Press Releases

From April 12 to 25, the State Bar is offering a free download of "A Gift to Your Family: Planning Ahead for Future Health Needs," a health care decisions and advance directives planning guide.

From Eau Claire to Superior, from Milwaukee to Madison, lawyers are facing the challenges of uncertainty.

Felony arrest records must be expunged from the state’s crime database because the subject was never charged and the arrests were improperly appended to unrelated ordinance violations, an appeals court has ruled.

Here are tips for how to respond if someone has shared or posted intimate photos of a client without the client's consent.

Jill Kastner was sworn in as the State Bar of Wisconsin's 64th president last evening in Green Bay at the organization's Annual Meeting and Conference, noting that her presidential year isn't a spotlight for her personal successes as a lawyer-leader.

An electronic device used to access Twitter, Facebook, and other social media might not physically resemble a city park or an auditorium, but if you're a government official, your social media site may be a public forum. Citizens and government officials alike should understand First Amendment implications of social media use.

The State Bar of Wisconsin’s leadership recently registered its stance on a legislative bill that impacts attorney “ghostwriting,” a practice that allows attorneys to provide brief pro bono assistance to low-income individuals and families by helping them fill out forms and other legal papers.

Screening for elder abuse doesn't require a medical degree. Instead, a lawyer's powers of observation and note-taking, record-keeping, and organizational skills can go far to identify and help vulnerable clients.

Lavinia Goodell was feisty and would have fit right in 100 years ago, when women were fighting for the right to vote.

An essential element of emergency preparedness is knowing the legality of possible responses. Learn here how governmental officials might legally respond if Wisconsin is hit with an outbreak of measles or another highly contagious disease.

An essential element of emergency preparedness is knowing the legality of possible responses. Learn here how governmental officials might legally respond if Wisconsin is hit with an outbreak of measles or another highly contagious disease.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court announced a general rule that a law enforcement officer can proceed without a warrant when seeking to do a blood draw on an unconscious driver. But the Court avoided an issue hotly debated by Wisconsin Supreme Court justices, whether driving on the state’s highways is implicit consent to driving-related searches.

Janesville’s Lavinia Goodell was the state’s first female lawyer. She was admitted to the Rock County Bar in 1874. For more than 60 years, she has been inaccurately portrayed in history books and, more recently, on a mural on the Rock County Courthouse and on a plaque inside the courthouse.

Meet the 2020 State Bar of Wisconsin officer candidates, including two government lawyers who are nominees for State Bar president-elect. The candidates come from a wide variety of backgrounds and from across the state – get to know them before the election in April.

Who are Wisconsin's innovators? The "That's a Fine Idea: Legal Innovation Wisconsin" initiative spotlights these risk takers who advance the legal profession with perseverance, creative thinking, and big ideas.

Last year, on New Year’s Eve, Lake Mills Fire Capt. Christopher Truman was off-duty when he stopped on Madison’s busy highway corridor to help a young woman whose vehicle had spun into a median in bad weather conditions.

Nineteen first-year University of Wisconsin and Marquette Law School students with diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds – with some coming from as far away as China, Puerto Rico and Jamaica – are being recognized by the State Bar of Wisconsin for completing the organization’s 10-weeks paid Diversity Clerkship Program. The program matches students with private law firms, corporate legal departments, and governmental agencies to give them practical legal experience.

Madison, WI - Recent federal and state legislation decriminalized the growing, processing, and selling of hemp and its related products. While the laws have changed, the issue is far from black and white. The State Bar of Wisconsin is inviting a limited number of media representatives to attend a presentation on “Hemp & CBD Oil in Wisconsin: The New Green Gold.”

Madison, WI – The State Bar of Wisconsin applauds the recipients of the 2018 Golden Gavel Awards for their important contributions to the public’s understanding of our system of law and justice.

Madison, WI – Did you broadcast or post a story that enhanced the public’s understanding of the justice system between July 1, 2017 & June 30, 2018?

Madison attorney Christopher Rogers was sworn in as the State Bar of Wisconsin’s 63rd president on Wednesday at the State Bar’s Annual Meeting & Conference in Lake Geneva. Dane County Circuit Court Judge Rhonda Lanford emceed the event.

The State Bar of Wisconsin's Board of Governors has unanimously voted to adopt several new policy positions related to criminal sentencing procedures. Approval by the elected 52 member board that manages and directs the State Bar allows the Bar to advocate on behalf of Wisconsin's 25,000 member attorneys on issues that are legislative priorities to the legal profession and the administration of justice.

Jill M. Kastner of Legal Action of Wisconsin Inc., Milwaukee, won the race for State Bar of Wisconsin president-elect on Friday, defeating Randall L. Nash of Nash Law LLC, Milwaukee.

Gov. Scott Walker has officially proclaimed April 15-21 as Healthcare Decisions Week in Wisconsin. Healthcare Decisions Week reminds people to complete an advance directive documenting their preferences about issues surrounding end-of-life decisions.

President Paul Swanson's Statement on the Passing of Attorney Peg Lautenschlager

The State Bar of Wisconsin applauds the recipients of the 2017 Golden Gavel Awards for their important contributions to the public's understanding of our system of law and justice.

Attorneys Jill M. Kastner and Randall L. Nash have accepted nominations to run for 2018 State Bar of Wisconsin president-elect. Kastner is with Legal Action of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, and Nash is with Nash Law LLC, Milwaukee. The president-elect serves a one-year term before becoming president.

The State Bar of Wisconsin's Diversity and Inclusion Oversight Committee will host a half day legal seminar discussing workplace diversity and inclusion programs on Monday, December 11 at the Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI.

For the fourth year, the State Bar of Wisconsin is honoring the state's top legal innovators through the organization's "That's a Fine Idea: Legal Innovation Wisconsin" initiative. This year the State Bar honors ten attorneys as legal innovators, including one lifetime-award winner.

Did you broadcast or post a story that enhanced the public's understanding of the justice system between July 1, 2016 & June 30, 2017?

Four former Wisconsin Governors who are Wisconsin attorneys - Martin J. Schreiber, Anthony Earl, Tommy Thompson, and James Doyle - are this year's co-recipients of the Wisconsin Law Foundation (WLF) Charles L. Goldberg Distinguished Service Award.

Four former Wisconsin Governors who are Wisconsin attorneys - Martin J. Schreiber, Anthony Earl, Tommy Thompson, and James Doyle- are this year's co-recipients of the Wisconsin Law Foundation (WLF) Charles L. Goldberg Distinguished Service Award.

Did you broadcast or post a story that enhanced the public's understanding of the justice system between July 1, 2016 & June 20, 2017?

A bus of lawyers and law students will be departing from The State Bar of Wisconsin on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017, and heading up north to Barron, Rice-Lake, Bayfield, Washburn and Ashland to connect with local judges, attorneys, and community and business leaders.

Statement of State Bar of Wisconsin President Francis W. Deisinger on today's filing of the petition to the Wisconsin Supreme Court to raise the private bar rate.

Christopher E. Rogers of Habush Habush & Rottier S.C., Madison, won the race for State Bar of Wisconsin president-elect on Friday, defeating Jon P. Axelrod of DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C., Madison, by a vote of 2,521 votes to 2,423.

Gov. Scott Walker has officially proclaimed April 16-22 as Healthcare Decisions Week in Wisconsin. Healthcare Decisions Week reminds people to complete an advance directive documenting their preferences about issues surrounding end-of-life decisions.

Joint Statement of the Marathon County Bar Association and the State Bar of Wisconsin regarding the tragic shootings in Marathon County and the death of Attorney Sara Quirt-Sann:

President Donald Trump's proposed 2018 federal budget eliminates funding for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), a move that would have profoundly negative affects on our most vulnerable citizens and our justice system in Wisconsin.

Larry Martin will be State Bar of Wisconsin's next Executive Director. The State Bar's Board of Governors Friday approved Martin on the recommendation of a 12-person committee formed last year to find a successor to current Executive Director George Brown, who previously announced that he would retire effective June 30, 2017. Martin is currently the State Bar's Associate Executive Director.

The State Bar of Wisconsin applauds the recipients of the 2016 Golden Gavel Awards for their important contributions to the public's understanding of our system of law and justice.

Christopher E. Rogers and Jon P. Axelrod have accepted nominations to run for 2017 State Bar of Wisconsin president-elect. The president-elect serves a one-year term before becoming president.

For the third year, the State Bar of Wisconsin is honoring the state's top legal innovators through the organization's "That's a Fine Idea: Legal Innovation Wisconsin" intiative. This year the State Bar honors five attorneys as legal innovators, including one lifetime-award winner.

Did you broadcast or post a story that enhanced the public's understanding of the justice system between July 1, 2015 & June 30, 2016?

The Honorable Ness Flores of Waukesha and Madison Attorney John Skilton are this year's corecipients of the Wisconsin Law Foundation (WLF) Charles L. Goldberg Distinguished Service Award. The award is given for a lifetime of service to the profession and the community, and will be presented at the Fellows of the Wisconsin Law Foundation Annual Recognition Dinner on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016 in Milwaukee.

Did you broadcast or post a story that enhanced the public's understanding of the justice system between July 1, 2015 & June 30, 2016?

A bus of lawyers and law students will be departing from The State Bar of Wisconsin on Friday, Oct. 7, 2016 and heading up north to Rhinelander and Marinette to connect with local judges, attorneys, and community and business leaders.

Milwaukee attorney Fran Deisinger was joined by many friends, family members and fellow attorneys when he was sworn in as the State Bar of Wisconsin's 61st president on Wednesday night at the State Bar's Annual Meeting & Conference in Green Bay.

Attorney Paul Clement, former U.S. Solicitor General and potential U.S. Supreme Court Justice nominee, and Amy Walter, national political analyst and national editor of the Cook Political Report, are set to speak at the State Bar of Wisconsin's Annual Meeting & Conference on Thursday, June 16 and Friday, June 17 in Green Bay.

State Bar of Wisconsin President Ralph Cagle's statement regarding the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s announcement that Justice David T. Prosser, Jr. is retiring from his position on the state’s highest court.

Paul Swanson of Steinhilber, Swanson, Mares, Marone & McDermott, Oshkosh, won the race for State Bar of Wisconsin president-elect on Friday, defeating John Danner of Harrold, Scrobeil & Danner S.C., Minoqua, by a vote of 2616-2274.

Gov. Scott Walker has officially proclaimed April 16 as Healthcare Decisions Day in Wisconsin. Healthcare Decisions Day reminds folks to complete an advance directive documenting their preferences about issues surrounding end-of-life decisions.

Dr. Artika Tyner will present the G. Lane Ware Leadership Address entitled “The Lawyer as Leader: How to Plant People and Grow Justice, Providing Tools for Advancing Social Justice” to the next generation of leaders in the legal profession, as part of the 7th Annual Young Lawyers Leadership Conference in Madison on April 1.

Students from 16 Wisconsin high schools will advance to the State Bar of Wisconsin's 33rd Annual High School Mock Trial semifinal event on Saturday March 12 at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison.

The State Bar of Wisconsin applauds the recipients of the 2015 Golden Gavel Awards for their important contributions to the public's understanding of our system of law and justice.

New results from a landmark survey, conducted in 2015 by the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and the American Bar Association Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs, reveal that lawyers experience a significant degree of problematic substance use and mental health issues - more so than other professionals or the general population.

The State Bar of Wisconsin's Young Lawyers Division (YLD) is working to make a positive difference in the lives of Milwaukee's young homeless population by offering these individuals access to free legal clinics throughout the month of February.

The State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE® is hosting an international biotech conference, May 5-7, 2016, in Madison. The Biotech and the Law Conference - one of the first of its kind - will unite experts in science, business and law and will encourage those individuals to learn from each other, building a foundation for mutual success.

With a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on what kind of counsel defense attorneys should provide to noncitizen clients, the State Bar of Wisconsin is releasing a new book to help lawyers become more familiar with immigration and its impact on state law.

For the second year, the State Bar of Wisconsin is honoring the state's top legal innovators through the organization's "That's a Fine Idea: Legal Innovation Wisconsin" initiative.

The State Bar of Wisconsin is launching a new, statewide program that teaches students and adults about responsible credit use and other fundamentals of financial literacy.

The State Bar of Wisconsin is launching the third installment of its Our Courts Wisconsin public education program, focusing on the ins-and-outs of the criminal court system.

In celebration of the American Bar Association's Mediation Week, the Dispute Resolution (DR) Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Association of Mediators (WAM) are hosting their own Mediation Week events during the week of Oct. 12, 2015. Each day the group will offer no-cost mediation for pending cases or disputes in a different city across the state.

The State Bar of Wisconsin is encouraging the Legislature and governor to move forward on and support a newly introduced piece of legislation. SB 280, also known as the Second Chance bill, that would return nonviolent, first-time 17-Year-old offenders to juvenile court jurisdiction.

State Bar President Ralph Cagle remembers Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice N. Patrick Crooks in a statement about his passing.

State Bar of Wisconsin President Ralph Cagle reflects on the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s announcement that Justice N. Patrick Crooks will not seek re-election to the supreme court. ​

Madison attorney and recently retired U.W. Law School Professor Ralph Cagle marched into office with Bucky Badger and members of the U.W. Marching Band as the State Bar of Wisconsin's 60th president on Wednesday night at the State Bar's Annual Meeting & Conference in Lake Geneva.

The State Bar of Wisconsin's Bench and Bar Committee is pleased to announce that Iowa County Circuit Court Judge William D. Dyke is the recipient of the 2015 Lifetime Jurist Achievement Award. Dyke will receive his award on Thursday June 25 at 5:30 p.m. at the State Bar's Annual Meeting & Conference in Lake Geneva.

The State Bar of Wisconsin has put together an exciting 2015 Annual Meeting & Conference lineup featuring CBS Sunday Morning Correspondent Mo Rocca, New York Times Bestselling author Bryan Stevenson and the journalists and lawyers who have reported on and prosecuted some of the nation's most infamous individuals.

State Bar of Wisconsin President Robert R. Gagan has issued a statement on the legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance and its recent action approving a $1 million grant – over two years – to the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation, Inc. to provide civil legal services to low income families.

The State Bar of Wisconsin’s Bench and Bar Committee has announced that Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge William J. Domina is the 2015 Judge of the Year. Domina’s award will be presented at the State Bar’s Annual Meeting & Conference on June 25 in Lake Geneva.

Francis W. Deisinger of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren S.C., Milwaukee, won the race for State Bar of Wisconsin president-elect today, defeating Kevin J. Lyons, of Davis & Kuelthau S. C., by a vote of 2590 to 2106.

Gov. Scott Walker has officially proclaimed April 16 as Healthcare Decisions Day in Wisconsin.

Scott Butler, an associate attorney with Fitzpatrick, Skemp and Associates in La Crosse, is the recipient of the State Bar of Wisconsin's Sixth Annual Outstanding Young Lawyer Award.

American Bar Association President William C. Hubbard will present the Inaugural Speech of the G. Lane Ware Leadership Address entitled “Leadership and the Future of Legal Services” to the next generation of leaders in the legal profession, as part of the 6th Annual Young Lawyers Leadership Conference in Milwaukee on March 20.

Students from 16 Wisconsin high schools will advance to the State Bar of Wisconsin’s 32nd Annual High School Mock Trial semifinal event on Saturday, March 7 at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison.

The State Bar of Wisconsin announces the recipients of the 2014 Golden Gavel Awards in the categories of Broadcast Media/Television and Radio.

The State Bar of Wisconsin applauds the recipients of the 2014 Golden Gavel Awards for their important contributions to the public’s understanding of our system of law and justice.

In recognition of the Wisconsin Lawyers who are responding to the rapidly changing legal marketplace by trying fresh ideas and novel ways of providing legal services to their communities, the State Bar of Wisconsin is showcasing legal innovators through its initiative "That's a Fine Idea! Legal Innovation Wisconsin." The innovators are featured in this month's cover story of the Wisconsin Lawyer magazine.

Did you broadcast or post a story that enhanced the public's understanding of the justice system between July 1, 2013 & June 30, 2014? If you did, you're invited to enter it in the State Bar of Wisconsin's Golden Gavel Award competition. The deadline is this Friday, October 24.

The State Bar of Wisconsin is pleased to announce that Rep. Garey Bies (R-Sister Bay) and Sen. Jerry Petrowski (R-Marathon) are the 2013-2014 recipients of the Scales of Justice Award for their outstanding efforts toward increasing citizens' access to justice and improving the administration of Wisconsin's judicial system.

Wisconsin Attorney General Candidates to Debate at State Bar Center Wednesday, October 29 at 7:00pm.

Madison, WI - Madison attorney Stephen P. Hurley will receive the Wisconsin Law Foundation (WLF) Charles L. Goldberg Distinguished Service Award.

Madison, WI - George Brown, executive director of the State Bar of Wisconsin, was sworn in as president of the National Association of Bar Executives (NABE) at its Annual Meeting in Boston this week.

When children are bullied, what should their families and their legal counsel do? That question is addressed in the September issue of Wisconsin Lawyer ™, a special editi​on that is dedicated to issues surrounding children and the law.

As incoming freshman all over the state are getting ready to leave home for the first time and start classes, the State Bar of Wisconsin is issuing the following helpful reminders to new adults.

Madison, WI – Robert Gibbs and Karl Rove, who have served as longtime advisors to Barack Obama and George W. Bush, respectively, will be closing out the State Bar’s Annual Meeting & Conference with a provocative discussion.

Madison, WI – On Wednesday, June 25 at 4:45 p.m., Attorney Robert R. Gagan of Green Bay will be sworn in as State Bar of Wisconsin president in conjunction with the State Bar’s Annual Meeting & Conference at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva. Gagan will serve a one-year term beginning July 1, 2014. He will succeed Patrick J. Fiedler of Madison.

Madison, WI – A local coalition including the State Bar of Wisconsin, Dane County Bar Association, Madison College Paralegal Program, ​Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources (GWAAR), and CUNA Mutual Group, will launch a new legal clinic on Saturday, July 19.