Wisconsin Lawyer
Vol. 80, No. 7, July 2007

On June 19, 142 U.W. Law School graduates were admitted to practice. The new lawyers were welcomed to the profession by Wisconsin Supreme Court justices, U.W. Law School Dean Kenneth B. Davis, then State Bar President Steve Levine, and Board of Bar Examiners Director John E. Kosobucki.

Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson welcomes one more lawyer to a three-generation lawyer family. From left George K. Steil Jr. (father), new lawyer Bryan George Steil, Karen R. Schaefer (sister), and former State Bar president George K. Steil Sr. (grandfather).

Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson presided over the four ceremonies. Justices Ann Walsh Bradley, N. Patrick Crooks, David Prosser Jr., and Jon P. Wilcox administered the oath in the supreme court hearing room.

Following each swearing-in ceremony, Justice N. Patrick Crooks spoke to the new lawyers. "I urge you not to become so involved in the academic practice of law that you forget the purpose that law serves in our society. Communicate with persons other than lawyers. Keep your eyes and ears open. Read, listen, discuss, converse, be interested and concerned; there is more to being a lawyer than being named one."

Speaking to judicial independence, Crooks said, "What judicial independence means to me is neutral, fair, impartial, and nonpartisan judges and justices - who are accountable, who make decisions based on precedent on the basis of the U.S. and the Wisconsin constitutions, not decisions made by whim, not decisions made by holding your finger up to the wind to see which way the wind is blowing in terms of popular opinion. We need you as lawyers to convey the importance of judicial independence. I assure you the great majority of judges and justices that I know strive to meet that description. Please help us to get out the message."

This brings State Bar membership to 22,641.