April 28, 2025 – Stephen Sawyer is the next president-elect of the State Bar of Wisconsin.

In the elections ending April 25, 2025, Stephen Sawyer earned the position of president-elect over Johanna Kirk by 1,211 votes to 1,099.

The president-elect typically serves a one-year term as president-elect before serving a one-year term as president. Newly elected officers take their posts on July 1, 2025.

Sawyer (Notre Dame 1996) is with Sawyer Law LLC in Stevens Point.

"I am very honored and humbled to have been elected to serve the State Bar of Wisconsin as an officer," Sawyer said.

"These are challenging times for our profession and for the judicial branch of government. I will do my best to rise to those challenges and to build upon the proud tradition of excellence that has been the hallmark of our State Bar," he said.

Learn more about Sawyer here.

In Other State Bar Races

Steven J. Krueger of Green Bay was elected to a two-year term as treasurer, earning the position over Emil Ovbiagele of Milwaukee by 1,160 votes to 1,086. Learn more about Krueger here.

Winning a three-year term as Judicial Council representative is Sarah Zylstra of Madison, earning the position of over Edward E. Robinson of Brookfield by 1,485 votes to 799. Learn more about Zylstra here.

Board of Governors Election Results

By district (see the district map), those elected to serve two-year terms beginning July 1 as district representatives on the State Bar Board of Governors are:

District 1 (one vacancy)

• Haley J. Johnson, Walworth County Corporation Counsel, Elkhorn, U.W. 2010

District 2 (seven vacancies)

• Christopher P. August, Assistant State Public Defender, Appellate Unit, Milwaukee, U.W. 2013.

• Karen Bauer, Milwaukee, U.W. 2009.

• Daniel J. Blinka, Godfrey & Kahn SC, Milwaukee, U.W. 2009

• Scott F. Brown, Corporation Counsel, Milwaukee County, Rutgers 2005.

• Monica Cail, Legal Action of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Marquette 2015.

• Jade K. Hall, Office of the State Public Defender, Milwaukee, Marquette 2019.

• Anna Muñoz, Senior Director of Legal Operations, Licensing, and Risk at Brookdale Senior Living Inc., Milwaukee, Marquette 2005.

District 3 (one vacancy)

• Angela Rust, von Briesen & Roper S.C., Neenah, Marquette 2007.

District 5 (one vacancy)

• Shari LePage Locante, Arndt, Buswell & Thorn S.C., Sparta, Hamline University 1985.

District 6 (one vacancy)

• Erin E. Block, Dewitt LLP, Brookfield, Marquette 2015.

District 7 (one vacancy)

• Steven H. Thompson, Anderson O’Brien, LLP, Stevens Point, U.W. 2018.

District 9 (three vacancies)

• Richard Niess, Madison, Duke 1978.

• Kathleen Pakes, Assigned Counsel Division Director and a Forensic Practice coordinator, Wisconsin State Public Defender, Madison, Brandeis 1995.

• Annabelle K. Vang, Kowalski Wilson & Vang LLC, Madison, Marquette 2014.

District 11 (one vacancy)

• Courtney L. Graff, Schmiege, Graff & Koch Law Firm Ltd., Medford, Ave Maria 2012.

District 13 (one vacancy)

• Maria A. Penkwitz, Penkwitz Law Office, Port Washington, Marquette​ 2022.

District 15 (one vacancy)

• Elizabeth Stinebaugh, Legal Action of Wisconsin Inc., Racine, University of the District of Columbia 2013.