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    Wisconsin Lawyer
    August 30, 2006

    Legal News and Trends

    Proposed rules to suspend law license for tax delinquency; Judge Burnner earns national Rehnquist Award

    Wisconsin LawyerWisconsin Lawyer

    Vol. 79, No. 9, September 2006

    Legal news & trends

    Legal News & Trends

    Supreme court sets Oct. 24 public hearing on petition to create rules to suspend law licenses of tax-delinquent attorneys

    On Oct. 24, 2006, the Wisconsin Supreme Court will hold a public hearing on a petition filed by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR), asking the court to adopt rules establishing a procedure to suspend the law licenses of Wisconsin attorneys who are delinquent in the payment of state taxes. The petition is in response to the enactment of provisions of the last biennial state budget bill, 2005 Wisconsin Act 25, that added attorneys to the category of licensed professionals whose professional licenses can be suspended for nonpayment of taxes.

    While Wisconsin law has provided for the suspension of other professional licenses since 1997, attorneys were not included in these provisions until passage of the 2005 budget bill. Effectuating the new law regarding attorneys will require the enactment and amendment of Supreme Court Rules to create a procedure by which the court would suspend an attorney's license to practice law or refuse to grant bar admission to an applicant if the attorney or applicant has been certified as liable for delinquent taxes.

    The provisions of the 2005 budget bill created a procedure for attorneys under Wis. Stat. section 73.0301 by which the DOR must conduct a hearing (with appeal rights to the Dane County circuit court) before the DOR can certify an attorney's tax delinquency to the supreme court. The DOR petition now pending before the supreme court establishes a procedure for the court to follow once the DOR notifies it of an attorney's tax delinquency.

    Under the rule changes proposed in the pending DOR petition, if the DOR notifies the supreme court of an attorney's tax delinquency, the court will issue an order requiring the attorney to show cause why his or her license should not be suspended. The court may inquire into the reasons for the delinquency or any other matters the court deems appropriate and may issue appropriate orders. After requiring the attorney to show cause, the court may, if it chooses, suspend an attorney's license for up to five years.

    An attorney's license will be automatically reinstated when the suspension expires or when the DOR notifies the court that the attorney has paid the delinquent tax obligation or has made satisfactory arrangements to do so.

    The proposed rules prohibit the Board of Bar Examiners from certifying an applicant for a law license if the DOR has certified the applicant as owing delinquent taxes.

    The proposed rules also provide that the supreme court may return an attorney's certification of tax delinquency to the DOR if the court determines that the DOR failed to provide adequate notice to the attorney of the attorney's hearing rights or if the court determines that the attorney has not had an adequate opportunity to pay the delinquent taxes or make arrangements to do so.

    (Please see "Supreme Court Orders" for Order 06-05 setting forth the hearing date and the DOR petition.)

    The supreme court's hearing on the petition will commence at 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 24, 2006, in the Supreme Court Room of the State Capitol.

    Barron County's Judge Brunner honored with national Rehnquist Award

    Justice Brunner

    Barron County Circuit Court judge Edward R. Brunner is the recipient of the 2006 William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC). One of the most prestigious judicial honors in the country, the Rehnquist Award is presented annually to a state court judge who exemplifies the highest level of judicial excellence, integrity, fairness, and professional ethics. Brunner will accept the award at a ceremony on Nov. 16 in the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.

    NCSC President Mary Campbell McQueen said the award recognizes Brunner's strong leadership on initiatives designed to instill public trust and confidence in the Wisconsin courts and his success in building programs that have become models for the nation. "Judge Brunner's innovative initiatives such as promoting restorative justice and improving relations between state and tribal courts are recognized as national models," she said. "His dedication to community collaboration and outreach is recognized not only by his colleagues within the courts but by the many community and public agency leaders who wrote letters in support of his nomination.

    "I share this award with the judges, attorneys, educators, law enforcement officers, social workers, and many others whose creativity and commitment to improving the quality of justice are a constant source of inspiration," says Brunner. "Together, we have demonstrated that hard work, cooperation, and a willingness to try something new can overcome any obstacle."

    Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson lauded Brunner's "remarkable skill and dedication in building partnerships with the legal community, the Indian nations, and the public." Abrahamson said that Brunner's willingness to tackle tough issues with creative approaches has made him an outstanding leader in the law, and has established the Wisconsin court system as a leader in justice innovations and a model for the nation.

    In addition to his work on tribal court relations, Brunner is noted for establishing restorative justice practices in the Barron County courts. Restorative justice is an umbrella term for programs such as victim-offender mediation that center on healing victims, holding offenders accountable, and involving the community in the process of rehabilitation.

    The NCSC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the administration of justice by providing leadership and service to the state courts. Founded in 1971 with the encouragement of Chief Justice of the United States Warren E. Burger, the NCSC provides leadership, research, technology, education, and training to the state courts.

    Law firms invited to the join community service project

    In celebration of the Association of Legal Administrators' (ALA) 35th anniversary, the Wisconsin Chapter of ALA is challenging law firms to help raise 3,500 pounds of donations for food banks statewide. The food drive kicked off in August and runs through Oct. 20-22, which ALA has designated as Community Challenge weekend.

    "Giving back to the community is a central theme for the ALA and the Wisconsin Chapter of ALA," says WALA President Steven Wingert. "Since 1999, the ALA has designated a weekend in October as Community Challenge Weekend. While chapters promote community service activities throughout the year, the challenge weekend is the central focus of the community service activities."

    To sign up, contact Sandy McGee at sam@tsglaw.com or (262) 798-8220.

    Is your firm in compliance with Unclaimed Property Act reporting requirements?

    State Treasurer Jack C. Voight recently announced amendments to the Unclaimed Property Act (Chapter 177) that should be of interest to business professionals. The annual reporting period has been changed to a fiscal year accounting cycle (July 1 through June 30) from a calendar year basis; the dormancy period for all types of securities and related cash accounts has been reduced from 5 years to 3 years; and the Unclaimed Property administrator has been given authority to accept unclaimed properties prior to the completion of the dormancy period on a case-by-case basis. All amendments became effective May 24, 2006.

    "My office has received numerous inquiries from attorneys regarding Wisconsin's unclaimed property reporting requirements on behalf of their corporate clients as well as for their own business and trust accounts," says Voight. "The Unclaimed Property administrator and staff members are available to help law firms and their clients get into compliance as we approach the upcoming reporting deadline in November."

    The 2006 Unclaimed Property Reporting Manual and additional information regarding unclaimed property reporting are available online at www.ost.state.wi.us or by contacting Mary Celentani, Unclaimed Property Administrator, at (608) 267-2208.

    Wisconsin Lawyer


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