Candidate for Judicial Council Representative

Howard Bichler

Wisconsin Judicare, Cumberland
Email: hbichler@judicare.org

Platform Statement

I have represented Indian tribes and Individual Native Americans for 40 years. A large portion of that work involved litigation in Federal, State and Tribal Courts on issues involving Treaty Rights economic development, and Tribal Governance. That practice has given me a broad understanding of federal and state rules of procedure and practice. If elected, I will advocate for clear and understandable rules and procedures.

I am honored to be nominated for the Judicial Council position.

Biography

Bar Admissions

• Wisconsin State Bar, 1976
• U.S. District Court Eastern District, 1976
• U.S. District Court Western District, 1976
• Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, 1979
• United States Supreme Court, 1980
• St. Croix Tribal Court, 1985
• Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Court, 1987
• Forest County Potawatomi Tribal Court, 2010
• Red Cliff Tribal Court, 2015

Education

• J.D. Marquette University Law School, 1976
• B.A. University of Wisconsin Madison, 1973

Legal Employment

• Wisconsin Judicare
  Indian Law Office Manager, 2016-present
  Staff Attorney, 1979-85
• St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin General Counsel - 1985-2007, 2013-15
• Stockbridge Munsee Tribe Lead Attorney, 2007-10
• Forest County Potawatomi Community Tribal Prosecutor, 2011-13
• Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission Attorney/Advocate Planner, 1976-79

State Bar

• Board of Governors - Executive and Finance Committees - 4 terms Board of Governors - Chairperson
• Indian Law Section – Chairperson - 2 years
• Wisconsin Law Foundation - 4 years Wisconsin Law Foundation - Fellow, 2007
• Wisconsin Access to Justice Commission, 2010-present

Significant Litigation

• Lac Courte Oreilles Band v. Voigt, 700 F 2nd 341 (1983)
  Cert. Denied - Chippewa Treaty Rights


• Lac Courte Oreilles Band v. Voigt
  seven separate sub-phase trials — Western District of Wisconsin


• State v. Cutler No. 94-1464, Wisconsin Court of Appeals (1994)
  Application of the Wisconsin Fireworks Law to reservation sales


• Mille Lacs Band v. Minnesota, 124 F 3rd 904 (1997)
  Chippewa Treaty Rights in Minnesota ceded Territory


• Minnesota v. Mille Lacs Band, 1999 S. Ct. 1187 (1999)
  Supreme Court Affirmance (5-4) of 8th Circuit decision upholding Chippewa Treaty Rights in Minnesota ceded Territory