On Friday, June 18, 2021, commencing at 10 a.m., a public hearing will be held before Referee Joseph D. Jacobson at Verbatim Reporting, Limited, 2 East Mifflin St., Suite 102, Madison, on the petition of Donald J. Peterson of Fitchburg, to reinstate his Wisconsin law license. Any interested person may appear at the hearing and be heard in support of or in opposition to the petition.

On May 5, 2006, the Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended Peterson’s Wisconsin law license for two years based on misconduct that was related to his misappropriation of fees belonging to his law firm, and theft and dishonesty, in violation of SCR 20:8.4(c); and criminal use of cocaine in violation of SCR 20:8.4(b). Disciplinary Proceedings Against Peterson, 2006 WI 141. 

In July 2020, Peterson petitioned for reinstatement of his Wisconsin law license. To be reinstated, Peterson has the burden of substantiating by clear, satisfactory, and convincing evidence that 1) he has the moral character to practice law in Wisconsin, 2) his resumption of the practice of law will not be detrimental to the administration of justice or subversive of the public interest, 3) all of his representations in his reinstatement petition are substantiated, and 4) he has complied fully with the terms of the orders of suspension and with SCR 22.26.

Relevant information may be provided to or obtained from OLR Assistant Litigation Counsel Jonathan E. Hendrix, P.O. Box 1648, Madison, WI 53701-1648. The Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) toll free telephone number is (877) 315-6941. Attorney Hendrix’s direct phone is (608) 266-8334.