New Wisconsin lawyers take the lawyer’s oath in the Supreme Court Hearing Room. From left: Joseph Gangi, Fitchburg; Maya Ganguly, Madison; and Ruffino Gaytan, Madison.
June 10, 2009 – On June 9, 146 U.W. Law School graduates were admitted to practice. The new lawyers were welcomed to the profession by all seven Wisconsin Supreme Court justices, U.W. Law School Dean Kenneth B. Davis, State Bar President Diane Diel, and Board of Bar Examiners (BBE) board member John A. Pray.
Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson presided over the four ceremonies. Justices Ann Walsh Bradley, N. Patrick Crooks, Patience Roggensack, and Annette Ziegler administered the oath in the supreme court hearing room.
Following each swearing-in ceremony, Justice David T. Prosser spoke to the new lawyers. “All of you are about to participate in a time honored Wisconsin tradition. In a few moments you will sign your name in a book, the latest volume in a complete record of Wisconsin attorneys dating back before statehood more than 160 years ago. Every person who has ever been a member of the Wisconsin Bar has signed one of these books. As you sign in, please think about the people who have signed these volumes before you. They include some of the best minds and most valuable citizens in this state’s history, including an appointed territorial governor James Doty and the first elected governor of Wisconsin Nelson Dewey. They include men and women who have been giants of the legal profession, wise counselors, creative advocates, and brilliant scholars who have served as role models for the Bar and as mentors for others.”
Patrick Elliott signs the supreme court roll. Elliott hails from Minnesota and is grateful for reciprocity even though he wants to stay in Madison. He doesn’t have a professional spot lined up, but his hopes are not dashed and he is positive something will work out.
Noting that many attorneys have made life better for people and for society as a whole and many have been “absolute pillars of the communities in which they live,” Prosser continued, “Sadly, the records also include the names of some attorneys who betrayed their clients disgraced our profession and violated the law. These people also stood before the Wisconsin Supreme Court in a moment of hope and promise, sometimes with beaming family members in the audience.”
The Attorney’s Oath. “They took the same oath that you did but somehow they lost their way,” said Prosser. “The oath goes well beyond a pledge – not to betray clients, not to disgrace the legal profession, not to violate the law. The oath is a carefully written summary of code of professional responsibility. It stresses that the law is a great calling for dedicated professionals who are committed to uphold high ethical standards and are determined to provide service to others.”
A noble profession. Noting that each of the supreme court justices have, over time, the opportunity and privilege to address new attorneys with the hope of imparting some insight or inspiration, Prosser pointed out that his colleagues’ messages focus on service, professionalism, commitment to excellence, courage to take a stand, high ideals and excellent moral character.
In what has become a Wisconsin Supreme Court tradition in the past few years, new lawyers applaud family members for their support and encouragement immediately following swearing-in ceremony.
“When the Chief Justice speaks she often singles out an individual attorney who has made significant pro bono contributions,” said Prosser. “She points to that attorney as one whose service should be admired and whose example should be followed.
“Some of the other justices explain the critical function of law in society and of avoiding disputes and resolving conflict,” he said. “They acknowledge that the law is not much better than the professionalism and good will of the attorneys and judges who give it life. Justice Crooks frequently speaks of the indispensible commitment to excellence explaining that truly great lawyers are not willing to settle for mediocrity. Justice Bradley likes to emphasize courage, courage to take a stand, courage to reject the inappropriate compromise, courage to resist the many temptations that will present themselves to you, including the temptation to cut corners. All of the members of the court point to the nobility, at least the potential nobility of the legal profession.
The new lawyers are sworn in by Justice Ann Walsh Bradley in the Supreme Court Hearing Room.
“Today you leave behind the status of law student and enter the ranks of attorneys, and in doing so you become trustees of the legal profession,” said Prosser. “As attorneys you are charged collectively with the responsibility of making this profession greater than you found it.”
Build a profession of service. “When you sign the book, you start your professional life in Wisconsin with a blank page. You will decide what entries appear on your page in the years ahead. I urge you to set high standards and lofty goals.”
Prosser ended with a story often told by the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson about a visitor at a cathedral under construction. “The visitor questioned three workmen as to what they thought they were doing,” said Prosser. “The first one muttered ‘I’m making a living.’ The second gave the uninspired reply, ‘I am laying this stone.’ The third one looked up toward the sky and said with faith and pride, ‘I am building a cathedral.’”
“My charge to you today is to make your career a cathedral of service to others and to the rule of law,” concluded Prosser.
The State Bar welcomes the following attorneys.
Daniel J. Blinka, Milwaukee, and Brandon Flugaur, Madison, enjoy a moment of camaraderie following the swearing-in ceremony. Both men served as interns for Justice David Prosser.
Young Lawyers Division (YLD) President Jessica King (left) welcomes new lawyers. YLD membership is automatic for all new lawyers. The division welcomes active participation from all of its members.
New member Cathleen Dettmann signs the supreme court roll as her husband looks on. Dettmann joins a Middleton law firm that focuses on business law and litigation.
Kyra Flores, Waukesha, signs the supreme court roll as proud dad, the Hon. Ness Flores, Waukesha, looks on. Flores must face the Illinois Bar exam soon as she heads to Chicago to join a firm she interned with last year. The youngest in her family she is the first of her siblings to follow in dad’s legal footsteps.
Future lawyers watch as their classmates, sworn in moments earlier, exit the Supreme Court Hearing Room. The U.W. Law School 2009 class of 146 students was sworn in during four ceremonies on June 9.
Following the swearing-in ceremony the new lawyers and their families head to the Monona Terrace Convention where the new lawyers will sign the supreme court roll. Every lawyer admitted to practice in Wisconsin since the state was a territory has signed the roll.
- Jeremy Adelson, Wauwatosa
- Azeem Bakhtiar, Mequon
- Andrew John Barragry, Cedarburg
- Jeffrey M. Barrett, Wauwatosa
- Caitlin C. Bauch, Madison
- Laura Lee Bayard, Madison
- Kenyatta S. Beverly, Madison
- Melanie Patricia Black, Lake Geneva
- Daniel J. Blinka, Milwaukee
- James V. Block, Shawano
- Andrea M. Bosquez-Porter, Monona
- Colleen R. Brownsconsin Dells
- Erica M. Brumm, Madison
- Shannon Lee Brusda, Milwaukee
- Jonathan Bundy, Madison
- Paul Burant, Lake Mills
- Emily E. Cannon, La Crosse
- R. K. Christensen, Madison
- Gretchen E. Cleveland, Madison
- Emily Theresa Collins, Chicago
- Elizabeth R. Constable, Madison
- Erin M. Cook, Wauwatosa
- John Cornelius, Middleton
- Alfonso N. Cornish II, Madison
- Danielle Costello, Rockford, Ill.
- Michael W. Curry, Appleton
- Zina Deldar, Chicago
- Cathleen Anne Dettmann, Madison
- Charlie W. Doughty, Madison
- Patrick C. Elliott, Madison
- Sarah K. Erlinder, Madison
- Ryan X. Farrell, Madison
- Kathleen Flannery, Madison
- Kyra Flores, Waukesha
- Brandon Flugaur, Madison
- Joseph A. Gangi, Fitchburg
- Maya L. Ganguly, Madison
- Ruffino Gaytan III, Madison
- Kurt A. Goehre ,Waukesha
- David J. Gold, Chicago
- Angela Gonzalez, Madison
- Alexander J. Gore, Milwaukee
- Rova Donna Hajbandeh, Madison
- Joseph T. Hanes, Madison
- Estee Hart, Madison
- Jennifer Hassemer, Madison
- Maura M. Heffernan, Madison
- Brendan Scott Hefty, Madison
- Bryn Heimann, Madison
- Cynthia Coss Hernandez, Saint Paul, Minn.
- Lindsey Humphrey Hirt, Johnson Creek
- John Holevoet, Lake Mills
- Seoyoun Huh, Madison
- Kathryn C. Jackson, Milwaukee
- Lauren F. Jankowski, Milwaukee
- Brian M. Jenks, Madison
- Craig Johnson, Madison
- Amanda L. Jorgenson, Fitchburg
- Anthony Jurek, Madison
- Khalaf M. Khalaf, Kenosha
- Payal Khandhar, Madison
- Sam Kidd, Declo, Idaho
- Timothy T. Kidd, Milwaukee
- Katrina Louise Kisiolek, Howards Grove
- Kathleen A. Kjorlie, Middleton
- Joshua M. Koch, Green Bay
- Katherine Koepsell, Beaver Dam
- Luke Kohtala, Milwaukee
- Brad A. Kopetsky, Madison
- Marc A. Korobkin, Milwaukee
- Gina Kramer, Madison
- Neal Schall Krokosky, Appleton
- Brandon Kuhl, Neillsville
- Emily J. Lee, Madison
- Jennifer Michelle Lee, Chicago
- Mark James Lemke, Madison
- Nathan T. Leong, Madison
- Dana Lynn LesMonde, Madison
- Claudia Lombardo, Madison
- Margaret Ellen Maffai, Madison
- Rebecca L. Maki, Black River Falls
- Trudy S. Martin, Madison
- Scott Ryan McClune, Cedarburg
- Brian A. McElroy, Madison
- Gina Diane James Meierbachtol, Madison
- John W. Menn, Madison
- Jacob Meranda, Madison
- Daniel M. Meyers, Chicago
- Patrick Milne, Pleasant Prairie
- Laurie B. Mlatawou, Madison
- Sara A. Monson, Madison
- Carlos Yarot Montoya, Sun Prairie
- Ashley J. Morse, Madison
- Travis R. Mueller, Milwaukee
- Scott C. Mund, Racine
- Paul Khalil Nelson, Duluth, Minn.
- Kathleen Noble, Milwaukee
- Nadia Noboa-Chehade, Madison
- Heather L. Orth, Kiel
- Peter C. Osman, Appleton
- Justin Petzold, Madison
- Mary C. Pfotenhauer, Madison
- Maggie Premo, Madison
- Benjamin Ryan Prinsen, Madison
- Brandon J. Prinsen, La Crosse
- Robert G. Probst,Madison
- Kirsten K. Reneau, Milwaukee
- Peter J. Rindal, Fall Creek
- Eric Ristau, Madison
- Raymond Jinhyun Ro, Madison
- Connor A. Sabatino, Madison
- William Salmonowicz, Milwaukee
- Brooke M. Schaefer, Chicago
- Craig Schapira, Madison
- Jewel Marie Scharenbroch, Madison
- Eric F. Severson, Madison
- Hooma Shah, Lombard, Ill.
- Jessica J. Shrestha, Madison
- Karen M. Siettmann, Milwaukee
- Jason Silva, Madison
- Brian Slade, Chicago
- Colette Catherine Smith, Madison
- Cormac M. Smith, Madison
- Stacy E. Sparks, Madison
- Laurel Beth Steinmeyer, Madison
- Kala M. Strawn, Madison
- Damian Stutz, Madison
- Andrea Love Sumpter, Madison
- H. Wes Taylor, Madison
- Gideon Z. Thompson, Madison
- Lydia Nicole Thompson, Madison
- Amanda Lynn Van Dyke, Madison
- Thomas S. Vercauteren, Madison
- Sheri Ann Walz, Cambridge
- Elizabeth C. Wamboldt, Madison
- Sam Wayne, Madison
- Robert S. Welygan, Madison
- Peter J. White, Milwaukee
- Katie M. Wilson, Madison
- Adam Ethan Witkov, Milwaukee
- Stephen D. Woodward, Madison
- Chad Wozniak, Pewaukee
- Kashoua Yang, Sheboygan
- Mai Der M. Yang, Johnson Creek
- Vue Yang, Milwaukee
- Sansun Yeh, Madison
