Sign In
    Wisconsin Lawyer
    May 01, 1997

    Wisconsin Lawyer May 1997: News Briefs

    News Briefs


    D.A. Summer Program Gives Volunteers Crash Course in Prosecution

    New attorneys from any law firm can pack a lifetime of jury trial experience into one summer by volunteering to work in Milwaukee County's Volunteer District Attorney Program.

    The volunteer attorneys are sworn in as public service special prosecutors and spend three months prosecuting defendants charged with misdemeanors such as disorderly conduct, battery, criminal damage to property and drunk driving. After serving in the same capacity as assistant district attorneys, they return to the private practice firms that sent them, knowing firsthand how to pick juries, give opening and closing statements, direct- and cross-examine witnesses and present physical evidence.

    "There's no better way to learn how to try cases than in a misdemeanor court where you may try two or three cases a week," said Milwaukee County Deputy District Attorney Jon Reddin who administers the program.

    Special legislation authorizing these public service positions started this educational program in 1992 to benefit both government and private law practices. During their terms, which last roughly from Memorial Day to Labor Day, these special prosecutors cannot work for the law firms paying their salaries. The district attorney's office, which pays nothing toward any volunteer's salary, gets a bright, enthusiastic attorney eager to dive into a courtroom and fill in for vacationing staff members. Law firms sending these young lawyers, who are just a few years out of law school, get back an experienced prosecutor.

    Seventeen lawyers participated in the program during its first five summers, handling a combined 164 jury trials and 51 court trials. Attorney Tim Muth holds the program's record for handling 17 trials during his three-month stint in 1993, including 14 before a jury.

    "There's no way to get that number of trials in private practice in such a short time," said Muth, who handles mostly civil lawsuits for Reinhart, Boerner, Van Deuren, Norris & Rieselbach, one of seven Milwaukee law firms participating in the program.

    Reddin and attorney Scott Hansen, one of the program's founders, agree that the program generates a win-win situation for everyone involved. Hansen, also with Reinhart, Boerner, Van Deuren, Norris & Rieselbach, added, "We benefit, the community benefits and the D.A.'s office benefits."

    Six other firms sending volunteers through the program during its first five summers include: Foley & Lardner; O'Neil, Cannon & Hollman; Godfrey & Kahn; Quarles & Brady; Michael Best & Friedrich and Hinshaw & Culbertson.

     

    Courts Amend Rules, Operating Procedures

    Several recent amendments changed the rules and operating procedures for submitting documents to the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit.

    Twenty-two, rather than 15, copies of briefs and appendices must be filed in the supreme court starting July 1. The amendment to Wisconsin Statutes section (Rule) 809.19(8)1 followed a public hearing March 18. The court's order will appear in the June Wisconsin Lawyer.

    A number of Seventh Circuit rule changes were effective Jan. 1. However, strict enforcement of Circuit Rule 32 (c), which dictates the type style for briefs and motions, started only recently, according to Thomas Strubbe, court clerk.

    Circuit Rule 32(c) requires a brief or motion be set in a plain, roman style, although italics may be used for emphasis. Case names must be italicized or underlined. The document may use boldface only for case captions, section names and argument headings. The document may use all-capitals text only for case caption and section names. Nevertheless, quoted passages may use the original type styles and capitalization.

    The Seventh Circuit's rules are posted on WisBar in Adobe Acrobat format.

    Go to the WisBar Toolbox and download Acrobat Reader NOW!

    Need an Acrobat tutorial? Go to the WisBar Toolbox

     

    Pocket-size POA is Good PR Tool

    Lawyers now can give their clients some peace of mind that fits in a wallet.

    The laminated Health Care Power of Attorney cards Waukesha attorney Michael Corcoran recently started giving his estate planning clients work like medical alert cards. If the bearer becomes incapacitated, medical personnel can use the card to contact an agent or alternate agent with access to the bearer's health care power of attorney documents.

    "Clients usually put it right into their wallets as soon as I hand it to them," said Corcoran.

    Corcoran has found the cards to be a great public relations tool that cost next to nothing to produce. All it takes is some card stock, a small laminating machine (Corcoran bought his for $50) and a computer file template that Corcoran is willing to share. Just write him at 100 E. Sunset Dr., Waukesha, WI 53186-7697, or call (414) 542-4429.


Join the conversation! Log in to comment.

News & Pubs Search

-
Format: MM/DD/YYYY