State Bar of Wisconsin

Wisconsin celebrated juror appreciation month in September

In September, Gov. Jim Doyle issued a proclamation, and the Senate and Assembly approved citations, declaring September Juror Appreciation Month. The statewide celebration kicked off with a press conference at the Milwaukee County Courthouse. Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson, State Bar President Diane S. Diel, and then-Milwaukee County Circuit Court Chief Judge Kitty K. Brennan, and other local officials hosted the event. Press conferences also were held in Waukesha County and Dane County

"The Wisconsin court system and the people of this state greatly appreciate the time and dedication of jurors," said Abrahamson. "Without jurors, our system of justice would not function properly. Employers and families of jurors also deserve tremendous thanks for supporting jurors.

"The right to a jury trial is a fundamental component of the American and Wisconsin justice systems, and the willingness of Wisconsin residents to serve as jurors is critical to preserving this right," said Abrahamson, who has served on juries twice during her tenure on the supreme court.

Diel noted that the right to trial by jury is a legacy of our Bill of Rights and one of the hallmarks of American justice. "Like other rights guaranteed by our Constitution, the promise of a jury of peers comes with responsibilities as well. Jury service takes citizens away from their jobs, their families, and their routines, potentially for up to weeks at a time, to serve the goal of justice for all. Those who serve are often asked to make difficult and complex decisions that directly impact the interests of both individual neighbors and their communities."

During September many counties hosted press conferences and other activities to recognize and thank jurors. Several county boards passed local resolutions, and several circuit courts participated in a variety of activities thanking jurors and recognizing the critical role they play in our democracy and system of justice.

During 2007, of the 60,000 people who reported to courthouses across Wisconsin, about 20,000 served during 2,429 trials.

Wisconsin Supreme Court seeks volunteers to serve on committee to study Code of Judicial Conduct

The Wisconsin Supreme Court seeks lawyers and nonlawyers for a new committee to study the Wisconsin Code of Judicial Conduct in light of the American Bar Association's 2007 revision of its Model Code of Judicial Conduct, other proposals for modification, and developing case law.

The 2007 Model Code was the ABA's first comprehensive revision of its Code of Judicial Conduct since 1990, and it was the culmination of a three-and-one-half year effort. The current Wisconsin Code of Judicial Conduct (Chapter 60 of the Supreme Court Rules) was last amended by the Wisconsin Supreme Court on Oct. 29, 2004, following study and debate by a commission headed by Judge Thomas E. Fairchild.

Lawyers and nonlawyers interested in serving on the new committee should send a letter and resume by Nov. 28, 2008, to: David Schanker, Clerk of the Supreme Court, P.O. Box 1688, Madison, WI 53701-1688, or by email to David.Schanker@wicourts.gov. Lawyers are invited to recommend nonlawyers who may be willing to serve on the committee.

Marquette bolsters law schools in seven African countries

Donated law books from Wisconsin bound for Africa

Marquette University law students and faculty recently donated 1,793 pounds of books to law schools in Africa through a book drive organized by the student organization Association for Women in Law (AWL) at Marquette University Law School.

In the spring of 2007, Lisa Mazzie Hatlen, assistant professor of legal writing at Marquette, spoke at a conference in Nairobi, Kenya, where she observed sparse law libraries and heard from African students and professors about the scarcity of law books in their countries. Hatlen shared her experience and observations with her students when she returned to Marquette. One of those students, Ashley Thompson, now a third-year law student at Marquette, took the idea of a book drive to the AWL.

Marquette students collected books and other supplies, which were added to donations from 22 other law schools. The books were delivered to Nairobi in early August and were distributed to various law schools throughout Africa, in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.

Mental-health initiative aims to improve Wisconsin's criminal justice system

Wisconsin recently was selected by the Council of State Governments to participate in the Chief Justices' Criminal Justice/Mental Health Leadership Initiative, a project aimed at improving the criminal justice system's response to people with mental illness.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson will chair a task force that will research and evaluate evidence-based intervention processes that can be implemented early in an effort to divert individuals with serious mental illness away from the costly criminal justice system and into the treatment system.

"Many inmates have mental illnesses, and to improve public safety, we need to improve treatment options for people with mental illnesses," says Abrahamson. "Doing so will not only improve public safety but also allow for more efficient use of taxpayer dollars. Improving the criminal justice system's response to people with mental illness may help ease jail and prison overcrowding and reduce recidivism rates."

According to a U.S. Department of Justice study, more than half of all prison inmates, including 56 percent of state prisoners, 45 percent of federal prisoners, and 64 percent of local jail inmates, reported having mental health problems. Wisconsin is no exception. These individuals sometimes leave and return to incarceration through a "revolving door" without getting treatment.

During the past 15 years, Wisconsin has experienced unprecedented growth in prison, jail, and community correction populations. The prison population has doubled during the past decade, and adult correctional facilities are operating over capacity. According to the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, county jails are being used for overflow of about 900 adult males.