The
Dan Tuchscherer Outstanding Public Interest Law Attorney Award recognizes a lawyer who demonstrates a selfless, lifetime commitment to working in the public interest, both inside and outside the field of law.
The 2023 recipient of the Dan Tuchscherer Public Interest Law Attorney Award recipient is
Eugenia “Genie” Hedlund, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Project Supervising Attorney at Judicare Legal Aid, Wausau.
Attorney Hedlund represents Native Americans statewide who are victims or survivors of domestic or intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and stalking. She works with tribal domestic violence advocates to locate resources and services to ensure her clients can thrive after their interactions with the justice system have concluded.
In her 45 years of practice, Attorney Hedlund has been a dedicated voice for marginalized individuals. Before joining Judicare, Hedlund was the Office Director and an attorney with Disability Rights Wisconsin. Prior to that, she worked for a decade as an attorney at Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, representing clients in proceedings involving family, mental health, veterans' benefits, immigration, housing, Social Security disability, welfare, unemployment, and special education.
She is also a member of Wisconsin's Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force, which examines the factors contributing to missing and murdered Indigenous women and the responses from state, tribal, and federal organizations.
Attorney Hedlund is described as a valued mentor who is always generous with her time and expertise and shares her wisdom with grace, humor, and humility.
