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  • August 01, 2008

    Inside the Bar August 2008: Board discusses Attorney General's request to support Siefert, among other actions

    At its final 2007-08 meeting in June, the Board of Governors approved a motion to seek member feedback on a case concerning three provisions of the Wisconsin Code of Judicial Conduct, among other actions.

    Inside the   BarInside the Bar
    August 2008

    Board discusses Attorney General's request to support Siefert, among other actions

    At its final 2007-08 meeting in June, the Board of Governors approved a motion to seek member feedback on a case concerning three provisions of the Wisconsin Code of Judicial Conduct, among other actions.

    Siefert v. Alexander. The Attorney General asked the State Bar to file a brief amicus curiae in support of the state's position in the case of Siefert v. Alexander, Case No. 08-CV-00126-BBC.

    Judge John Siefert, Milwaukee, has challenged the constitutionality of three provisions of the Wisconsin Code of Judicial Conduct as an infringement on his right to free speech. The case against the Wisconsin Judicial Commission is pending in the U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin.

    Rather than take up the issue immediately, the board chose to actively seek input and comments from members on each individual rule being challenged. The board will take the issue up at its September meeting, unless a filing is made before the meeting that would mandate that the Bar have a voice. If a filing is made before the September board meeting, the Executive Committee will respond. While the deadline for feedback has passed, visit www.wisbar.org/siefert for more information on this issue.

    Appointments/elections. The board approved the Nomination Committee's recommendation to appoint Howard Bichler, Bowler, to serve as FY 09 board chair.

    The board elected the following to serve on the FY 09 Executive Committee: Carmen Ortiz-Babilonia, Milwaukee; Thomas W. Bertz, Stevens Point; Margaret Wrenn Hickey, Milwaukee; Eugene A. Gasiorkiewicz, Racine; Kevin Palmersheim, Middleton; and Mark Pennow, Green Bay.

    The president, president-elect, past president, chair of the board, and one representative each from the Nonresident, Government, Young, and Senior Lawyers divisions also serve on the committee. All terms began July 1.

    The board approved the appointment of N. Lynnette Mc Neely, Brookfield, and public member Joel Bailey, Janesville, to the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation (WisTAF) board. The supreme court created WisTAF in 1986 to manage the state's Interest on Lawyers Trust Account program and provide financial support for the delivery of legal services to Wisconsin's low-income residents.

    The board approved the FY 09 annual State Bar budget. The minutes will be posted on WisBar after approval at the September meeting.


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