The State Bar of Wisconsin recognizes the contributions of Wisconsin judges, attorneys, and legal professionals to the practice of law and the administration of justice. We celebrate and congratulate the award winners for their outstanding service, and all volunteers who so willingly give time and advice to help make the legal system more accessible to the people of Wisconsin by providing pro bono legal services, public service and law-related education. Awards given in 2023 are for contributions to the profession which took place in 2022.
You can access the program for this year's Member Recognition Celebration at the Pfister Hotel on June 15, 2023,here.
2022 - Hon. James C. Babler
2021 -
Hon. Ralph Ramirez
2020 - Judge John P. Anderson
2019 - Judge Michael J. Dwyer, Milwaukee County Circuit Court
2018 - Judge Kathryn Foster, Waukesha County Circuit Court
2017 - Judge Frederick Rosa, Milwaukee County Circuit Court
2016 - Judge Robert P. VanDeHey, Grant County Circuit Court
2014 - Judge William Domina, Waukesha County Circuit Court
2013 - Judge Jeffrey Kremers, Milwaukee County Circuit Court
2012 - Judge Mary Ann Sumi, Dane County
2011 - Judge Carl Ashley, Milwaukee County Circuit Court
2010 - Judge Benjamin D. Proctor, Eau Claire County
2009 - Judge Tom R. Wolfgram, Ozaukee County Circuit Court
2008 - Frederic W. Fleishauer, Portage County Circuit Court
2007 - None were Nominated
2006 - Kitty K. Brennan, Milwaukee County Circuit Court
2005 - Mark S. Gempeler, Waukesha County Circuit Court
2004 - John J. Perlich, La Crosse County Circuit Court
2003 - Gerald C. Nichol, Dane County Circuit Court
2002 - Maxine White, Milwaukee County Circuit Court
2001 - Gary L. Carlson, Taylor County Circuit Court
2000 - Michael P. Sullivan, Milwaukee County Circuit Court
1999 - Harold V. Froelich, Outagamie County Circuit Court
1998 - Dennis Barry, Racine County Circuit Court
1997 - Thomas Barland, Eau Claire Circuit Court
2022 - Judge Christopher R. Foley2021 -
Hon. L. Edward Stengel and Hon. Rod W. Smeltzer2020 - Judge
Greg Grau2019 -
Judge James Evenson, Sauk County Circuit Court2018 - Judge Jeffery Kremers, Milwaukee County Circuit Court
2017 - Judge Donald Zuidmulder, Brown County Circuit Court
2016 - Judge Mel Flanagan, Milwaukee Circuit Court
2014 - Judge William D. Dyke, Iowa County Circuit Court
2013 - Harold Froelich, Outagamie County Circuit Court
2012 - Judge Barbara A. Kluka, Kenosha County
2011 - Judge Angela Bartell, Dane County Circuit Court
2010 - Reserve Judge Thomas H. Barland, Eau Claire County
2009 - Judge Michael N. Nowakowski, Dane County Circuit Court
2008 - Neal P. Nettesheim, Wisconsin Court of Appeals District II (retired)
2007 - Hon. Michael Skwierawski, Milwaukee County Circuit Court
2006 - Edward R. Brunner, Barron County Circuit Court
2005 - Lee E. Wells, Milwaukee County Circuit Court
2004 - Robert A. Haase, Winnebago County Circuit Court
2003 - None were Nominated
2002 - Edwin C. Dahlberg, Rock County Circuit Court and Myron L. Gordon*, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District
2001 - P. Charles Jones, Dane County Circuit Court
2000 - Mark J. Farnum, Rock County Reserve Judge
1999 - Patrick Sheedy, Milwaukee Circuit Court and Peter Pappas, La Crosse
1998 - John A. Decker, Milwaukee
* Recipient of a special Lifetime Jurist Achievement Award by the State Bar of Wisconsin
2022 - Atty. Kelly Mould and Atty. Katherine Anna Trudell
2021 - Aaron Dumas and Christa Westerberg
2020 - Douglas Hoffer
2019 - Joseph S. Diedrich
2018 - Daria Mueller
2017 - Hon. Thomas Walsh
2016 - Christa Westerberg
2014 - Richard K. Wagner, Chicago
2013 - Mark Hinkston, Racine
2012 - Erik Guenther, Madison
2011 - Todd M. Cleary, Milwaukee and Michael E. Skindrud, Madison
2010 - Joseph W. Boucher, Madison and Nathan J. Dosch, Milwaukee
2009 - Howard Sweet, Madison
2008 - Terry F. Peppard, Madison
2008 - Roy E. Wagner, Milwaukee
2007 - Laura Gramling Perez, Milwaukee
2007 - Christopher E. Ware, Milwaukee
2006 - Nilesh P. Patel, Waunakee
2005 - Sheila Sullivan, Madison
2005 - Hon. Thomas Cane, Wausau
2004 - Winn S. Collins, Appleton
2003 - Hon. William F. Eich, Madison
2002 - Keith A. Findley, Madison
2001 - Alison Julien, Milwaukee
2001 - Patricia Engel, Brookfield
2000 - Jon G. Furlow, Madison
1999 - Michael J. Kuborn, Tucson, Arizona
1999 - Michael K. McChrystal, Milwaukee
1998 - Craig A. Fieschko, Madison
1997 - Francisco Araiza, Milwaukee
1996 - Arthur J. Harrington, Milwaukee
1995 - R. Timothy Muth Milwaukee
1994 - Robert A. Schnur, Milwaukee
1993 - Alexander T. Pendleton, Milwaukee
1992 - Joseph A. Ranney, Madison
1991 - Erica M. Eisinger
1990 - Christopher T. Kolb, Milwaukee
1989 - Patrick Brennan, Milwaukee
1989 - Douglas H. Starck, Brookfield
1988 - Laurel Barnes
1987 - James A. Schacht, Milwaukee
1986 - Professor June Weisberger, Madison
1986 - Professor Howard S. Etlanger, Madison
1985 - Christopher T. Kolb, Milwaukee
1985 - David B. Halling, Milwaukee
2011 - None
2010 - None
2008 - Mark C. Young, Milwaukee
2007 - Paul A. Sturgul, Hurley
2006 - Ellen Henak, Milwaukee
2005 - L. Michael Tobin, Madison
2004 - Steven C. Zach, Madison
2003 - Charles S. Senn, Thorp
2002 - Barbara J. Graham, Milwaukee
2001 - Elaine E. Richards, Milwaukee
2000 - Roger W. LeGrand, La Crosse
1999 - Hon. Carl Ashley, Milwaukee
1999 - Hon. William D. Dyke, Dodgeville
1998 - James Birnbaum, LaCrosse
1997 - Hon. Patricia D. McMahon, Milwaukee
1996 - Michael J. Piontek, Racine
1995 - Timothy J. Scott, New Richmond
1994 - Richard L. Binder, Sheboygan
1993 - Ken Knudson, Superior
2021 -
Jon Stanek
2018 - Shannon Conlin
2017 - Kent Schilenger
2016 - Door County Bar Association
2014 - Paul Curtis, Madison
2013 - Bruce Huibregtse and Jordan Corning, Madison
2011 - Ellen M. Frantz
2010 - None (firm award given)
2009 - Godfrey & Kahn SC, Madison
2008 - Michele L. Perreault, Madison
2007 - Lathrop & Clark LLP, Madison
2005 - Rhea A. Myers, Madison
2004 - Kathleen Meter Lounsbury, Madison
2002 - John D. Hyland, Madison
2001 - Steven C. Underwood, Madison
2000 - Andrew J. Clarkowski, Madison
1999 - Heidi S. Tepp, Madison
1998 - F. Anthony Brewster, Madison
1998 - John C. Oestreicher, Madison
1997 - James G. Schernecker, Madison
1996 - Boris Ouchakof, Madison
1995 - Tammy Tremain, Madison
1994 - Peter W. Santori, Madison
1993 - Anne M. Boudreau, Madison
2011 - None (attorney award given)
2010 - QBE The Americas, Sun Prairie
2008 - (none given)
2007 - Frank C. Sutherland, Madison
2006 - Boardman, Suhr, Curry & Field LLP, Madison
2003 - Winner, Wixson & Pernitz, Madison
1997 - LaFollette & Sinykin, Madison
1996 - DeWitt Ross & Stevens, Madison
1995 - Jay Koritzinsky, Madison
1994 - Stafford, Rosenbaum, Rieser & Hansen, Madison
1993 - Stolper, Koritzinsky, Brewster & Neider, Madison
1998 - Debra R. Mancoske, Green Bay
1997 - Ruth Kressel, Ashland
1996 - Susanne Glasser, River Falls
1995 - James O. Ebbeson, Sturgeon Bay
1994 - James T. Quinn, Wisconsin Rapids
2018 - Brenda Lewison
2017 - Douglas Klingberg
2016 - Dera Johnsen-Tracy
2014 - Andy DeClercq, Madison
2013 - Michael Lueder, Milwaukee
2012 - Cody Wagner, Madison
2011 - Michael J. Gonring, Milwaukee (Lifetime Achievement Award)
2007 - Earl H. Munson, Madison
2006 - Patrick O. Patterson, Fox Point
2006 - Susan Jaskulski, Milwaukee
2006 - Colleen D. Ball, Wauwatosa
2005 - Katherine M. Perhach, Milwaukee
2005 - Jessica A. Abbott, Brookfield
2004 - Roy W. Froemming, Madison
2003 - Timothy J. O’Brien, New Richmond
2003 - Sara Buscher, Appleton
2002 - Rachel A. Schneider, Milwaukee
2002 - Megan M. Rosborough, Stoddard
2001 - Donald A. Schoenfeld, Milwaukee
2000 - James H. McDermott, Madison
1999 - Maureen Feran Freedland, La Crosse
1999 - Howard Eisenberg, Milwaukee
1998 - Ernesto Romero, Milwaukee
1997 - Tom Sleik, La Crosse
1996 - Sonja A. Lee, Madison
1995 - L. William Staudenmaier, Milwaukee
1995 - Stacy Gerber Ward, Milwaukee
1994 - Richard S. Gondik, Jr., Superior
1993 - David B. Russell, LaCrosse
1993 - Debra J. Procknow, Kenosha
1993 - Joseph S. Neterval, Milwaukee
2022 - Maggie Niebler Brown2021 - Rebecca Salawdeh & Victor Forberge
2020 - Alexander Lodge
2019 - Talita Bornholdt
2012 - Julie Darnieder, Milwaukee
2011 - Michael T. Gengler, Monticello
2010 - David J. Harth, Madison
2009 - Mark Borns, Madison
2008 - Cynthia A. Lepkowski, Greendale
2007 - Ellen J. Henningsen, Madison
2006 - Paula K. Lorant, Milwaukee
2005 - Mitchell M. Hagopian, Madison
2004 - Carol W. Medaris, Madison
2003 - John F. Ebbott, Milwaukee
2001 - Michael J. Vruno, Jr., Milwaukee
2000 - Mary B. Campbell, Milwaukee
1999 - James M. Brennan, Milwaukee
1998 - James A. Walrath, Milwaukee
1997 - Mary C. Lansing, La Crosse
1996 - Peter M. Koneazny, Milwaukee
1995 - Robert J. Andersen, Madison
1994 - Stephen M. Byers, Milwaukee
1993 - Barbra M. Andrews, Wausau
2022 -Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren SC
2020 - Godfrey & Kahn SC
2019 - Perkins Coie LLP, Madison
2018 - No Nomination
2017 - Merchant & Gould, Madison
2016 - Quarles & Brady, Madison
2014 - Gass Weber Mullins LLC, Milwaukee
2010 - Gennerman Mazzie-Briscoe Law Group, Madison
2009 - Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek SC, Milwaukee
2009 - Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren SC, Milwaukee
2009 - Quarles & Brady LLP, Milwaukee
2008 - Gary M. King, Eau Claire
2003 - Winnebago County Bar Association
2002 - James G. Birnbaum, La Crosse
2002 - Davis, Birnbaum, Marcou, Seymour
2001 - Catherine M. McGinn, Madison
2001 - Bell, Gierhart, & Moore SC, Madison
2000 - Nila J. Robinson, Appleton
2000 - Robinson, Peterson, Berk & Cross, LLP, Appleton
1999 - Angel & Angel, S.C., Dodgeville
1998 - Murphy & Desmond, Madison
1997 - Glenn, Hoff, Hoff & Lambert SC, Appleton
1996 - LaCrosse County Bar Association
1995 - Quarles & Brady
1994 - Brown County Bar Association
1993 - DeWitt Porter, Madison
2004 - Dane County Bar Association Delivery of Legal Services Committee
2000 - Wisconsin Court Reporters Association
2013 - UW Law School Veteran's Law Center
2007 - Madison office of Heller Ehrman LLP
2007 - Legal Aid Society of Door County
2005 - Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee
2002 - Catholic Charities Immigration Law Services, Inc
2022 - Katherine J. Alft2021 -
Michelle Velasquez
2020 - Peter M. Koneanzy
2019 - Roberta M. Rieck
2018 - Phil Rosenkranz (posthumously)
2017 - Hal Menendez
2016 - Larry Dupuis and Karen Rotker
2014 - Lisa Clay Foley, Milwaukee
2013 - Patricia Risser, Milwaukee
2012 - Karen Kotecki, Milwaukee
2011 - Bobby Peterson, Madison
2010 - Mary C. Fons, Stoughton
2009 - Shirin Cabraal, Milwaukee
2008 - Constance E. Deer, Fitchburg
2007 - Patricia DeLessio, Milwaukee
2006 - Donald A. Hermanson, Wausau
2005 - Dianne Greenley, Madison
2004 - Carol W. Medaris, Madison
2003 - Tess Meuer, Madison
2002 - Betsy J. Abramson, Madison
2001 - Sonja A. Lee, Madison
2000 - Robert J. Anderson, Madison
1999 - Catherine E. Kendrigan, Milwaukee
1998 - Curry First, Milwaukee
1997 - Thomas W. Scott, Madison
2022 - Jolene Dufek2021 -
Lucrechia Daye
2020 - Sharon Fitzpatrick
2019 - Esperanza Arias
2016 - Mike Rust
2014 - Donn Lind, Madison
2013 - Elise Cassidente, Milwaukee
2021 -
Rachel Roberge
2020 - Charles Bowen
2019 - Shannon Strombom
2018 - Samantha Yee
2017 - Golla Calvillo
2016 - Katie Czapanskiy, Milwaukee
2014 - Nicole Ostrowski, Milwaukee
2013 - Mindy Nolan, Milwaukee
2012 - Alaina Fahley, Milwaukee
2011 - Melissa Longamore, Milwaukee
2010 - Ashley Roth, Milwaukee
2009 - Carolyn M. Parkinson, Milwaukee
2008 - Camille Monahan, Milwaukee
2007 - Anne Jaspers, Milwaukee
2006 - Lisette Khalil, Milwaukee
2005 - Erika Jacobs, Milwaukee
2004 - Stefanie Ebbens, Milwaukee
2002 - Eric Karshen, Milwaukee
2002 - Erin Grall, Milwaukee
2001 - Erin Karshen, Milwaukee
2001 - Erin Grall, Milwaukee
2000 - Oliver J. Kaufman, Milwaukee
1999 - Elaine Ekes, Milwaukee
1998 - Nicole Penegor, Milwaukee
1997 - David Rose, Milwaukee
2022 - Gabriel Manzano Nieves
2021 -
Crystal Stonewell
2020 - William Grau
2019 - Margaret Straughan
>2018 - Hannah Richardson
2017 - Anthony Moore
2016 - Lara Carlson, Madison
2014 - Amelia Maxfield, Madison
2013 - Andrew Brooks, Madison
2012 - Jennifer Cunha, Madison
2011 - Kathryn Finley, Madison
2010 - Katherine Frigo, Madison
2009 - Jennifer J. Zimmerman, Madison
2008 - Karen Siettmann, Madison
2007 - Emily Long, Madison
2006 - Sarah Schuh, Madison
2005 - Annie Smith, Madison
2004 - Stacia Conneely, Madison
2003 - Claire Starling, Madison
2002 - Anne Sweeney, Madison
2002 - Cullen Goretzke, Madison
2001 - Ingrid Alt, Madison
2000 - Melissa Kiniyalocts, Madison
1999 - Patricia Watson, Madison
1998 - Joseph K. Herro, Madison
1997 - Reginald W. Williams, Jr., Madison
2017 - UW Law Student Wellness Coalition
2016 - Karen Bauer
2014 - Stephen Compton, Lake Geneva
2013 - Bruce Deadman, Green Bay
2012 - David Lasker, Mauston
2011 - Deb Smith, Madison
2010 - James T. Martz, Milwaukee
2009 - Theodore Mazza, Hartland
2008 - Kathleen Reiley, Madison
2007 - Dr. Gregory J. Van Rybroek, Madison
2006 - James R. Cole, Madison
2005 - Edward R. Antaramian, Racine
2004 - Timothy D. Edwards, Madison
2010 - Sarah Coyne
2009 - Martha Gains
2022 - Anu Chudasama
2021 - David Werwie
2020 - David Zubke
2019 - Debra E. Kuper
2018 - Steven H. Schuster, Washington, DC
2017 - Vernie (Skip) Durocher
2016 - David E. Cohen
2015 - Donna M. Jones, Marietta, GA
2014 - Dan Rinzel, Mount Vernon, VA
2012 - Paul E. Conrad, Fairfax, VA
2011 - Michael J. Remington, Arlington, VA
2010 - Mary Misurek, Hastings, MN
2022 - Michael May (posthumously)
2021 -
Michelle Behnke
2020 - Harvey Wendel
2019 - Daphne Webb
2018 - Irvin Charne (posthumously)
2017 - Martin Green Berg
2016 - David B. Russell
2014 - Margadette Demet, Milwaukee
2013 - Joseph Melli, Madison
2012 - Gerald O'Brien, Stevens Point
2011 - John H. Hendricks, Superior
2010 - Allan R. Koritzinsky, Madison
2009 - Robert Skemp, La Crosse
2010 - Susan A. Hansen, Milwaukee
2009 - Harvey Kurtz, Elcho
2008 - Thomas S. Sleik, La Crosse
2007 - John Wabaunsee, La Crosse
2004 - Michael J. Remington, Washington D.C.
2003 - Daniel W. Hildebrand, Madison
2002 - Harry F. Franke, Milwaukee
2001 - Nicholas L. Chiarkas, Madison
2000 - Gene Posner
1999 - Thomas M. Anich
1998 - Karri L. Fritz-Klaus, Milwaukee
1997 - Jerris Leonard, Washington, D.C.
1996 - Gilda B. Shellow
1995 - Linda S. Balisle, Madison
1994 - Karen A. Case, Hales Cornors
1993 - Marygold S. Melli, Madison
2011 - James P. Peterson, Milwaukee
2010 - None
2009 - Donald Christl, Milwaukee
2008 - Martin J. Greenberg, Milwaukee
2007 - Jennifer O’Neill, Hudson
2006 - (none given)
2005 - Peter N. Flessas, Brookfield
2004 - Richard S. Gallagher, Milwaukee
2003 - William J. Domina, Milwaukee
2002 - James J. Podell, Milwaukee
2001 - John E. Shannon Jr., Stevens Point
1999 - Edward F. Zappen
1998 - James Gokey, posthumously
1997 - Charles Herro, Oconomowoc
1996 - Katherine L. Charlton, Milwaukee
1995 - Maureen A. McGinnity, Milwaukee
1994 - Deborah L. Skurulsky, Milwaukee
1993 - Richard E. Pegg, Madison
2022 - Wisconsin Association of African American Lawyers
2021 -
Rebecca Emily Rapp
2020 - None
2019 - Professor David E. Schultz
2018 - Hon. Brian Blanchard
2017 - Amy Ferguson & Emily Lonergan
2016 - Megan McDermott
2014 - 2014 National Mock Trial Committee
2013 - Kenneth Knudson, Andover, MN
2009 - Kristine Louise Havlik, Milwaukee
2009 - Jennifer D. Binder, Stevens Point
2007 - Bruce Keyes, Foley & Lardner LLP, Milwaukee
2007 - Michael Hatch, Foley & Lardner LLP, Milwaukee
2005 - Jennifer L. Binkley, Madison
2005 - Marsha M. Mansfield, Madison
2004 - Irene Wren, Madison
2003 - Michele M. LaVigne, Madison
2002 - Jerome M. Elliott, Beloit
2001 - Marathon County Bar Association
2000 - Racine County Bar Association
1999 - Dane County Bar Association
1998 - Jefferson County Bar Association
1997 - LaCrosse County Bar Association
1996 - John S. Skilton, Madison
1995 - LaCrosse County Bar
1994 - William D. Dyke, Dodgeville
1993 - Young Lawyer Division: Law Day for the Clergy Committee
2021 - None
2018 - Emery Harlan, Abby Churchill
2017 - William (Byll) Hess (lifetime innovator), Cristina Bordé, Brian Potts, Hon. Valarie Hill, Nick DeSiato, and Seth Dizard
2016 - Colleen Ball (lifetime innovator), William Caraher, Rebecca Scheller, Sam Owens, Mary Turke, and Sam Strauss
2014 - Hon. Karen Christenson, Mike Gonring, Kelly Twigger, Beth Ann Richlen, and Anne Smith.
Other innovators include: Maureen Atwell, Syovata Edari, Tanya O’Neill, Michael Ostermeyer, and Bobby Peterson.
2022 - Kevin Smith, Janesville
2021 – Tatiana Shirasaki, Mayville
2020 – Sofia Ascorbe, Milwaukee
2019 – Laurna Kinnel, Milwaukee
2018 – Seep Paliwal, Madison
2017 – John G. Walsh, Madison
2016 - Robert James Mochel, Wauwatosa
2022 - Alyssa Johnson, Milwaukee
2021 – James Spella, West Bend
2020 – Michael Rosenberg, Madison
2019 – Stacy Alexejun, Madison
2018 – John P. Starkweather, Madison
2017 – Rochelle Johnson-Bent, Milwaukee
2013 - Karen Bauer, Milwaukee
2012 - Barbara Privat, Fond du Lac
2011 - Stacia R. Conneely, Madison
2010 - Sam Wayne, Madison
2009 - Carrie M. Benedon, Madison
* Recipient of a special Lifetime Jurist Achievement Award by the State Bar of Wisconsin
** Note: Awards are given for prior year. Therefore, the work accomplished in 2018 was awarded in 2019.
