Board adopts position on WisTAF petition
December 10, 2004
"The State Bar of Wisconsin acknowledges the
societal problems of access to justice. While the State Bar opposes the
WisTAF petition as filed and a mandatory assessment, the State Bar
supports a two-year $50 opt-out contribution to WisTAF and a study by
the State Bar to address these needs and their future
funding."
WisTAF petition. The board adopted, 34 - 7, the
following position on the WisTAF petition:
"The State Bar of Wisconsin acknowledges the
societal problems of access to justice. While the State Bar opposes the
WisTAF petition as filed and a mandatory assessment, the State Bar
supports a two-year $50 opt-out contribution to WisTAF and a study by
the State Bar to address these needs and their future
funding."
The petition, filed by WisTAF, seeks mandatory payment
of $50 per attorney to WisTAF to provide funding for civil legal
services for people who cannot afford an attorney. The supreme court
hearing date is Jan. 12.
In a separate action, the board also approved submission
of the WisTAF Petition Study Committee's final report to the
supreme court.
The supreme court set up WisTAF in 1986 to manage and
grant the monies generated by the Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts
(IOLTA), which is the only state-mandated program to raise funds for
legal services for low-income persons.
