Vol. 75, No. 1, January 2002

New Year, New Challenges

by Gerry Mowris

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A DECADE, our nation is at war as we enter the New Year. The events of Sept. 11 are still rippling through our lives and no one can predict the ultimate result. Americans are struggling to deal with the reality of a successful direct attack on our own soil. The effect on our nation is seen in ways large and small. Thousands of lives were lost. Gun sales are up. The economy is down. Charitable giving is up. Signs of patriotism are everywhere. (Lighted flags are as common as lighted trees and candles during the holiday season.) Civil liberties are being restricted. This is our new reality and we have to respond.

Immediately after the attack, the State Bar did respond. From free seminars to aid lawyers in providing pro bono legal services to military personnel called to active duty, to volunteer mediation services, to assistance to Muslims and Middle Easterners questioned by federal authorities, there have been many opportunities for lawyers to make a difference. I urged every lawyer to find a way to help, and many came forward to offer assistance.

In the months and years following the attack, our response will be different. We need to focus on our role in government. We don't face the difficult policy decisions that the president and Congress will have to struggle with. We can't even begin to think that we have all the questions, much less the answers. But as citizens who have enjoyed the benefits of an education that is the envy of the rest of the world, we have an obligation to share our knowledge and our opinions with our elected officials. As advocates and advisors, we cannot forget our obligation in the "Attorney's Oath" to uphold and protect the U.S. Constitution and the Wisconsin Constitution.

If our constitutional rights are threatened, even for good reason, we must fight vigorously for those rights, either by direct representation of clients or by supporting our colleagues who are advocating on their behalf. At the same time, we must show support for our elected leaders who are faced with tremendous decisions and our troops as they embark on this very different type of war.

As the nation is faced with new challenges, so is the legal profession. We must show leadership in public discourse surrounding the balancing of public safety and civil liberties. As we focus on these challenges, the State Bar must continue to provide lawyers with the tools they need to advocate for their clients, provide information to solve problems for clients, provide leadership to lawyers as they cope with the rapidly changing legal and political landscape, provide assistance to the courts, and assist those who cannot afford legal services. We share a common duty to foster public trust and confidence in our system. I ask each of you to join me as we work through these difficult times.

Wisconsin Lawyer