Vol. 76, No. 9, September
2003
Letters
Letters to the editor: The Wisconsin Lawyer
publishes as many letters in each issue as space permits. Please limit
letters to 500 words; letters may be edited for length and clarity.
Letters should address the issues, and not be a personal attack on
others. Letters endorsing political candidates cannot be accepted. Please mail letters to "Letters to the Editor," Wisconsin
Lawyer, P.O. Box 7158, Madison, WI 53707-7158, fax them to (608)
257-4343, or email them to wislawyer@wisbar.org.
Nonresident lawyers deserve respect from Wisconsin judges
How do we, as nonresident lawyers, get Wisconsin judges to stop
discriminating against us?
I recently sent a letter to a judge in Milwaukee on behalf of a
person I was trying to help. On my letterhead, I state that I am
licensed to practice law in Wisconsin. When I signed my letter, I
included my Wisconsin Bar number. From the bench, the judge told the
lady I was trying to help: "She's not authorized to practice law in the
state of Wisconsin, to my knowledge, but I did receive what she sent to
the court." This is not the first time this has happened.
What the heck? I have been a member of the Wisconsin Bar since 1985.
I pay my $300-plus annual dues to the Wisconsin Bar and take required
CLE classes like every other Wisconsin lawyer. The fact that I use a New
Jersey address should not relegate me to second-class status as a lawyer
when practicing law in Wisconsin.
I would appreciate a little more respect from our judges for
nonresident lawyers.
Anne T. Sulton
West Windsor, N.J.
Eberlein law firm, active since 1896
Several years ago the Wisconsin Lawyer ran an article about
Wisconsin law firms that were active for more than 100 years. Omitted
from the article was my law firm, Eberlein & Menard, still active
after 107 years. [Editor's Note: Please see Following
in the Family Footsteps, 71 Wis. Law. 14 (Aug. 1998)].
For more about a founding member, see the Wisconsin Supreme Court
memorial of the Hon. M.G. Eberlein Sr., 2 Wis. 2d 2, and Lexis.
Frederic C. Eberlein
Shawano
Wisconsin Lawyer
