Features

• • Overview: Federal COVID-19 Response and Relief Provisions Signed into Law
  • President Donald Trump on Dec. 27 signed into law a government funding and appropriations bill that includes several coronavirus response and relief provisions, including another round of Paycheck Protection Program funding.

• • Law Students Get Earlier Court Experience under Proposed Rule Change
  • Expanding the law student practice rule also increases access to justice in Wisconsin while promoting greater diversity in the legal profession, according to a petition recently filed with the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Media

• 5 Tips: Law Firm Marketing & Networking – Expo Next Week

State Bar

• Meet Dennis Puzz Jr.: Serving Tribal Communities, Indian Law Section

• We Stand Against Threats to Wisconsin’s Judiciary

• Employers Needed for Diversity Clerkship Program

• Mock Trial: Volunteers Needed for Online Tournaments

• Make a Difference: Mentors Needed for State Bar Mentoring Program

Practice

• West's Jury Verdicts, Bench Decisions, Settlements, and Arbitration Awards

• Legal Research: Surf the Discarded Web with the Wayback Machine

• Google Local Services Ads for Lawyers: Caveat Advocatum (Lawyer Beware)

• Appellate eFiling Petition Filed in Wisconsin’s Supreme Court

• CDC: Legal Workers Should Be Among Phase 1, Third Tier for COVID-19 Vaccine

Court

• Supreme Court Justice Shirley Abrahamson, Longtime Chief, Dies at 87

• Supreme Court Won’t Hear Original Action on Dane County’s Emergency Health Order

• Adult Child’s Wrongful Death Claim Can Proceed against Assisted Living Facility

• More Court News ...

Official Notices

• Hearing to Reinstate Christopher A. Mutschler

Features

• • Facebook Ethics: Tennessee Court Rejects Lawyer's "Sarcasm" Defense
  • A Tennessee lawyer said he was just being sarcastic when he explained to a Facebook "friend" how the "castle doctrine" could be a solution to her ex-boyfriend problem.

• • Small Businesses Hit by COVID Get Free Legal Help from Wisconsin Lawyers
  • The State Bar of Wisconsin Business Law Section has launched Small Business Assistance, a project offering free legal advice to Wisconsin small-business owners.

Media

• Get the Word Out! Free Legal Help for Wisconsin's Small Businesses

State Bar

• Pro Bono Portal Connects You with Volunteer Opportunities

• We Need Your Talents: Serve on a Committee

• 50 or More Pro Bono Hours in 2020? Certify Now for Pro Bono Honor Society

• ABA Delegates Sought for Two-year Terms – One Seat Reserved for a Young Lawyer

Rotunda Report

• Take Action on Expungement Reform

Practice

• West's Jury Verdicts, Bench Decisions, Settlements, and Arbitration Awards

• Fastcase and Casemaker Merger: What It Means for State Bar Members

• Supreme Court Extends Order Allowing Attorneys to Obtain 30 CLE Credits On-Demand through 2021

• Wisconsin Jury Instructions Now Available Free Online through State Law Library

• Corporate Transparency Act: Considerations on Entity Formation

• Hope and Grief in 2021: Where to Find Help

Court

• Appeals Court Orders Dismissal after Indigent Defendant Jailed 3+ Months Without Counsel

• Wisconsin Supreme Court Upholds Town’s Restriction on Lakefront Property

• More Court News ...

Official Notices

• Final Order 20-01: Amendments Regarding On-Demand CLE Programming in Response to COVID-19

• Petition to Reinstate Michael D. Mandelman

Features

• • Governor's Budget Proposal Includes Criminal Justice Reform and Historic Investment in Civil Legal Aid
  • Gov. Tony Evers delivered his "Badger Bounce Back" budget plan to the legislature last week. The $91 billion spending plan contains many potential large scale reforms to criminal justice law and a major increase in state funding for civil legal aid.

• • Meeting Today's Challenges: Q&A with State Bar President-elect Candidates
  • The candidates, both Milwaukee lawyers, discuss the important issues currently facing the legal profession and how they will lead efforts to address them.

Media

• Lawyers Needed: Navigating Unemployment Claims During COVID-19

State Bar

• Distanced But Together: Register for Virtual Annual Meeting & Conference

• State Bar Board Supports Court Record Retention Changes, Takes Other Actions

• Make a Difference, Be a Leader: Serve on a State Bar Committee

• ABA Delegates Sought for Two-year Terms – One Seat Reserved for a Young Lawyer

Practice

• West's Jury Verdicts, Bench Decisions, Settlements, and Arbitration Awards

• Legal Research 101: Elder Law Resources

• Dealing with the Expiring Perpetual Easement Problem

• Mediating into Overtime: Yes or No?

Court

• Appeals Court Clarifies Limits on Using Bail Money to Pay Restitution

• State Supreme Court Decides ‘Bibs Resort’ Trademark Dispute in 4-3 Decision

• More Court News ...

Official Notices

• Hearing Order 20-08: Altering Certain Retention Periods for Various Court Records

• Hearing Order 20-09: Location of Court and Use of Videoconferencing Technology

• Hearing to Reinstate Robert B. Moodie

Features

• • A Year Later: Law Firms Move Forward with Perspective on Technology
  • As vaccines increase and COVID-19 cases trend down, "normalcy" comes into focus. But lawyers will continue to use the tools that helped them through this pandemic.

• • March Madness at the U.S. Supreme Court: The Future of NCAA Athletics
  • U.S. Supreme Court may decide whether the NCAA's eligibility and compensation restrictions violate antitrust laws.

Media

• Police-Worn Body Cameras with U.W. Law Professor Keith Findley

State Bar

• Jarrett Adams Among Featured Speakers at 2021 Annual Meeting & Conference in June

• Bryant Park: Speaking Up for Asian American Lawyers

• State Bar Elections: Cast Your Ballots by Email, Respond by April 23

• Who Will Make Your Healthcare Decisions?

• 265 Pandemic Heroes: More than 13K Pro Bono Hours in 2020

• State Bar Referral Service Connects Lawyers with Clients Virtually: Get Nearly 3 Months Free

Rotunda Report

• Expanding Broadband Internet Expands Access to Justice

Practice

• Top 10 Takeaways from the 2021 ABA TECHSHOW

• Legal Research: Multistate Survey Research: Getting to Your Best Results

• West's Jury Verdicts, Bench Decisions, Settlements, and Arbitration Awards

• The Scourge of Boilerplate Objections

Court

• Wisconsin Supreme Court Clarifies Governor’s Public Health Emergency Powers

• Murder Retrial of Husband Won’t Include Statements from Wife Before She Died

• Police Get Immunity for 'Good Times Turned Bad' After Badger Football Game

• More Court News ...

Features

• • Visitation by Grandparents and Other Third Parties
  • In determining whether to order third-party visitation, a court must analyze the visitation request based upon the child’s best interest, giving special deference to a fit parent’s determinations as to what visitation is appropriate.Wisconsin Legislative Council Information Memorandum.

• • Running on Empty? Wisconsin Lawyers On Being Mindful of Wellness
  • Wellness is more than an occasional spa treatment or that much-needed vacation. In recognition of Well-Being Week in Law this week, here are some ways your colleagues make their health a priority.

Media

• Differentiation in a Digital World: Michele DeStefano at AMC

State Bar

• State Bar President-elect Post Goes to Margaret Hickey

• Coming Soon: Look For Your Annual Court Assessments and Dues Statements

• Support Vital Statewide Programs through the Wisconsin Law Foundation

• Leading Change: Who are Wisconsin's Legal Innovators?

Events

• Gather Together: Join Us for Virtual Annual Meeting & Conference

Rotunda Report

• Legislature Begins Work on Biennial Budget Proposal

Practice

• Legal Research 101: Online Adoption Law Resources

• West's Jury Verdicts, Bench Decisions, Settlements, and Arbitration Awards

• Use Plain Language in Dispute Resolution

Court

• Supreme Court Upholds Court's 'Exercise Price' in Right of First Refusal Case

• Supreme Court Adopts Mandatory Appellate eFiling, Beginning July 1

• Spoliation of Gun Evidence: Appeals Court Rejects Dismissal as a Sanction

• More Court News ...

Official Notices

• Final Order 20-07: Expanded E-filing System for Appellate Courts

Features

• • 50-Year Members: Classes of 1970-71 Entered Profession in Turbulent Times
  • The Vietnam War continued overseas and protests mounted here in the states as the classes of 1970 and 1971 entered the legal profession. Now, they celebrate 50 years.

• • Former Dunn County Dairy Farmer Is Lifetime Jurist: Judge Rod Smeltzer
  • Retiring Dunn County Circuit Court Judge Rod Smeltzer is a recipient of the State Bar's Lifetime Jurist award. How did this former dairy farmer end up serving on the bench for 24 years?

Media

• Family Law and the Pandemic with Donna Ginzl

State Bar

• Welcome to 158 New Wisconsin Lawyers: Marquette Admissions

• U.W. Admissions: Welcome to 148 New Wisconsin Lawyers

• Leading Change: Who are Wisconsin's Legal Innovators?

• Support Vital Statewide Programs through the Wisconsin Law Foundation

• Look For Your Annual Court Assessments and Dues Statements

Events

• Register Today: Online Annual Conference Is Next Week

Rotunda Report

• State Senate Approves Bi-Partisan Police Reform Bills

Practice

• Legal Research: 5 Resources Every New Lawyer Should Know

• West's Jury Verdicts, Bench Decisions, Settlements, and Arbitration Awards

• 'Enjoyment of the Waters' and Wisconsin's Public Trust Doctrine

Court

• No Trespasser Immunity After Bar Altercation, Supreme Court Says

• Supreme Court Issues Pandemic-related Orders, Denies Eviction Moratorium

• Worker’s Compensation was Exclusive Remedy After Suicide Attempt

• More Court News ...

Official Notices

• Hearing Order 20-03: Redistricting

• In re the Modification of Circuit Court and Municipal Accommodations that were Required Because of the COVID-19 Pandemic

• In re the Matter of Attorney Regulatory Matters

• In re the Matter of Admission to the Bar

Features

• • OWI Law: New Decision in the Implied Consent, Unconscious Driver Saga
  • Wisconsin Supreme Court says state's implied consent law is unconstitutional, cannot be used on its own as a basis to draw blood from suspected drunk drivers who become incapacitated.

• • Supreme Court Answers Question on Public Funding for Private Schools
  • Concurrences and dissents leave clues on where a decision might fall if the Wisconsin Supreme Court was deciding the merits of the case.

Media

• 5 Tips: Common Trust Account Violations with Travis Stieren

State Bar

• Angela Harden: What It Means To Be 'Out' as a Legal Professional

Rotunda Report

• Join Lawyer-Legislators for a Virtual Meet and Greet

Practice

• New Lawyers: Four Simple Tools to Survive Your First Tasks

• Legal Research 101: Resources for Disability Law

• West's Jury Verdicts, Bench Decisions, Settlements, and Arbitration Awards

• Must COVID-19 Vaccination Bonuses be Included in an Employee’s Regular Rate?

Court

• Help Set Wisconsin Court System Priorities: Take the Critical Issues Survey

• State Supreme Court Upholds Statements made in Post-Polygraph Interview

• Supreme Court (4-3): County Health Official Had No Authority to Close Schools

• More Court News ...

Official Notices

• State Bar Petition Amends Bylaws Re Membership Register and Election of Chairperson of the Board of Governors

• Final Order 19-02A and 20-07A: Interim Court Rule Governing Electronic Filing in the Supreme Court

• Hearing to Reinstate Joseph R. Laumann