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  • April 06, 2022

    Celebrating 294 Lawyers who Dedicated 14,700-plus Pro Bono Hours in 2021

    In April, we honor volunteers who stepped forward to address the legal needs of Wisconsin's most vulnerable residents. Each year, the Pro Bono Honor Society thanks the Wisconsin lawyers who donated at least 50 hours of pro bono service. In 2021, 294 lawyers made the list.

    Jeffery L. Brown

    hands forming a heart

    April 6, 2022 – In every crisis there is opportunity. Over the last year, Wisconsin volunteer lawyers and legal aid programs have become more flexible and innovative in how they serve clients, in large part because of the pandemic.

    In 2021, with many walk-in legal clinics, legal aid programs, and courts slowly resuming normal operations, volunteers had more choices for how to help: brief service, full representation, in person, and remote.

    What’s most important is that they made the choice to step forward and help address the legal needs of Wisconsin’s most vulnerable residents.

    294 Lawyers + 50 Hours or More = at least 14,700 Hours

    Now that 2021 is behind us, it’s a good time to recognize some of the extraordinary Wisconsin lawyers who made a real commitment to pro bono service. We do that in part through the Wisconsin Pro Bono Honor Society.

    Jeff Brown Jeff L. Brown, Harvard 1989, is manager of the State Bar Pro Bono Program, liaison to the Legal Assistance Committee, and staff for the Wisconsin Access to Justice Commission. He can be reached by email or by phone at (608) 250-6177.

    When the Wisconsin Access to Justice Commission created the Pro Bono Honor Society in 2013, the goal was to highlight lawyers who provided at least 50 hours of pro bono service in the preceding year. It is a recognition program created in and for normal times. Throughout 2021, the second year of the COVID pandemic, it was encouraging to see so many lawyers continuing or expanding their pro bono commitment.

    The names of the honorees are listed below, but that doesn’t give as much of a flavor for the variety and extent of their contributions. Each of the 294 lawyers who submitted a certification for the 2021 Wisconsin Pro Bono Honor Society had the opportunity to share a little about their work. This is a sampling of what they’ve done:

    • asylum claims for Uighur, Afghan, and other refugees;

    • handling a criminal appeal in the Seventh Circuit;

    • volunteering every month in a family law clinic;

    • representing veterans on Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits appeals;

    • assisting workers with unemployment claims;

    • answering questions on Wisconsin Free Legal Answers online;

    • representing disabled crime victims;

    • helping domestic violence victims obtain injunctions against their abusers;

    • accepting dozens of State Public Defender appointments;

    • helping a disabled business owner win a state contract; and

    • advocating for the interests of Wisconsin voters.

    From everyone at the Wisconsin Access to Justice Commission, the State Bar of Wisconsin, and all the clients you helped, you are our heroes. THANK YOU.

    What It Means: The Pro Bono Honor Society

    The Wisconsin Access to Justice Commission and the State Bar of Wisconsin Pro Bono Program are proud to recognize these lawyers as 2021 Wisconsin Pro Bono Honor Society members.

    Eligible pro bono legal services for this program means the direct provision of legal services without fee or expectation of fee, or at a substantially reduced fee, to:

    • persons of limited means;

    • organizations in matters that are designed primarily to address the needs of persons of limited means; or

    • charitable, religious, civic, community governmental and educational organizations to secure or protect civil rights, civil liberties, or public rights so long as a substantial majority of such services benefit persons of limited means or organizations that serve persons of limited means.

    The Heroes

    Congratulations to these 294 Wisconsin lawyers, listed here with their Wisconsin county or state of residence (when known), recognized as 2021 Wisconsin Pro Bono Honor Society members:

    Crystal Abbey, Brown

    Erika Amundson, Eau Claire

    Timothy Anderson, Minnesota

    Timothy Andryk, Dane

    Alicia Armstrong, Dane

    Robert Arthur, Milwaukee

    Deborah Asher, Chippewa

    Philip Babler, Milwaukee

    John Bannen, Milwaukee

    Crystal Banse, Milwaukee

    Mason Baranczyk, Milwaukee

    Erin Barbato, Dane

    Thomas Barrett, Douglas

    Ted Barthel, Milwaukee

    Karen Bauer, Milwaukee

    Klay Baynar, Milwaukee

    Michaela Bear, Milwaukee

    Nina Beck, Milwaukee

    Amanda Beggs, Milwaukee

    Christopher Beglinger, Milwaukee

    Michelle Behnke, Dane

    Brett Bellmore, Milwaukee

    Melita Biese, Milwaukee

    Jennifer Binkley, Dane

    Lindsey Birch, Milwaukee

    Lauren Blumenthal, Milwaukee

    Felice Borisy-Rudin, Milwaukee

    Herbert Bratt, Milwaukee

    Andrew Brehm, Milwaukee

    David Britton, Milwaukee

    Doris Brosnan, Milwaukee

    Jeffery Brown, Dane

    Ketajh Brown

    Peter Bruce, Milwaukee

    Douglas Buck, Dane

    Robert Buckett, Washington Co.

    Amy Burger, Washington Co.

    Michael Burton, Milwaukee

    Jesse Byam-Katzman, Milwaukee

    Kraig Byron, Dane

    Michael Calabrese, Milwaukee

    Dawn Caldart, Milwaukee

    Theresa Carey, Vernon

    Eduardo Castro, Dane

    Emily Castro

    Nicholas Castronovo, Milwaukee

    James Cauley, Milwaukee

    Patricia Cavey, Milwaukee

    Katherine Charlton, Milwaukee

    Max Chester, Milwaukee

    Iris Christenson, Dane

    Nick Cirilli, Oneida

    Scott Cirilli, Oneida

    Gene Cisewski, Juneau

    Linda Clifford, Dane

    Daniel Conley, Milwaukee

    Collin Dahl, Door

    Robin Dalton, Dane

    Julie Darnieder, Milwaukee

    Lindsey Davis, Milwaukee

    Joe Decker, Milwaukee

    Carmen Decot, Milwaukee

    Brayton Deprey, Illinois

    Joseph Diedrich, Dane

    Brian Dollhopf, Milwaukee

    Mary Donohue, Sheboygan

    Robert Duffy, Milwaukee

    Suzanne Edwards, Iowa Co.

    Erik Eisenmann, Milwaukee

    Kurt Ellison, Dane

    Grant Erickson, Dane

    Gregory Everts, Dane

    Michael Fairchild, Dunn

    Jessica Farley, Milwaukee

    Alanna Feddick-Goodwin, Wood

    Emily Feinstein, Dane

    Chelsea Fischer, Milwaukee

    John FitzGerald, Milwaukee

    Zachary Flagel, Milwaukee

    Candace Flatley, Milwaukee

    Mary Fons, Dane

    Victor Forberger, Dane

    Robert Forseth, Waupaca

    Rebecca Furdek, Milwaukee

    Andrea Gage-Michaels, Brown

    Fred Gants, Dane

    C. Frederick Geilfuss, Milwaukee

    Benjamin Genzer, Milwaukee

    Melinda Giftos, Dane

    Sharon Gisselman, Marathon

    Barbara Gnat, Milwaukee

    James Goldschmidt, Milwaukee

    Garrett Gondik, Douglas

    Michael Gonring, Milwaukee

    Joseph Goode, Milwaukee

    Rhonda Gorden, Ozaukee

    James Gramling, Milwaukee

    Janice Grant, Waukesha

    Robert Gray, Marathon

    Jennifer Gregor, Dane

    Griffin Gross, Washington Co.

    Nicholas Hahn, Outagamie

     

    Philip Halley, Milwaukee

    Matthew Hand, Marathon

    Katherine Hanes, Milwaukee

    Thomas Hansfield, Milwaukee

    Lauren Harpke, Milwaukee

    David Hassel, Brown

    Michael Hatch, Milwaukee

    Jonathan Heiden, Dane

    Janet Heins, Waukesha

    Heidi Henkel, Dane

    Mark Hinkston, Racine

    Kari Hoel, Chippewa

    Colin Hoffman, Dane

    Kimberly Hurtado, Milwaukee

    Nathan Imfeld, Milwaukee

    Matthew Impola, Milwaukee

    Luis Irizarry Lugo, Milwaukee

    Megan Isom, Milwaukee

    Daniel Janssen, Milwaukee

    Tanner Jean-Louis, Dane

    Kadie Jelenchick, Milwaukee

    Sarah Jelencic, Milwaukee

    David Jennings, Ozaukee

    Jason Johns, Dane

    Andre Johnson, Texas

    Jill Johnson, Dane

    Kristin Johnson, Milwaukee

    Nicholas Johnson, Milwaukee

    Stephen Johnson, Door

    Valerie Johnston, Illinois

    Catherine Jones, Fond Du Lac

    Emmaline Jurgena, Milwaukee

    Harold Karas, Milwaukee

    Alyce Katayama, Milwaukee

    Amanda Kerr, Milwaukee

    Bruce Keyes, Milwaukee

    Nicholas Kitzman, Milwaukee

    Jason Kohout, Milwaukee

    Kelly Krause, Waukesha

    Margaret Krei, Milwaukee

    Bryan Kroes, Milwaukee

    Matthew Lein, Sawyer

    Mark Leitner, Milwaukee

    Michael Levey, Milwaukee

    Miranda Lezcano, Marathon

    Jessica Liebau, Ozaukee

    Benjamin Lockwood, Milwaukee

    Bryce Loken, Dane

    Jack Longert, Dane

    Glorily Lopez, Dane

    Jessica Lothman, Milwaukee

    Jennifer Luther, Dane

    Holly Lutz, Marathon

    Michael Maistelman, Milwaukee

    Kurt Malmquist, Ozaukee

    J. Ryan Maloney, Milwaukee

    Marsha Mansfield, Dane

    Mont Martin, Milwaukee

    Colleen Martine, Dane

    Ellen Matyas, Outagamie

    Amelia McCarthy, Door

    Melissa McCord, Milwaukee

    Patrick McDonald, Rock

    Max Meckstroth, Milwaukee

    Renee Medved, Milwaukee

    Andrew Meerkins, Milwaukee

    James Mentkowski, Milwaukee

    Courtney Meyer, Ozaukee

    William Michel, Kenosha

    Laura Mikeworth, Milwaukee

    Heidi Miller, Milwaukee

    Jay Miller, Milwaukee

    Jennifer Miller, Dane

    John Mitby, Dane

    Samuel Mitchell, Milwaukee

    Anne-Louise Mittal, Milwaukee

    Rachel Monaco, Washington Co.

    Jason Moore, Milwaukee

    Michelle Moran, Milwaukee

    John Movroydis, Waukesha

    Thomas Mulligan, Washburn

    Ahmad Murrar, Milwaukee

    Kate Murtaugh, Polk

    R. Timothy Muth, Milwaukee

    Brittany Naleid, Milwaukee

    Rodney Neher, Rock

    John Neuenschwander, Kenosha

    Maxfield Neuhaus, Pierce

    Christopher Nickels, Milwaukee

    Charles Niemann, Milwaukee

    Terry Nussberger, Rusk

    Angela O'Brien, Dane

    Nathan Oesch, Milwaukee

    Odalo Ohiku, Milwaukee

    Mary O'Meara, Milwaukee

    Timothy Otto, Milwaukee

    Skye Parr

    Nicole Paterson, Milwaukee

     

    Timothy Patterson, Milwaukee

    Rebecca Paul, Portage

    Mary Payne, Milwaukee

    Eric Pearson, Milwaukee

    Paul Piaskoski, Milwaukee

    Barbara Pierce, Washington Co.

    Robert Pledl, Milwaukee

    Jeremy Polk, Milwaukee

    Holly Pomraning, Dane

    Adam Prinsen, Dane

    Matthew Prior, Dane

    Patrick Proctor-Brown, Milwaukee

    Timothy Radelet, Dane

    Rebecca Rapp, Dane

    Kristina Rasmussen, Dane

    Michael Reyes, Waukesha

    Matt Ricci, Milwaukee

    Brittany Ricciardi, Milwaukee

    Beth Richlen, Marathon

    James Robinson, Milwaukee

    Olivia Robinson, Milwaukee

    Meghan Roed, Dane

    Kristin Roeper, Milwaukee

    Robert Romashko, Illinois

    Mark Ropella, Milwaukee

    Tyler Roth, Milwaukee

    Sandra Ruffalo, Waukesha

    Michael Rust, Winnebago

    Rebecca Salawdeh, Milwaukee

    Robert Sanders, Milwaukee

    James Santelle, Waukesha

    Stephen Sawyer, Portage

    James Schacht, Milwaukee

    Deborah Scheid, Milwaukee

    Jordan Schettle, Dane

    Jill Schilling, Eau Claire

    Steven Schinker, Marathon

    Samuel Schlewitz, Eau Claire

    Allen Schlinsog, Milwaukee

    Evan Schmit, Milwaukee

    Debra Schneider, Dane

    Patrick Schoen, Waukesha

    James Schoenecker, Brown

    Kristin Schrank, Waukesha

    Raymond Schrank, Waukesha

    Thomas Schrimpf, Milwaukee

    Gerald Schwartz, New York

    Olivia Schwartz, Milwaukee

    Paul Schwartz, Dane

    Sara Scullen, Milwaukee

    Allison Shepard, Eau Claire

    Thomas Shriner, Milwaukee

    Ellen Sinclair, Milwaukee

    Carol Skinner, St. Croix

    Walter Skipper, Milwaukee

    Jessica Slind, Dane

    Jason Smathers, Milwaukee

    Grant Sovern, Dane

    William Stanley, Dane

    Gerald Sternberg, Dane

    Meredith Stier, Dane

    Andrew Stoker, Milwaukee

    Pamela Stokke-Ceci, Milwaukee

    Pamela Stokke-Ceci, Milwaukee

    Lonnie Story, Florida

    Connor Strait, Milwaukee

    Forrest Tinnin, Milwaukee

    John Tripoli, Dane

    Alexis Trost, Washington Co.

    John Turlais, Milwaukee

    Sydney VanBerg, Dane

    Sara Vanden Brook, Dane

    Warren Wanezek, Brown

    Daryl Waters, Florence

    Matthew Weil, Washington Co.

    Nick Welle, Milwaukee

    David Wenthold, Milwaukee

    Travis West, Dane

    Brenna Wildt, Milwaukee

    Andy Williams, Brown

    Emily Wilson, Dane

    Annamarie Wineke, Milwaukee

    Amy Wochos, Milwaukee

    Maura Woods, Milwaukee

    Sarah Yacoub, St. Croix

    Daniel Young, Arizona

    Richard Zaffiro, Waukesha

    Lilah Zajac, Waukesha

    Nicholas Zales, Milwaukee

    Michael Zeka, Milwaukee

    Lauren Zenk, Milwaukee

    Li Zhu, Milwaukee

    Kathryn zumBrunnen, Washburn

    Sarah Zylstra, Dane



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