Vol. 75, No. 7, July 2002
Supreme court needs volunteers to
serve on new Ethics Committee
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is seeking lawyers and nonlawyers for a
new Ethics Committee that will review lawyer ethics recommendations from
the ABA and determine whether Wisconsin should adopt them in whole or in
part. Appointments to the Ethics Committee will be made in the fall.
The ABA created the Ethics 2000 Commission in 1997 to undertake the
first comprehensive review of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct
since they were adopted in 1983. The rules cover issues such as whether
lawyers should be allowed to practice beyond jurisdictions in which they
are licensed, whether a lawyer should ever be able to reveal information
about a client, and what constitutes a conflict of interest.
Now that the ABA is wrapping up its work on the model rules, work
will begin in Wisconsin and in many other states where professional
conduct codes for lawyers generally track the model rules. In Wisconsin,
ethics rules for lawyers are set out in Chapter 20 of the Supreme Court
Rules, the Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys. Currently,
Chapter 20 closely follows the ABA model rules. The new Ethics Committee
will determine whether, and how, Chapter 20 might be revised to reflect
the updated model rules and will present its recommendations to the
state supreme court.
Lawyers and nonlawyers interested in serving on the new committee
should send a letter and resume to: Cornelia Clark, Clerk of the Supreme
Court, P.O. Box 1688; Madison, WI 53701-1688, fax to Clark's attention
at: (608) 267-0640, or email cornelia.clark@courts.state.wi.us.
Applicants also should indicate if they are interested in being
considered for openings on other supreme court boards or committees
including: the Board of Administrative Oversight; Board of Bar
Examiners; District committees; Fee Arbitration Study Committee;
Judicial Commission; Judicial Conduct Advisory Committee; Special
Investigator Panel; Preliminary Review Committee; Referee Panel; or
State Bar of Wisconsin Board of Governors public member.
Marquette University names Geske interim law
school dean
Janine
P. Geske was appointed interim dean of the Marquette University Law
School, effective July 1, while Marquette University seeks to fill the
vacancy left with the death of Dean Howard Eisenberg in early June (See
"Remembering
Howard Eisenberg."). A national search for a permanent dean for the
law school will begin in August with the expectation of having the
position filled no later than August 2003.
"Justice Geske's leadership ability as well as her energy and
enthusiasm are well known in this community," said Marquette University
President Fr. Robert Wild. "I firmly believe that she will continue to
build upon the strong foundation set in place by Dean Howard Eisenberg.
We honor his legacy by appointing someone of the caliber of Janine Geske
in this position to steer the law school through this time of
transition."
Geske currently serves as a distinguished professor of law at
Marquette University Law School and as an associate-adjunct professor in
the Marquette University graduate dispute resolution program in
Milwaukee. She served as interim Milwaukee County executive from Feb. 28
to May 6, 2002. Geske served on the Wisconsin Supreme Court from 1993 -
98. From 1981 - 93, she was a Milwaukee County circuit court judge.
Prior to becoming a judge, Geske served as chief staff attorney for the
Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee and then as clinical director and
assistant professor of law at Marquette University. She is the founder
of the Marquette University Law School Clinic for the Elderly.
Attorneys are electronically plugged in, are
you?
How do you rank?
Lawyers who regularly use portable computers: 49 percent
Lawyers who use personal digital assistants to manage work-related
activities while out of the office: 36 percent
Source: A nationwide poll conducted by The Affiliates, a provider
of professionals for law offices and corporate legal
departments.
Wisconsin Lawyer
