Last week, Gov. Scott Walker's signed "Sara's Law," named after Attorney Sara Quirt-Sann (pictured above), one of four people killed in a shooting spree in Marathon County last year. Photo courtesy of the Wisconsin Department of Justice.
April 13, 2018 - Governor Scott Walker has put his pen to a host of laws, including legislation the State Bar of Wisconsin worked on this session.
On April 11 in Wausau, Governor Walker signed “Sara’s Law,” named after Attorney Sara Quirt-Sann, who was one of four people killed in a shooting spree in Marathon County March 22, 2017. Quirt-Sann was representing the shooter’s estranged wife in their divorce case.
AB 825 makes it a Class H felony to threaten or cause bodily harm to an attorney or other representative of the court or their family involved in proceedings affecting children and families. It was sponsored by Representative Patrick Snyder (R-Schofield) and Senator Jerry Petrowski (R-Marathon) and signed into law April 11, 2018, as 2017 Wisconsin Act 272.
Governor Scott Walker signed the law at the Sara Quirt-Sann Memorial Courtroom in the Marathon County Courthouse, which was renamed in December 2017 in her memory.
Walker said it’s an important issue and that “it’s unfortunate that it took a tragic situation to bring to light just how important it is to protect people who are looking out for protecting others.”
Other State Bar supported legislation that was recently signed into law includes AB 551 which affects the relocation of a child who is the subject of a legal custody or placement order. The State Bar’s Family Law Section supported the bill “to provide a clear process for a separated couple” when one parent wants to move more than 100 miles away. The bill was ushered through by Representative Jessie Rodriguez (R–Oak Creek) and Senator Alberta Darling (R–River Hills). It was signed into law as 2017 Wisconsin Act 203 April 3, 2018.
Governor Walker signs AB 551 ( Front row) Noah Rodriguez, Gov. Scott Walker (Back) Lynne Davis, Rep. Jessie Rodriguez, Tiffany Highstrom, Nick Bentz, Katelyn Schultz, and Rachel Keith.
Additionally, the State Bar’s Elder law Section supported AB 629. Sponsored by Representative Ken Skowronski (R–Franklin) and Senator Duey Strobel (R–Saukville), the law relates to the adoption of the Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act, approved and recommended for enactment in all states by the National Conference of Commissioners of Uniform State Laws. Gov. Walker signed 2017 Wisconsin Act 187 into law April 3, 2018.
For questions or more information the spring legislative session and newly signed laws please feel free to contact State Bar Government Relations Coordinators Lynne Davis (ldavis@wisbar.org) or Cale Battles (cbattles@wisbar.org). To stay up to date with current state government issues, please subscribe to the Rotunda Report.
