April 13, 2026 – Whether it is in Madison, Wisconsin, Washington, D.C., or even in your home community, finding ways to connect with elected officials is an important aspect of representative government. Last month, American Bar Association (ABA) President Michelle Behnke, Wisconsin ABA Delegate Tatiana Shirasaki and I traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with members of Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation on federal issues impacting the legal profession.
The ABA had four priority issues for 2026:
Access to Legal Services – supporting federal funding for Legal Services Corporation (LSC) to provide civil legal services for low-income individuals.
Judicial Security – support of H.R. 4602, bipartisan legislation to create a national database to assist states in learning more about current threats against state judges and court officials.
Effective Assistance of Counsel – support of H.R. 7491 or S. 3850, to clarify attorney-client privilege when accessing confidential email communications from an attorney to a federally incarcerated client. Currently, mail, phone calls, and in-person meetings are covered, but email communication is not.
Protect Federal Defender Program – supporting consistent and ongoing funding for the federal defender program.
Cale Battles is the government relations program manager with the State Bar of Wisconsin. He can be reached by
email or by phone at (608) 250-6077.
Beyond this specific advocacy, ABA Day also allows the ABA and the State Bar of Wisconsin to work in tandem to discuss emerging issues impacting Wisconsin with federal lawmakers.
Areas of mutual concern include rural lawyer shortages, technological and broadband challenges for rural access to justice, and the impact of artificial intelligence on the court system and the legal profession. The meetings provide an opportunity to further develop relationships and to offer the membership of the State Bar and the ABA as a resource for working on or reviewing legislative issues.
To learn more about ABA Day, the ABA’s 2026 priority issues, or to join the ABA Grassroots Action team, please visit the
ABA Day 2026 website. Members can also join the State Bar’s Advocacy Network or visit
wisbar.org/govrelations to learn more about the State Bar’s Government Relations program.
Pictured left to right: Natalia Shirasaki-Krahn, Sen. Tammy Baldwin, ABA President Michelle Behnke, Wisconsin ABA delegate Tatiana Shirasaki
Left to Right: Tatiana Shirasaki, Natalia Shirasaki-Krahn, Sen. Ron Johnson, Michelle Behnke
Tatiana Shirasaki and Michelle Behnke ran into Rep. Glen Grothman on the Capitol grounds and took this impromptu photo!
What You Can Do: State Bar Advocacy Network
State Bar members are encouraged to send a message to their lawmakers expressing support on legislative topics which positively affect the legal system using the
Advocacy Network. Pre-written email messages are editable to suit your own thoughts and opinions and help to demonstrate the breadth of support for policies that prioritize access to justice. You can also "Choose Your Own" to craft messages to any of your elected officials, from President of the United States down to your local municipal officials.
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