson, Madison

    Amber L. Stevenson, Madison

    Lucas Boone Foltz Strelow, Madison 

    Valerie K. Stuart, Oshkosh

    Matthew D. Suing, Madison

    Matthew W. Surridge, Madison

    Yesha Sutaria, Chicago

    Olga Tarasova, Madison

    Claire H. Taylor, Madison

    Patrick Michael Taylor, Madison

    Nhu Tran, Madison

    Jennifer Commons Ullsvik, Poynette

    Elizabeth M. Utecht, Wausau

    Andrea Von Hoff, Madison

    Troy Vosseller, Madison

    Nicole M. Wacker, Madison

    Nick J. Welle, Madison

    Shannon Kay Wendt, Madison

    Nora SJ Wilson, Madison

    Matthew M. Wuest, Madison

    Amesia Ngialah Xiong, Madison

    MaiVue Kiah Xiong, Eau Claire

    Chad J. Zadrazil, Madison

    Jennifer Jean Zimmermann, Madison

    Emily E. Zukauskas, Groton, Mass.


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