State Bar applauds Wisconsin lawyers and judges recognized for outstanding contributions and achievements

June 10, 2009 – Wisconsin lawyers and judges were recently honored for their leadership and contributions to our legal system and their communities. Wisconsin State Public Defender Nick Chiarkas is the recipient of the 2009 Dorsey Award, honoring an outstanding public defender or legal aid lawyer. Also honored were 25 Leaders in the Law for their outstanding contributions and achievements.

The Dorsey Award is one of three annual awards from the American Bar Association’s Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division presented to individuals for outstanding work in the government and public sector. The Dorsey Award will be presented to Chiarkas at a reception on July 31, 2009 in Chicago at the Westin River North Hotel from 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Serving as the Wisconsin State Public Defender for 21 years, Chiarkas has been recognized for managing his office in a client-focused, innovative way. Recognizing the unique needs of combat veterans, Chiarkas helped facilitate the development of the Wisconsin Veterans Intervention Program (WI-VIP) to help get veterans through the court system. The treatment courts are aimed at nonviolent offenders whose violations stem from issues including mental illness, substance abuse, and PTSD. Instead of incarceration, they offer treatment programs to tackle the underlying causes of criminal behavior. The state’s first veterans’ treatment court is scheduled to open in July 2009.

In addition, Chiarkas has developed various outreach efforts to help ensure the public understands the importance of an effective indigent defense system. His outreach initiatives include those to keep children out of the justice system by delivering the message “the best defense is no offense,” and the formal recognition of individuals and organizations doing extraordinary work with children through the “Wisconsin Cares About Kids Award.”

Also, more than 350 people attended the Wisconsin Law Journal’s seventh annual celebration on May 19 at the Italian Community Center in Milwaukee to help honor the contributions and achievements of 25 Leaders in the Law. The celebration recognizes lawyers and judges who have given their time and talent to improve the practice of law, the justice system and the communities in which they live. The honorees came from a variety of firms, courts, businesses and nonprofit groups, offering everything from pro bono legal assistance to the poor to representing clients in complex transactions or litigation to seeking equal treatment under the law for everyone.

“No matter what our 2009 Leaders in the Law have done, one thing is constant – each one has had a lasting impact on our state’s legal community and the community at large. Each one of them reflects the great things that attorneys around the state do every day,” said Ann Richmond, editor and publisher of the Wisconsin Law Journal.

Following are the 2009 Leaders in the Law. You can read more about their individual contributions here.

The State Bar of Wisconsin commends these individuals for their outstanding work and commitment to helping improve the administration of justice and delivery of legal services in Wisconsin.

Rotunda Report is a new newsletter, issued once every two weeks, from the State Bar of Wisconsin that highlights legislative, judicial and administrative developments that impact the legal profession and the justice system. It is produced by the Bar’s Government Relations Team and is distributed free to attorneys, public officials and others who help shape public policy in Wisconsin. We invite your suggestions to make the Rotunda Report more informative and useful and we encourage you to visit our Web site for the most current information about justice-related issues.

© 2009, State Bar of Wisconsin