September 2004

State Bar recognizes policymakers for fostering high standards of legal profession

State Bar President Michelle Behnke presented the inaugural Scales of Justice Award to Reps. Mark Gundrum (R-New Berlin) and Terri McCormick (R-Appleton) at the Board of Governors meeting on July 23. The State Bar created the award to formally recognize and thank policymakers for working to remove barriers and enhance access to the justice system.

Reps. Mark Gundrum (R-New Berlin) and Terri McCormick (R-Appleton) received the State Bar's inaugural Scales of Justice Award, recognizing them for aiding in the administration of justice.

"The State Bar is committed to the vital role it plays in positively influencing the legislative process on issues of importance to the courts, the legal profession, and the public," said Behnke. "I am honored to present the first-ever Scales of Justice Award to two state legislators for their outstanding efforts towards improving the administration of and access to justice."

Gundrum continues to lead efforts to reform the criminal justice system and to avoid wrongful convictions such as that of Steven Avery, who served more than 17 years in prison for a sexual assault he did not commit.

In December 2003 Gundrum formed the Avery Task Force, which comprises judges, criminal defense attorneys, prosecutors, law enforcement officials, and legislators with criminal justice backgrounds. The task force is examining, among other things, changes to Wisconsin's eyewitness identification procedures with the goal of making its recommendations by December 2004.

McCormick championed equal justice by authoring legislation to expand eligibility for public defender representation to ensure indigent criminal defendants receive counsel. The McCormick Plan for Justice, 2003 Assembly Bill 616, updates the eligibility standards for State Office of the Public Defender (SPD) representation from the obsolete 1987 AFDC table that equals 33 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) to 115 percent of the FPL, which is the same as that for Wisconsin Works (W-2) eligibility. The legislation received broad bipartisan support during the 2003-04 legislative session, but stalled in the budget-writing Joint Committee on Finance due to fiscal considerations. Despite this setback, McCormick remains committed to this issue and guaranteeing justice for all.

Inside the Bar