May 18, 2016 – Recognized by their peers and colleagues, these judges, lawyers, law firms, and law students will be honored next month for making a difference in Wisconsin and the world.
They will be recognized at the Member Recognition Celebration at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 16, at the State Bar 2016 Annual Meeting & Conference at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay.
Join the State Bar in honoring these award recipients. The event is free, and all State Bar members and their friends and families are invited to celebrate these individuals.
Those being honored at the celebration are:
Lifetime Jurist: Hon. Mel Flanagan, Milwaukee
Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Mel Flanagan is the recipient of the 2016 State Bar of Wisconsin Bench and Bar Committee Lifetime Jurist Award. The award acknowledges the contributions of a jurist who has served more than one full term as a circuit court judge and has demonstrated outstanding, long-term judicial excellence and leadership toward improving the quality of justice.
To read more about Judge Flanagan, see the article, "Literally Changing the World: Judge Mel Flanagan is 2016 Lifetime Jurist,” InsideTrack, May 2, 2016.
Judge of the Year: Hon. Robert VanDeHey, Lancaster
Grant County Circuit Court Judge VanDeHey is the Judge of the Year Award recipient. The award recognizes an outstanding circuit court judge who has improved the judicial system during the past year by his or her leadership in advancing the quality of justice, judicial education, or innovative programs.
To read more about Judge VanDeHey, see the article, Meet This Year's Judge, Pro Bono Attorney, and Public Education Award Winners: Three Who are Giving Back,” in this issue of InsideTrack.
The Lifetime Jurist and Judge of the Year awards are presented by the Bench and Bar Committee.
Hon. Charles Dunn Author Award: Christa Westerberg, Bender Westerberg, LLC, Madison
The winner of the Hon. Charles Dunn Author Award is Christa Westerberg for her article “Groundwater: Diminishing Resource, Increasing Conflict,” Wisconsin Lawyer, July/August 2015. The award recognizes writing excellence in a Wisconsin Lawyer article. This article provides highly timely and nuanced analysis on recent legal developments surrounding one of the most significant public policy issues affecting Wisconsin.
This award is presented by the Communications Committee.
Hotline Attorney of the Year: Door County Bar Association
The Lawyer Hotline Attorney of the Year Award goes to the Door County Bar Association for its dedication and commitment to the Lawyer Hotline of the State Bar’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS). The award is presented to an individual or group that has shown dedication to building a team of attorney volunteers, responding to client questions, and being available for difficult or out-of-the-ordinary queries for an extended period of time. Members of the Door County Bar Association have been active and consistent participants in the Lawyer Hotline program since the 1980s.
This award is presented by the Lawyer Referral and Information Service.
Pro Bono Attorney of the Year: Dera L. Johnsen-Tracy, Horn & Johnsen S.C., Madison
The Pro Bono Attorney of the Year is awarded to Dera L. Johnsen-Tracy for her extraordinary commitment to providing pro bono representation with the Wisconsin Wills for Heroes program and the Basic Estate Planning Clinics for Seniors and Veterans program.
To read more about Johnsen-Tracy, see the article, Meet This Year's Judge, Pro Bono Attorney, and Public Education Award Winners: Three Who are Giving Back,” in this issue of InsideTrack.
The award, presented by the Legal Assistance Committee, recognizes attorneys and organizations for their outstanding pro bono service.
Pro Bono Organization of the Year: Quarles & Brady LLP, Madison
The Pro Bono Organization of the Year is awarded to Quarles & Brady of Madison for the firm’s extraordinary commitment to providing pro bono representation to low-income residents of Dane County. Attorneys in the firm helped to create and participated in the Legal Intervention for Nonviolence Clinic, which assists clients of Domestic Abuse Intervention Services in addressing some of the unique legal challenges posed by domestic violence.
These pro bono awards are presented by the Legal Assistance Committee.
Public Education Volunteer of the Year: Ryan Blay, Krekeler Strother S.C., Madison
This award honors an attorney who has demonstrated excellence in promoting and supporting statewide efforts to educate the public, encourage understanding of and respect for the legal system, and foster appreciation of the rights and responsibilities of all persons under the law.
Ryan Blay is receiving the Public Education volunteer of the year award, for hard work and dedication to the public education programs. He serves on the Public Education Committee as the Young Lawyers Division liaison. He volunteers as a judge for the High School Mock Trial program and as a coordinator for the Madison region. He also volunteers his time educating high school students on the wise use of credit cards.
This award is presented by the Public Education Committee.
Jack DeWitt WisLAP Volunteer Award: Karen Bauer, Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, Inc., Milwaukee
Karen Bauer is a consumer rights attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, where she has a special interest in student loan repayment issues. She is currently a WisLAP volunteer and monitor, and a member of the WisLAP Committee. The Jack DeWitt WisLAP Volunteer Award honors a lawyer or judge who has provided confidential, meaningful assistance, educational outreach or other volunteer service through the WisLAP program.
This award is presented by the Wisconsin Lawyer Assistance Program Committee.
Dan Tuchscherer Outstanding Public Interest Law Attorneys: Larry Dupuis and Karyn Rotker, ACLU of Wisconsin Foundation, Milwaukee
This award recognizes a lawyer who demonstrates a selfless, lifetime commitment to working in the public interest, both inside and outside the field of law.
Larry Dupuis, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin Foundation, has litigated cases and coordinated the work of private pro bono attorneys for the organization since 2003. His work includes significant civil rights cases, including Wolf v. Walker, the case that brought marriage equality to Wisconsin.
Karyn Rotker serves as senior staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin, heading its Poverty, Race & Civil Liberties Project. Her work includes issues such as transportation and environmental justice, voting rights, fair housing, police misconduct, and immigrants’ rights.
Ryan Klesh Public Interest Legal Worker Award: Mike Rust, ABC for Rural Health, Oshkosh
Mike Rust is the recipient of the Ryan Klesh Public Interest Legal Worker Award, which recognizes an individual who captures the essence of Ryan Klesh's selflessness, work ethic, and humor in working to seek justice for our low-income neighbors, family, or friends.
Rust is a pioneer in developing the concept and practice of health benefits counseling. For the past two years, Rust has focused his advocacy efforts on access to mental health and substance use treatment services.
Outstanding Public Interest Law Student Awards: Lara Carlson, Madison, and Katie Czapanskiy, Milwaukee
Lara Carlson, a recent graduate of the U.W. Law School, volunteered more than 175 hours of pro bono service and in leadership.
Katie Czapanskiy, in her third year at Marquette University Law School, focused her legal education on serving the community, and volunteered with several programs at the law school.
These public interest awards are presented by the Public Interest Law Section.
Gordon Sinykin Award of Excellence: Megan McDermott, U.W. Law School, Madison
This year’s recipient of the Gordon Sinykin Award of Excellence is Megan McDermott, a lecturer and Honorary Fellow in the Institute for Legal Studies. The Foundation’s Gordon Sinykin Award of Excellence recognizes a lawyer, law firm, or group of lawyers for their work on an individual law-related education or public service project. McDermott volunteers with the State Bar's Public Education Committee and served as program chair for Our Courts Wisconsin, an innovative outreach program designed to increase public understanding of the state court system.
To read more about McDermott, see the article, Meet This Year's Judge, Pro Bono Attorney, and Public Education Award Winners: Three Who are Giving Back,” in this issue of InsideTrack.
This award is presented by the Wisconsin Law Foundation.
Founder’s Award: David E. Cohen, Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, Washington, D.C.
David E. Cohen is the recipient of the Founders Award for his many years of service to the Nonresident Lawyers Division (NRLD); his work for the State Bar of Wisconsin, including Bar committees; his hard work for the State Bar and the NRLD's Nation's Capital Chapter; and for his reputation as a State Bar member who brings leadership and positive changes to the NRLD and State Bar. This award recognizes a nonresident member who has brought positive change to the division and has actively participated in State Bar activities for many years.
This award is presented by the Nonresident Lawyers Division.
Leonard L. Loeb Award: David B. Russell, Hale, Skemp, Hanson, Skemp & Sleik, La Crosse
David B. Russellis the recipient of the Leonard L. Loeb Award for his lifetime of exceptional contributions to his community and to the goal of justice for all Wisconsin citizens. The award recognizes the work of a senior lawyer whose outstanding leadership has advanced the fundamental goals of the legal system.
This award is presented by the Senior Lawyers Division.
Outstanding Young Lawyer: Robert James Mochel, State Public Defender’s Office, Wauwautosa
Robert J. Mochel is the recipient of the Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year. This award is given to a young lawyer who has made an impact in his or her practice area, in service to the State Bar of Wisconsin, and in service to the community. Mochel has dedicated himself to representing children in Juvenile Court. He created the Expungement Project for the State Public Defender’s juvenile clients, an unmet need in the justice system.
This award is presented by the Young Lawyers Division.
Celebrate with the Award Recipients at Annual Meeting & Conference in Green Bay on June 16
This year’s awards will be given out at the Member Recognition Celebration at the 2016 State Bar Annual Meeting & Conference in Green Bay on Thursday, June 16. The event is free, and all State Bar members and their friends and families are invited to celebrate these individuals.
