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he Director of State Courts has introduced legislation deciding to include a county in the request for additional Tthat would create seven new circuit court judgeships. judgeships because financing of the courts remains a state- isconsin Judiciary Identical bills were introduced in both houses on June 1. The county partnership. The counties will be responsible for legislation is in response to the Judicial Needs Assessment paying additional expenses for courtrooms, court personnel, Study showing Wisconsin needs 18 additional judgeships to and supplies. maintain current service levels. No judgeships have been created in Wisconsin since The bill would establish new circuit court branches as of August 2000. There are currently 241 circuit court branches August 1, 2008 in six counties: Barron, Chippewa, Dodge, in the state. Green, Juneau, and St. Croix. It would also establish an The Director’s Office is working with the authors to

a publication of the W additional circuit court branch in Monroe County as of facilitate public hearings on the bills, so that action can be

August 1, 2010. taken by the Legislature in the next several months. U Senator Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) and Representative Garey Bies (R-Sister Bay) are the lead authors of the bills. Senator Taylor chairs the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Corrections; Representative Bies chairs the Assembly Committee on Corrections and Courts. The bills have been referred to these two committees. At its March meeting, the Committee of Chief Judges examined 2006 calendar year filing data and determined the ranking of counties with the greatest need for an additional judgeship. The primary factor in determining need was the workload per judge, as shown in the Judicial Needs Assessment Study. The Committee recommended these seven counties be included in the legislation. County boards in all seven counties have passed resolutions in support of establishing new circuit court The Juneau County Courthouse, where a second judge is

branches. County support is a crucial element in urgently needed.

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n some of the highest-profile judicial races in memory, Brunner elected to Court of Appeals Ivoters in April selected five new circuit court judges, Longtime Barron County elevated two trial judges to the appellate courts, and Circuit Court Judge Edward R. backed three of the four incumbent judges who faced Brunner was elected without challenges. One incumbent lost his seat, and 26 others were opposition to the Wisconsin reelected without opposition. Here is the story. Court of Appeals, District III (headquartered in Wausau). Ziegler elected to Supreme Court Brunner succeeds Chief Judge By now it is well known that Thomas Cane, who served for Judge Annette K. Ziegler, who 26 years (see separate story, has served in the Washington page 17). County Circuit Court for 10 Judge Edward R. Brunner years and who took on Hinkfuss is new Brown County judge administrative duties as deputy Green Bay Municipal Judge Timothy Hinkfuss will chief judge in the Third Judicial become a Brown County Circuit Court judge after soundly District, won the Supreme Court defeating Atty. Thomas Schober, a longtime civil trial lawyer race with an impressive 58 with the Green Bay firm of Davis & Kuelhau. Hinkfuss percent of the vote. She succeeds garnered about 65 percent of the vote. Justice-elect the retiring Justice Jon P. Wilcox Hinkfuss will succeed Judge Richard Dietz, who is Annette K. Ziegler (see The Third Branch, retiring at the end of his term after 18 years on the bench (see spring 2006). separate story, page 17). In addition to his service as a

see Elections on page 13 www.wicourts.gov

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k¤¤i¤i ¤G ¤¤¢¤¤G ¤o~¤o¤¤7~¤¤¤¤n s X|| THIRD BRANCH hen financial mogul Warren Buffett considers buying compensation for other court system positions. This two- THE Wa company, one of the qualities he looks for is “a year process helped us identify needs and better structure sustainable competitive advantage.” court system personnel. As a result, we instituted a pay-for- While the court system doesn’t have the same performance program and made salary adjustments where type of competition that exists in the business necessary. We’ll work diligently to keep up to date. world, I believe it is important in administering We’re doing everything we can to remain competitive. the court system that we still think in terms of But as an organization we also face some challenges. A competitive advantage. demographic study conducted by our management services For us, I see competitive advantage as the measure team shows that we will be experiencing significant changes of our performance against factors prevailing in the in the coming years. external environment. It is our ability to address these During the next ten years, roughly eight in ten factors, such as recruiting and retaining talent, that will Wisconsin judges will become eligible for retirement, determine if we are able to keep our “company” viable. compared to just about 20 percent of judges who are now We’ve worked hard to ensure we’re competitive in eligible for retirement. the past, and we’ll continue to do so as we face We’ll face increasing pressure to fill judgeships as challenges ahead. retirements occur. In recent weeks alone, you’ve probably A. John Voelker Last legislative session we were successful in heard about judgeship openings in Dane, Outagamie, and boosting judicial compensation, and we’re making Oneida counties due to retirements. We can expect this trend it a priority again as the 2007-09 biennium approaches. to continue, only at a more rapid pace in coming years. Future potential candidates will be looking for reasons to Court reporters also are going to be retiring at a faster seek a judgeship, and compensation is an important part of pace, and the pool of stenographic reporters is limited. I that picture. have appointed a “Making the Record Committee” to While most judges don’t seek the office for financial identify how technology may be used to help fulfill this reasons, salary requirements can’t be ignored in the vital function. competitive marketplace. Judges shouldn’t have to make Court staff, from administrators to support personnel, significant economic sacrifices to serve the public. State will also be affected. Currently, we are recruiting for two judges now are paid less than many government attorneys, district court administrators. We just hired a new clerk law professors, and their counterparts in federal courts. for the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, filling a We’ve also incorporated a variety of management tools position that was open due to the retirement of a to ensure quality and effectiveness in the court system. long-time employee. With the help of the National Center for State Courts, for While we can’t compete with the private sector at every example, we conducted one of the most comprehensive level, especially when it comes to salaries of some private judicial workload studies in the nation. This study serves as attorneys, we need to continue doing everything we can to the objective basis for the judgeship bill in the Legislature, keep the organization competitive. and it remains a valuable tool for assessing and managing As we move ahead to tackle these challenges, we will judicial workload throughout the state. continue to innovate together, even if our best incentive is to

We also recently completed a classification study of non- “beat the competition.”

judicial personnel to ensure we’re not falling behind in

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Brown is new Court of Appeals chief Brown has been a leader in the Wisconsin courts and in Judge Richard S. Brown, who has served on the national justice-related initiatives. He is chair of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals since 1978, has been committee that developed Wisconsin’s program for training named chief judge of the state’s intermediate appeals and certifying court interpreters; he is a member of the court. He will begin his three-year term on August 1. Supreme Court Planning and Policy Advisory Committee The Supreme Court selected Brown to succeed (PPAC); and he has taken leadership roles in national Chief Judge R. Thomas Cane, who plans to retire this organizations including the American Bar Association and summer when his term ends (see separate story, the American Judicature Society. He is a frequent speaker at page 17). Cane has served as the Court of Appeals’ judicial education programs. chief judge since 1998. In addition to maintaining a caseload, the Court of Deets, Dyke, Foust selected as chiefs Appeals’ chief judge handles a variety of management The Wisconsin Supreme Court has selected circuit court duties for the four-district, 16-judge court. Brown judges from Dane, Iowa and Manitowoc counties to serve as will work with court staff on budget matters and the new chief judges for their respective judicial personnel issues, and monitor the flow of cases – administrative districts. Judges from Milwaukee and Eau Judge Richard S. Brown with the assistance of the presiding judges – to Claire counties were reappointed. Terms run from August 1, equalize the workload among the districts and ensure 2007 through July 31, 2009. prompt decisions. see Chief judges on page 24 of statecourts’ some programrequirements. position ratherthanapermanent auditorpositionandadded information, thecommitteeauthorized atwo-yearproject S court financialtransactionsandauthorizing theDirectorof to adhereauniformchartofaccounts whenrecording activity whenallocatingpaymentstocounties. formula willprovideabettermeasureofcircuitcourt proposed intheCourt’ formula unchanged,thecommitteemodifiedas court operations. provides statepaymentstocountiesforsupportofcircuit an increaseintherealestatetransferfee. circuit courtsupportpaymentprogram,tobefundedthrough provide anadditional$19.1millionoverthebienniumto I Senate Bill40,theGovernor action onthecourtbudgetprovisionsincludedin2007 ´eµ·¶¨¸|¹¢º¢¶¸X»·¸|¼¢½¿¾cµ¡ÀÁÀÁ¶Â¹@¹@½§½Ã»§¼§¹@ÄÅµ·¸o¼§µ·Æ¢Çk¹¢È¢Æ|É§Ê¢½§¹Ä by DeborahBrescoll,budgetandpolicyofficer Bridge isCourtof January 12asGov Court of of Deininger ( in DistrictIV District IV V recently passedaway( Judge MarthaBablitch,whoservedfrom1978-85and Appeals, whichwascreatedin1978. general. and asadeputyattorneygeneralassistant Human Services,chairofthePublicServiceCommission, “Burnie” L.Bridge Judge Burneatt tate CourtsOf er fice ataceremonialinvestitureheldin Legislature’ n earlyMaytheJointCommitteeonFinance, NEW Third, thecommittee narrowedthescopeof director Second, whilethecommitteeapprovedrequiringcounties First, thecommitteeapprovedGovernor geront, whowasfirstelectedin1994andserves Judge Burneatta“Burnie”L.Bridgetookof Judge Mar Bridge isthesixthfemalejudgetoserveonCourtof Appeals, DistrictIV ; JusticePatienceDrakeRoggensack,whoserved see F ACES s budget-writingcommittee,tookexecutive garet J. from 1996-2003andisnowamemberofthe authority toestablish andchar fice toauditcountycourtfinancial a The While thebillleftcurrentdistribution . JimDoyle’ Third Branch s budgetrequest. V see obituaries er geront administeredtheoathof Appeals judge ’ Bridge servedasan also attended. judges, andcabinetsecretaries justices, Courtof number ofSupremeCourt the SenateChamber ceremony featured speakersatthe Governor wasamongthe Department ofHealthand administrator inthestate . ShesucceedsJudgeDavidG s biennialbudgetbill. s appointeetothe Prior toherappointment, , winter2007 ); JudgeMar The otherfiveare: , whichtookplacein W The program April. e believethenew ge feesforuse Appeals ). ’ fice on s proposalto The , anda W garet J. isconsin . W the directorwouldbeginchar e-filing proposal,legislativeandpublicconcernsarosethat language camefromaCourtrequestthatwaspartoflar developments. earliest. enactment, whichisnotexpected untilmid-summeratthe budget bill.However program. projects; and(4)$10,000foracourthousesafetytraining justice coordinatorpositiontoimplementprioritycourt federal Children’ (2) apositionandfundingforrequiredstatematchnew indigency interpreter whenneededforallcasesandregardlessof Automation Programs(CCAP). access tothepublicrecordsofConsolidatedCourt funding torecreatetheJudicialCouncil asaseparateentity for useofelectronicfiling(e-filing)only of thecircuitcourtautomatedinformationsystemstofees W Dane Countywelcomesnewjudge District I. Joan F was firstelectedin1996andservesDistrictI;Judge Judge MoriaKrueger County CircuitCourtbenchbyGov Third Branch W the briberyscandalinvolvingformer criminal matterssuchastheinvestigationinto unit anddirectednumeroushighprofile headed thestate’ residents ofhealthcarefacilities.Hanrahanalso prosecution offraudandcrimesinvolving specialized unitthatisresponsibleforthe was anassistantattorneygeneralleadinga at theDepartmentofJustice;mostrecently B. ButlerJr district attorneyinMilwaukee. joined theDepartmentofJustice,Hanrahanwasanassistant van filledwithteenageworkersnearJanesville.Beforehe multiple homicidesresultingfromthecrashofacompany individual andhisitinerantmagazine-salescorporationfor Paulus andthesuccessfulprosecutionofan isconsin CircuitCourt isconsin SupremeCourt;JudgePatriciaS.Curley innebago CountyDistrict The committeealsoapproved:(1)requiringaqualified Most oftheCourt’ Finally Judge Prior totakingthebench,Hanrahanworked . Kessler W , withincreasedfundingforcountyreimbursement; W , thecommitteeaddedanattorney positionand e willkeepyou informed onfurther . onFebruary15. illiam E.Hanrahan,appointedtotheDane , winter2007 ³ , whowaselectedin2004andserves s CourtImprovementtraininggrant;(3)a s firstelderabuseprosecution , whoretiredafter29years( , thebillissubjecttochangeuntil final s budgetproposalsremaininthe Access ), wassworninbyJusticeLouis Attorney Joseph ging feesforuseofthe W see eb site,whichprovides . JimDoyletosucceed New Faces . While the , he W Judge on p see illiam E.Hanrahan , who The age 25 ger .

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THE by Brigid Moroney, court information intern

ock County judges have been hard at work this spring, Milwaukee County’s JOI project. Another model project, in Rcollaborating with the county’s Criminal Justice La Crosse County, owes much of its success to Judge Collaborating Council (see separate story, page 5) to iron Michael Mulroy who has led the effort. Murray and Mulroy out the details of two programs designed to improve the also attended the December conference, along with handling of drug cases and domestic violence cases. Here is Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Daniel A. Noonan an update. and Price County Circuit Court Judge Douglas T. Fox.

Judicial oversight in domestic A new drug court abuse cases In March, Rock County Circuit Court launched its After attending a winter conference aimed at improving drug treatment court, which is intended to help offenders skills in the handling of domestic violence cases, Judge and help ease the demand for jail space, said Judge John W. Daniel T. Dillon is spearheading an effort to enhance Roethe, who oversees the court. Rock County’s domestic abuse In opening the court, Rock County joins at least 13 other program, modeling it after Milwaukee Wisconsin counties that have begun treatment courts. The County’s Judicial Oversight Initiative goal is to address the root of a problem for many offenders: (JOI) project. substance abuse and addiction. Rock County currently has a Roethe said he hopes that it will be more effective in domestic violence intervention some cases than fines and incarceration. In Rock County, as program (DVIP) available to those in counties across the state, there is a space crunch in the deemed eligible by the prosecuting jail. The county already sends inmates to other counties, and attorney. Suitable participants are is studying the possibility of building a new, $140 million generally first-time misdemeanor jail, Roethe said. Judge Daniel T. Dillon offenders who must first complete a The new court is modeled after Dane County’s drug drug and alcohol screening. Repeat court. Qualifying for, and getting through, drug court will offenders are unlikely to be not be easy. First, only offenders who don’t demonstrate accepted into the DVIP for a second violent or strong anti-social behavior will be considered, time; thus they are the population that Roethe said. Candidates will go through a vigorous the new program is intended to serve. screening process, which includes defense attorneys, In Rock County, as in Milwaukee, prosecutors, treatment specialists, and the judge. When all the program requires offenders to parties agree that a candidate is appropriate, the participant appear regularly before the judge must sign a contract agreeing to the terms of the court. along with their probation officer to The process amounts to a plea agreement with a ensure that progress is being made. signed contract, whereby an offender must achieve certain “Judicial oversight is the common goals to graduate from the nine-month program. Judge James P. Daley denominator that judges and “It’s not easy to get through,” Roethe said. probation officers are finding that Participants must agree to makes a difference,” Dillon said. active treatment and random drug After the plea is taken, sentence is withheld and screening. The program also offenders are placed on probation with imposed and stayed includes components for anger jail sentences and treatment requirements. “All of the special management and education, courts – the drug courts, the domestic abuse courts – which are geared toward monitor the behavior of the offender frequently in court to employment. Participants also determine whether the person is following the program that must make weekly court was scheduled at the time of sentencing. If they fail, the appearances. As in other consequences are immediate,” Dillon said. counties, participants will appear An independent evaluation of Milwaukee’s program together in open court, conducted by The Urban Institute suggested that batterers addressing their problems in each Judge John W. Roethe who are required to appear before a judge as part of their others’ presence. probation are 47 percent less likely to be arrested for a Costs of the drug court initially will be paid through a domestic violence crime than those who were on probation grant, but Rock County will have to demonstrate its

prior to the JOI project. “Milwaukee is a state-of-the-art commitment by picking up the costs after three years. Õ program and it’d be nice to get to that,” Dillon said. Dillon cited Judge Marshall Bertram Murray, Milwaukee County Circuit Court, as the authority on domestic abuse cases. Murray’s work has been key in the development of by ErinSlattengren,policyanalyst,OfficeofCourtOperations committee. recommendations ofalocal established itsprioritiesbasedonpublicinputandthe the localcriminaljusticesystem. Board ofSupervisorstoimprovetheoverallfunctioning (CJCC) wasestablishedinMay2006bytheRockCounty and initiatives. come togetherandfocusonjusticesystemimprovements justice systemprofessionalsandcommunityleadersto collaborating councils,providesaforumforlocal development ofpolicy-focusedteams,widelyknownas M decision-makers atthetable.Inshort,CJCCmembers public safetyconcerns,collaborationisanecessity superintendent, thesherif otherwise wouldnothaveconsidered.” solve andcomeupwithideas solutionsthatwe breadth ofexperienceatthetableallowsustoproblem- extremely dif professionals andcommunitymemberswhodealwith membership hasimprovedproblemsolving. county humanservices, or defender û¤ü¤ý|þoÿü¡ £¢£¤¦¥¢ÿ¨§7ÿÿ ©£ Neil Deupree Among theCouncil’ The RockCountyCriminalJusticeCoordinatingCouncil Key tothesuccessofaCJCCishavingright “Our collaboratingcouncilisadiversegroupof ù ù ù ù ù ù ù any communitiesin order toanalyzeandef , thechiefofpolice,andrepresentatives from: alternative programs budget areas community andthepublic system users,theirfamilies,andthepublicatlar resources Provide ongoingoversightfornewor Provide coordinationacrossdepartmentsand Eliminate duplication Increase communicationamongthecriminaljustice Make suggestionsformoreef Make suggestionstoprovidebetteroutcomefor Enhance publicsafety The goalsoftheRockCountyCJCCareto: ficult communityissues,”hesaid.“The s membersaretheschooldistrict f, thedistrictattorney ganized labor W ad hoc Neil Deupree,includesacircuit chaired byCountyBoardSup. broader viewofresponsibilities. for thecommunityandtakea common visionofpublicsafety The teammustdevelopa various groupstheyrepresent. decisions onbehalfofthe must beinapositiontomake Daley), whosaidthediverse court judge(JudgeJamesP isconsin havelearnedthatin fectively respondtolocal The RockCountyCJCC, The 17-membergroup jail alternativesstudy £ ficient useof , theDepartment of ¢£¢¤ü¤ , apublic . The ü£¢£ ¤ý¤ý£ £ ¡ . ge ù ù ù ù ù W collaborative problemsolving,andtoviewthedirectoryof For moreinformationaboutcoordinatingcouncilsand abound: must beapartofthestrategytopreventfuturecrime.” community andunderstandingtheirconcernsfurther helping toeducatethepublicandcriminaljustice cannot beoverstated,”Daleysaid.“Itassistsusinboth planning andpolicymaking. convene thecommunityleaderswhomustbepartof the administrationofjustice,andtheyhaveabilityto important. Judgesareabletoof demonstrated, theinvolvementofjudgesiscritically vital roleintheprocess. meetings areopentothepublic,andcitizensalsoplaya ww Justice S System, andtwolocalcommunityor the RockCountyJuvenileDetentionCenter Health andFamilyServices,theDepartmentofCorrections, isconsin coordinatingcouncils,visit thePP .wicourt As experiencesinRockCountyandelsewherehave Examples oftheworkRockCountyCJCC “The roleofthejudiciaryonthesetypescommittees The Councilisalsoconductingitsown“gapanalysis” The CouncilworkedwiththeNationalInstituteof The Councilisintheprocessofreviewingdif The CJCChasendorsedtheexpansionofelectronic W monitor anaverageof70-80individualsperday Department. Oncefullyimplemented,theprogramwill drug addictions. of a jaildiversionprogramthattar Diversion (T are needed. where additionaltreatmentandwraparoundservices to identifyareaswheresuf system improvement. provide recommendationsonareasofpossible local criminaljusticesystemassessmentand Corrections (NIC),whichhasagreedtoconducta monitoring programthatisoperatedbytheSherif alternative sentencinginthenearfuture. the countryandhopestoexpandthisasastrategyfor models ofcommunityserviceprogrammingthroughout ith fundingfromastate fenders whosecrimesarerelatedtotheiralcoholor trategies W s.gov/about/organization/programs/alternatives.htm ú AD) grant,theCouncilimplemented eb p age at T ficient resourcesexistand reatment fer auniqueperspectiveon gets non-violent ganizations. Alternatives and , MercyHealth AC Effective The ferent . . Judges f ’ s

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THIRD BRANCH by Ann Zimmerman, pro se coordinator

THE he Wisconsin court system launched a pilot project on Zimmerman, who, as executive assistant to the Chief TApril 10 in Manitowish Waters and April 11 in Eau Justice, is responsible for coordination of statewide pro se Claire to further assist people who are representing efforts; District Court Administrator Gregg Moore, District themselves in court proceedings. The project’s goal is to 10; Atty. Robert Hagness, the District Ten coordinator for foster communication between local courts and public the Access to Justice project; Register in Probate Jean Gay, libraries in an effort to better meet the legal service needs of Eau Claire County; and Clerk of Circuit Court Karen self-represented litigants. Hepfler, Chippewa County. Leading the initiative are the Tenth Judicial District, This pilot project is the latest in a series of steps the which consists of 13 northwestern Wisconsin counties, and court system has taken to improve access to the courts for the Wisconsin State Law Library. The Indianhead Federated people who are representing themselves, and it is hoped that Library System and the Northern Waters Library Service co- the program can be replicated. It is an outgrowth of the sponsored the April programs, which were aimed at American Judicature Society Conference on Self- informing public library staff about the various court-related Representation held in Des Moines in September, where an services and information currently available to assist self- eight-member team from Wisconsin developed an action represented litigants. plan that included three pilot projects to provide assistance The project’s first component was an information and to self-represented litigants. The other two projects being training session for a group of librarians and staff from developed include a self-help center and a pro bono libraries around District Ten. The second component will telephone assistance project for self-represented litigants in

send clerks and registers in probate into every public library divorce cases. ( in their respective counties in order to foster relationships and provide further information related to available circuit court resources. “The Wisconsin court system and public libraries have a strong, mutual interest in helping citizens to access current and reliable legal information,” said Tenth District Chief Judge Benjamin D. Proctor. It has been our goal to improve access to the courts for citizens who choose, for whatever reason, to come to court without the assistance of an attorney. Doing so improves public trust and confidence in the legal system.” Featured speakers at the first event were Judge Edward F. Vlack III, St. Croix A group of public librarians and staff from libraries in northwest Wisconsin listens County Circuit Court; State Law as Judge Edward F. Vlack III, St. Croix County Circuit Court, discusses the

Librarian Jane Colwin; Atty. Ann challenges that self-represented litigants present to the courts.

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hief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson marked by developing simplified forms and clinics Cthe opening of the La Crosse County Law where litigants can go for help.” Information Center at the La Crosse County Family Court Commissioner Gloria Doyle courthouse on February 23. Staffed by volunteer and Doyle’s assistant, Tammy Pedretti, along attorneys, retirees, and paralegal students, the with the La Crosse county circuit court judges, center will provide free guidance to people helped to develop the information center. representing themselves in court proceedings. Many of the center’s resources come from the Abrahamson said such programs are needed La Crosse County Bar Association, whose as the number of litigants without attorneys members provide legal assistance. Also increases. “Navigating the legal system is participating in the effort are Legal Action of Chief Justice confusing without a lawyer,” she said. “The Shirley S. Abrahamson Wisconsin, the Retired Seniors Volunteer

courts have attempted to make the process easier Program, and Western Technical College. ( June 7. this topictoeducatethoseoutsideofthecourtsystem. incident reportingandtracking;extendingoutreachon training; developmentofacomprehensivesecurityplan; 70.39; courthousesecurityaudits; These recommendationsinclude:revising/updatingSCR corresponding recommendationsoutlinedin subcommittee toaddresscourtsecurityandthe and thecommitteedecidedtoestablishastate-levelpolicy discussed atlengthduringtheNovemberPP Priorities fortheW C Court SecuritySubcommittee. t t t t t t t t t t t t t t v Office ofCourtOperations by ErinSlattengren,policyanalyst, u+uwv T courthouse towatchtheoralar outreach program. the SupremeCourtthissummer honor ofJusticeJonP Judicial District’ During histimeonthecircuitcourt,heservedasSixth stepping downuponhisappointmenttotheSupremeCourt. W W as apublicservant. assembled crowdabout served from1969-75. e+f£g£h3i¡jkiJl¨m¡f£hWnBo[p g£g£m p aushara CountyCircuitCourtjudgefrom1979-92, aushara anditsenvironsintheS The newsubcommitteewillmeetforthefirsttimeon Sharon Schmeling, Jef Bill Police ChiefJef Karl Jeske,RacineCountyBuilding andFacilities Sallyanne Danner Bill Mor Kris Deiss,clerkofcourt Bob Brown,architect, Lt. BryonSchaefer Beth Perrigo,deputydistrictcourtadministrator Judge DennisJ.Mleziva,KewauneeCounty Judge Judge SarahB.O’Brien,DaneCounty(co-chair) Judge MichaelO.Bohren, Chief JusticeShirleyS. Prior toeachhearing, Fond duLacCounty manager Sheboygan County of theOf biennial reporttitled ourt securitywasidentifiedasatoppriorityinPP he April toheartwocasesaspartofitsJusticeon l l¨m¡f£hWnBe@i£x£f£h;p The followingarethenewmembersofPP W W |£n¦i£} W eigel, Cityof isconsin SupremeCourttraveledto ayne J.Marik,RacineCounty gan, GreenCountycorporationcounsel fice ofLawyerRegulation) s chiefjudge. An estimated250peoplepackedintothe isconsin Cour f Schinzing, d , courtcommissioner . , Lt.ofCourtService, W V W erona MunicipalCourtjudge(also ilcox, whowillberetiringfrom Abrahamson spoketothe ferson CountyBoard chair Critical Issues:Planning A ilcox andhismanycontributions yers Abrahamson chose W q[p W n¦yQe@f£z£x£m£jXj{p W guments. ashington County . V Associates, EauClaire n¦qrs£f£n¦m£jks aukesha County(co-chair) t System ilcox alsorepresented W illage ofGrantsbur tate ilcox servedas Assembly . , This topicwas AC meeting, Critical Issues W W automa in , wherehe automa in n¦n i¡i Wheels g d AC AC’ s . W explains thathehasbeenlobbyingtheCourttovisit Justice JonP Abrahamson det automa sincehetookofficein1992. grant prospect further informationabouttheGrant InfoCenteror Operations aterin.slattengren@wicourt Cont underway orbeingcontemplated. consolidate adhocef competitive inobtaininggrantfundsandto the GICtopositioncourtsystembe funding sourcesandopportunities.Itisthegoalof providing informationoncourt-relatedgrant T place throughoutthe development ofaninventoryprojectstaking a shortenedversionofthisprocesstofacilitate require statelevelsupportareaskedtotakepartin of aproposal. facilitate technicalsupportinthebeginningstages budget perspective. from aprogrammatic,strategicplanning,and W support oftheDirectorS will ensurethatgrantprojectsrequiringthe and notificationprocess. updated andstreamlinedthegrantproposalreview streamlined Highlight: Grantreviewprocess tab ontheleftsideofmainpage. CourtNet byclickingonthe"GrantInfoCenter" programmatic interests. inventory willbearesourceforotherswithsimilar Center" linksofCourtNet. 07-04 locatedin both the"Bulletins"and"GrantInfo l¨m£f£hWn;~i¡nBhs£|£nU|£ HmJl¨i£|£n¦i£h isconsin SupremeCourtarecarefullyreviewed Those pursuinggrantfundingthatdoesnot The GrantInfoCenterCommitteehasrecently act ErinSlattengrenintheOffice ofCourt the CourtNetIntranetsiteisaresource he GrantInfoCenter(GIC)availablethrough . W ails hisprofessionalaccomplishment ilcox listensasChiefJusticeShirleyS. s. Seealso The processalsowillhelp forts thatarecurrently W isconsin courtsystem. d The streamlinedprocess Administrative Bulletin tate Courtsand/orthe V isit thesiteon s.gov for The s and

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THIRD BRANCH ££ ¡££ £££££D the Committee of Chief Judges THE The Wisconsin branch of the National Alliance on before he retired in August 2003. Mental Illness has chosen Judge Edward E. Leineweber, He also was a member of the Richland County Circuit Court, to receive its 2007 Supreme Court Planning and Community Service Award. Policy Advisory Committee and Leineweber was selected for his work to establish the Advisory Committee on the Richland County Assistance to Kin of Mentally Ill Sentencing Guidelines. Persons (AKOMI) program, which provides trained Before becoming a judge, volunteers to connect with relatives of a person who Skwierawski was in private is subject to an involuntary mental health practice for eight years and commitment. served as a Milwaukee County Judge Michael J. Skwierawski “We present this award to you with the knowledge assistant district attorney for three that equitable and proactive treatment of persons with years. He is now a mediator with an emphasis on mental illness in our court systems can be a reality,” commercial litigation and complex civil cases. wrote NAMI-Wisconsin President Frank Mixdorf. In nominating Skwierawski, Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Leineweber said the program was developed under Court Judge Michael D. Guolee wrote: “Service and hard Edward E. Leineweber the auspices of Court & Community, Inc., a non-profit work have always been part of his code of conduct and that that he helped to start about eight years ago to continues to this date. He continues to be a teacher of the improve how the court serves the needs of the community. law at various seminars and serves on various committees in “The idea behind AKOMI came out of watching families our legal and general community. Because of his excellent [that] often appeared to be frightened, bewildered and totally reputation in the legal community, he was recently elected lost in the process, not knowing what was happening, or President of the Milwaukee Bar Association.” what to expect next,” he said. Past recipients of the Lifetime Jurist Achievement Award As part of the program, written materials have been include the following circuit court judges: Edward R. developed that include contact information for various staff Brunner, Barron County; Lee E. Wells, Milwaukee County; members, so that families have a place to turn when they Peter G. Pappas, La Crosse County; Patrick T. Sheedy, have questions or concerns. Milwaukee County; Mark J. Farnum, Rock County; P. A related initiative is a series of mental illness training Charles Jones, Dane County; Edwin C. Dahlberg, Rock workshops offered in Richland County over the last two County; and Myron L. Gordon, who served on the years. The workshops help justice system personnel with Milwaukee County Circuit Court, the Wisconsin Supreme little or no formal training in mental health issues to acquire Court, and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District

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¤ December. The awards are reserved for court employees D£ªX££©¦®¥£ ¥£¯ ¬« who have provided unparalleled service to the court system. Former Milwaukee County Chief Judge Michael J. Winners included:

Skwierawski, who is president of the Milwaukee Bar ¶ Association, has been selected to receive the State Bar of Bridget Bauman, benchmarks coordinator, Office of Wisconsin 2006 Lifetime Jurist Achievement Award. Court Operations, for exceptional performance related to The annual award recognizes a jurist who made a the Children’s Court Improvement Program.

difference during a long tenure on the bench. It was ¶ presented at the State Bar’s Annual Convention, May 9-11 at Terri Borrud, forms and records officer, Office of Court the Midwest Airlines Center, Milwaukee. Operations, for coordinating changes made to more than “During his 25 years on the circuit court, Judge 100 forms as a result of changes in probate and Skwierawski implemented many innovations that make the guardianship laws.

Milwaukee court system the highly effective system it is ¶ today,” said Beth Hanan, chair of the State Bar’s Bench and Mary Brister, legal assistant, Court of Appeals, for Bar Committee. “He was instrumental in introducing jury handling an unusually heavy workload during a trial schedule rules that reduce delays in trial dates, speeding temporary staff shortage.

up the processing of criminal matters, and creating a court ¶ interpreter program for non-English speaking litigants as Connie Dillon, court reporter in the Tenth Judicial well as a pro se center.” District, for accepting extra assignments and helping out Skwierawski was appointed in 1978 and elected to four in three other judicial districts during a staff shortage. terms. He served five years as chief judge and as chair of see Awards on page 9 Ô Î ÖÇ¡Åµ×QØ£Ã Î"Ï2Î court staf including twoaccomplishedincollaborationwithstate 10 localbarassociationsfor12publicserviceprojects, A Court, receivedthe those publicneeds.” in oursocietyand helptocreativelyandef of memberstheselocalbarassociations toaddressneeds “These awardsrecognizetheability andwillingness put forthbylocalbarsisexceptional,” saidBrantmeier presented in training program. National their communities. to recognizealumniwhocontributeextensively W Á Á Á Á ÂÄÃ£ÅÆ£Ç¡È£É É¦ÈJÊ£Ë£Ì£Ë£ÅÍÂ Î"Ï Judge Maxine ward aspartofMarquetteUniversity’ oman of A Å3È¡Þ£É Ë¡Åµ×QÐJÎ The S The LocalBarGrantCompetition (LBGC)awards,were This latestawardispartofaprogrambyMarquette Judge Maxine “The caliberofthelocalcommunity serviceprograms Angie Semrau,seniorbusinessprocessanalyst,CCAP Sarah Motif,legalassistant,Courtof Rita Lord,formerdeputyclerkforthe Andrew Goodnough,leadsoftwareengineer applications, includingchangestothe process acourtorderinhigh-profilecase. for goingaboveandbeyondthecallofdutytohelp assistant toSupremeCourtJusticeLouisB.ButlerJr Supreme Courtandof for deliveringmanyhigh-profileandsuccessful Court staf helping tohandleanunusuallyhighworkloadduringa versioning systemanddevelopingnewtestingtools. improvements andtransitioningCCAP leadership onseveralsoftwareinfrastructure W fing shortage. 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ChiefJudgeGeraldP on juryissues,wasalso courts’ Richardson, oneofthe Administrator Gail chair project ascommittee Connelly steeredthe Administrator Kerry court system. positively onthe manner thatreflects interact withjurorsina the toolstheyneedto ensure thatbailif It wasdesignedtohelp Center atUW originated fromthePyle statewide participated–manyofthemviavideoconference. deputy sherif orientation andatrainingcurriculumforcivilianbailif statewide JuryBailif of Outstanding County CircuitCourt, helpedtodevelopthecurriculum and ward ofExceptional isconsin. isconsin Departmentof W The MarathonCountyBar The glossaryhasbeentranslatedinto Three Hmonginterpreterswithastrongbackgroundin The glossarygrewfromacollaborationofthe The RacineCountyBar The session District . DistrictFiveCourt isconsin. resident experts fice. BelievedtobethefirstHmong-Englishlegal gent T The projectwasfundedbygrantsfromthe Association Southeast wo Court fs. Lastyear -Madison. 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THE ú ú and oral advocacy skills. Wisconsin court staff and child protection workers have Butler, who also served as a jurist on the “final bench” identified two primary issues for inclusion in a new action last year, served alongside Judge Steven Levinson, an plan that is being developed to improve court outcomes for associate justice of the Supreme Court of Hawaii; Judge children who have been abused and neglected. First, an Charles R. Wilson, U.S. Court of Appeals. emergency preparedness plan to track children in the child Butler said some of the arguments were better than many

welfare system and maintain their legal cases in the event of heard before the Supreme Court.

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a disaster should be developed. Second, an interface between ¦¨§ © CCAP and eWiSACWIS, the state’s child welfare information system, should be created to share data across systems efficiently while at the same time protecting privacy. These recommendations came from the team that Wisconsin sent to a national summit in New York City in March. The team was comprised of A. John Voelker, Director of State Courts; Judge Mary Triggiano, Milwaukee County Circuit Court; Mark Campbell, bureau director in the Division of Children and Family Services; Michelle Jensen Goodwin, Children’s Court Improvement Program director; and District Court Administrator Patrick Brummond. Court Information Officer Amanda K. Todd meets with Ministry Wisconsin was one of 42 states that sent a team to the of Justice officials in the Middle East nation of Bahrain. Summit. As part of the program, the state’s team met individually to determine needed and available resources, Court Information Officer Amanda K. Todd was selected what other agencies and officials should be involved in by the American Bar Association to help the Kingdom of strengthening foster care and services to families and Bahrain to develop a new public outreach office this spring. children, what programs and strategies developed in other Bahrain is a Persian Gulf nation that is working to build a states may be applicable in Wisconsin, and how best to democratic government. address new federal requirements for improving the safety Todd led top government officials and members of the and well-being of children, the permanence of placements, bar through a strategic planning exercise designed to

and the timeliness of child protection proceedings. establish goals and set priorities. From this, she developed a

ð£ì¡ ø£ñ;ö ì£û ò £¢ù kó¡ó£ñBð£ó£ø£ûµñ¥¤Eø£ûò ùñ ø£ùñ;ò plan that will guide the Ministry of Justice in establishing a ÿ communications office. In addition, she conducted media Justice Louis B. Butler Jr. was one of three judges training workshops, working with a local video crew and selected to serve on Southwestern Law School’s 2007 moot many language interpreters to help participants improve their court panel in April. interviewing skills, learn to write press releases, and begin to

The intramural competition gives first-year law school develop rules governing cameras in the courts.

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Director of State Courts John Voelker was a featured speaker District Court Administrator Gail Richardson answers questions at the Wisconsin Counties Association’s legislative exchange, about the state court system as posed by judges visiting from which was held in Madison in February. Voelker emphasized Turkmenistan. Madison was one of many stops the group the importance of partnerships with counties and other made while studying courts in the United States as part of a stakeholders in the criminal justice system heading into the program sponsored by the U.S. State Department. 2007-09 state budget process. '()()*+-,/.103254*678*9;:=<*>,()?>@ABCD@*9;. too, willbeavailabletothejudiciary ontheIntranet. and invitationsthattheydeveloped forinvestitures;these, and throughtheCourtInformation Of archive thatwillbeavailableon thecourtsystem’ investiture speeches. J Ramona Judge Oshkosh, whosatwith along fortherideonMarch26wasRep.GordonHintz,D- appearances. about thenumberofrepeat Judge ScottC. there,” Huebschsaid. seemed toknowagoodnumberofthepeoplewhowere court before. who hadbeenin He saidhewasmoststruckbythenumberofdefendants intake court,whichfeaturedabout25casesthatafternoon. Along ProgramonMarch26. Judge Ramona A Rep. MikeHuebsch TVUWXWSY[Z]\_^a`)bc¥def^geih5\Rc¡dVj8c5c5kml8c5d Judges arealsoaskedtosubmit samples oftheprograms The visitgaveHuebschafirst-handlookatthecriminal Court, isworkingtodevelopacollectionofjudges’ udge RichardJ.Sankovitz,MilwaukeeCountyCircuit Huebsch isoneofaboutahalfdozenlegislatorswho “It wasaneclecticgroupthatcamebeforeus. the benchalongsideLaCrosseCountyCircuitCourt ssembly SpeakerMikeHuebsch,R-W A. Gonzalez W A. GonzalezaspartoftheJudicialRide- oldt. Hintzsaidhe,too,wasconcerned The speecheswillbeplacedinan W innebago CountyCircuitCourt used toreimburseprivate indigent peopleandoftheprocess review ofincomestandardsfor Huebsch saidhe’dliketosee delivery ofjustice. the impactoflegislationon a chancetodiscusswithjudges The programalsogiveslegislators up lookatlocalcourtsin2007. have ‘ridden’ low-income defendant. indigent defendants. attorneys appointedtorepresent the courtroomaudienceforone judge recruitedanattorneyfrom he wastakenabackwhenthe taxpayers’ constitutional rightsand needs toensurebalancebetween As aresultofhisvisit, Another legislatorwhowas fenders makingcourt While incourt,Huebschsaid ability topay fice. along togetaclose- est Salem,took The system s Intranet The judge , hesaid. *E/F investitures, andwillbeanimportanthistoricrecord. Amanda.todd@wicourt to CourtInformationOfficer T 901 N.9thS Judge RichardJ.SankovitzatMilwaukee CountyCourthouse, Office, POBox1688,Madison,W (. include: Rep. Along Programsincethebeginningoflegislativesession criminal justicesystem. contact withthe lack thereof,and between education,or the relationship underscored forhim Hintz saidthevisit traditional setting. education ina their highschool failed tocomplete in common: he foundthatnearlyallthesuspectsdayhadonething what happens.” had asnapshotof judges. Ithinkonly do itwithother Hintz said.“Ihopeto required todoit,” legislator shouldbe and theLegislature. between thejudiciary communication understanding and way toimprove started in1993asa Eau Claire. Rep. Jef D-Middleton; and Sondy Pope-Roberts, Milwaukee; Rep. Rep. JoanBallweg,R-Markesan;FredKessler ranscript 6CDB9G()AHI9JF The archivemaybeusefultojudgesplanning The programwas Other legislatorswhohaveparticipatedintheRide- In talkingovertheday’ “I thinkevery f Smith,D- s donatedtothisprojectmaybe e-mailed ormailed t., Milwaukee,W They Anthony J.S & K*L6/. s.gov orDirectorofS Rep. JoanBallweg Judge ScottC.Wold Sondy Pope-Robert Rep. BMENOLF taskunas, D-W s eventswithHintz, Amanda K.T is. 53233-1425. is. 53701-1688,ormailedto CD@QPR<KES*( odd at est s t t ate Court Allis; W Rep. GordonHintz Anthony J.S Rep. Rep. FredKessler oldt said , D- s & t askunas

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THE he Wisconsin Supreme Court met this spring with programs, disproportionate minority contact, the state Tmembers of four legislative committees to share ideas budget, and the Judicial Council. and discuss topics related to crime and the courts. In May, justices met with the Assembly Committee on Discussion was lively during the meetings, which were Judiciary and Ethics, headed by Rep. Mark Gundrum, R- held in the Supreme Court Hearing Room – one each in New Berlin, and the Assembly Committee on Criminal April and May. Topics were sometimes serious, but the tone Justice, headed by Rep. Joel Kleefisch, R-Oconomowoc. of the meetings was casual and friendly. At that meeting, legislators and justices addressed some “We were glad to have the opportunity to share how the of the same issues and others: the proper roles of the court system operates and discuss our goal of improving the branches of government, court information, the need for justice system for the people of Wisconsin,” said Chief judges, the use of reserve judges, offender re-entry, the Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson. legislative process, judicial review, and court costs. In April, the justices met jointly with the Assembly While discussion didn’t go too in-depth on any one Committee on Corrections and the Courts, headed by topic, the meetings were successful at building relationships, Rep. Garey Bies, R-Sister Bay, and the Senate sharing information, and discussing the challenges that each Committee on Judiciary and Corrections, headed by Sen. branch faces, Abrahamson said. Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee. Abrahamson started the informational meetings several Among the many topics discussed at that meeting: years ago in an effort to encourage sharing information

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n 1999, Minnesota District Court Judge Joanne M. Smith “livability crimes, such as underage drinking.” Iadmits she had a bias against what she referred to then as Similar to the membership make up of Criminal Justice “boutique courts.” Coordinating Councils (CJCC) in Wisconsin, the Ramsey Today, however, she finds herself County group included key stumping for problem-solving courts stakeholders from the offices of the – and Minnesota is recognized as a county administrator, county leader in implementing successful attorney, public defender, county initiatives to reduce incarceration and commissioner, sheriff, corrections improve outcomes in criminal cases. and health officials. Smith joined Eau Claire County “The courts cannot do this alone. Circuit Court Judge Lisa K. Stark as We need all the justice partners a featured speaker at a Legislative working with us,” Smith said. Council symposium on effective Wisconsin has 23 CJCCs, which criminal justice strategies held at the bring together a similar mix of state Capitol in Madison in March. stakeholders at the county level, Smith, who oversees a substance Stark told the group. She then abuse court in St. Paul, said presented some details, highlighting Minnesota’s experience with the success of Eau Claire County’s problem-solving courts has made her drug court, which is proving a believer, and she presented effective at treating non-violent numbers to justify her change in Judge Joanne M. Smith, of the Minnesota criminals in need of alcohol and attitude. district court in St. Paul, shares information on other drug abuse treatment. A 2006 cost-benefit analysis of Minnesota’s efforts to reduce incarceration. During the first 18 months of the the Ramsey County Juvenile Smith spoke at a Legislative Council-sponsored court’s existence, the average yearly Substance Abuse Court (JSAC) symposium in Madison. cost for a drug court participant in showed graduates had the lowest cost Eau Claire County is $6,135, of any group, averaging $12,000 less than a comparison compared to the average yearly cost for prison of about group over two years. Comparison group costs were 41 $25,000, Stark said. The recidivism rate for Eau Claire percent higher per juvenile. County’s drug court participants is 12 percent, compared to JSAC was started in 2001, two years after Ramsey between 65 percent and 75 percent nationally for those drug County officials began examining ways to more directly and alcohol offenders who have not participated in a address juvenile substance abuse. Since then, Ramsey treatment court. County initiated an adult substance abuse court, OWI court, At least 16 Wisconsin counties have established

mental health court and community court, which targets problem-solving courts. z the namesoffourluckywinnersfromahat. Hearing RoomasChiefJusticeShirleyS. I ¯)¬°5±_²V¬]°¥±ª_¬5³_´Qµ5µ¨5¶§I®3·%°8¸5¹5¨¥®º®¨]±»¨¡¬]¡¼]´¾½¿©¥¶]¸«I¸¥¶Àª¨ÂÁ¬5¶±Ã¸ Chief JusticeShirleyS. Governor Government Appeals judgesforserviceonthecommitteethatwillselect ¦§g¨5©5ªi«g¬]® Judge Thomas J.Sazama Judge T Judge-elect imothy Hinkfuss gathered aroundtheattorneytablesinSupremeCourt n abriefceremonyatthestateCapitol,sevenjustices Alan J.White ’ s consideration. Account continued fromfrontp ability Boardcandidatesforthe Abrahamson select percent ofthevoteon Richard L.Rehm,wonabout75 last JulytosucceedJudge District Assistant ColumbiaCounty Challenging challenger two-to-one mar Anderl LawOf over Columbia County White winsin primary Anderson, wasdefeatedinthe appointed byGov election inChippewa Sazama winsre- children. Hinkfuss ismarriedwiththree the BrownCountyBoard. Green BayCityCounciland has beenamemberofthe municipal judge,Hinkfussalso County since1995,prevailed on thebenchinChippewa Judge Judge Atty . Atty . Julie Photo credit:BrentNicastro Alan J. Thomas J.Sazama, , age Atty . White was T Abrahamson drew s Courtof roy D.Cross. fice, LLC,bya gin. . SoniaLee A. White, . JimDoyle Anderl of Another April 3. close race. Assistant District votes outofabout19,000cast. Judge DennisMontabon,losthisseatbylessthan500 appointed himinspring2006tosucceedtheretiring court commissionerfor14yearswhenGov president ofthe was Eliminated intheprimary mar Atty Levine beatDeputyDistrict Hamline UniversityLawSchool. a prosecutorsince1989.Bjerkeis1984graduateof Planning andPolicy Incarceration Subcommitteeofthe SupremeCourt of the Court. Heisalsoamember the LaCrosseCountyDrug was afoundingmemberof defenders in10countiesand Levine overseespublic Defender ChristineClair La Crossevotersselectthreenewjudges Perlich. IncumbentJudgeRoger succeed thewell-respectedMichaelMulroyandJohnJ. public defenderandthecounty’ Law School. Court Professionals.Heisa1990 graduateoftheUW elections, campaignfinance,ethics,andlobbying. Ethics Boardandwillberesponsibleforstatelawsrelatedto GAB willreplacetheS state’ on acandidatecommitteethatwillsubmitnamesforthe District III Judge NealP District II Judge PatriciaS.Curley District I of Judge Mar District IV Judge Gregory Appeals’ The winners–fourCourtof The chosenfour–oneeachfromthestate’ LeGrand, whohadservedasthecounty’ In theraceforBranch2,PublicDefenderElliottM. In LaCrosseCounty Succeeding Perlich,whoretired in November2006after gin of10,812to7,952. . LoraleeClarkbya Assistant S s newGovernment Alternatives to (headquartered inMilwaukee): garet J. (headquartered in districts –are: (headquartered inMadison): (headquartered in . Nettesheim A. Peterson tate Public W Atty V isconsin er Advisory Committee(PP geront . T tate ElectionsBoardandtheS , votersselectedastate . odd Accountability Board(GAB). Association of W W Elliott M.Levine Judge-elect W . Bjerke,whohasbeen The victorwas aukesha): s districtattorneyto Appeals judges–willserve ausau): W see . LeGrandlostina Elections T . JimDoyle reatment s family AC), andis s fourCourt on p tate age 27 The Judge ScottL.Horne T Judge-elect odd W . Bjerke THE THIRD BRANCH ¡¢¢£ ¤%¥

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ßà àSáâmãã THE Former Chief Justice Nathan S. Heffernan, who sadly Judge Martha J. Bablitch, who served on the Wisconsin passed away just two months after Fairchild, also Court of Appeals from its creation in 1978 until her commented upon his old friend’s legacy. Heffernan called resignation in 1985, and who made history as the first Fairchild “One of the greatest judges I’ve ever known.” woman to serve on the Court of Appeals, died April 4 of On April 11, the Wisconsin Supreme Court accepted lung cancer. She was 62. Fairchild’s portrait for hanging in the Capitol, following Bablitch was born in Lawrence, Kansas, and grew tradition. Many members of Fairchild’s family, and up in Ypsilanti, Michigan, where her mother was an numerous former law clerks were present. attorney and her father was an English professor. She Fairchild’s wife of 68 years, Eleanor Dahl Fairchild, was a graduate of Lawrence University and the UW passed away in 2005. He is survived by his sons, Tim of Law School. Before her election to the Court of Madison and Andy of Enterprise, Ore.; his daughters, Susan Appeals she practiced law with the Stevens Point Chase of Andover, N.H., and Jennifer Lord of Cripple firm of Bablitch & Bablitch. She was also married at Creek, Colo.; his eight grandchildren; and his four great-

one time to former Justice William A. Bablitch. grandchildren.

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à ã ë ßà with lung cancer the way she lived her life; she never ô Judge Martha J. Bablitch gave an inch. She wielded her courage and strength of character with grace and dignity, humor and Former Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan passion and often downright brilliance. To those who knew S. Heffernan, who served on the Court from 1964-95, died her and whose lives Martha’s life informed, she was beyond Friday, April 13 in Madison. He was 86. description. No words can convey the depth and generosity Heffernan’s 31 years on the Court made him one of the of her nature….” three longest-serving justices in state history. Heffernan’s Bablitch is survived by her sister, Veronica “Ronnie” work on the bench distinguished him as a top scholar with

Virtue, who lives in Minneapolis. eclectic opinions and a good sense of humor. He was well

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à ã ë ßà ô Appeals. Judge Thomas E. Fairchild, who served on the Heffernan became a justice at Wisconsin Supreme Court from 1956-66 and on the U.S. the age of 43, when he was Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit from 1966-81, died appointed to the Court by Gov. Monday, February 12. He was 94. John W. Reynolds. Before that, he Prior to joining the Supreme Court, Fairchild served as served two years as U.S. Attorney state attorney general and as a U.S. attorney, and ran twice for the Western District of for U.S. Senate - once against Sen. Alexander Wiley and Wisconsin – a position to which once against Sen. Joseph McCarthy. he was appointed to by President Chief Justice Fairchild’s state service ended in 1966, when he John F. Kennedy. From 1959-62, Nathan S. Heffernan left the Wisconsin Supreme Court to accept an Heffernan served as deputy appointment from President Lyndon Johnson to the attorney general for Wisconsin; prior to that he worked in U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, Sheboygan, where he began his career in the law. located in Chicago. He presided there until his Heffernan’s passions were, in addition to the law, retirement in 1981. In 1988, underscoring the breeding Labrador Retrievers and fishing on the Brule enormous respect that Fairchild commanded within River. His beloved dogs, Lex Loci and Stare Decisis, the legal community, the UW Law School named a survive him. lecture series for him. In recent years, Heffernan had devoted himself to caring When journalists sought comment on Fairchild’s for his wife, Dorothy, whose health had declined. She Judge survives him, as do his children, Kate Thomas of Wales, Thomas E. Fairchild legacy, they turned to Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson, who predicted that Fairchild would be Great Britain; Michael of Madison; and Tom of Port Wing.

remembered as a man who served with “great distinction, Also surviving him are his five grandchildren.

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not only as a jurist but as a human being.” ß

ÐÖ× ÓÕ/Ü ä)åmæÝ ä)×DÖJÝ Þ×;èùè àá]âãSã Abrahamson told the Wisconsin State Journal that ßà Fairchild had a great sense of humor, and kept a stock of limericks in a box. “When I started on the court and had to Judge Burton A. Scott, who served on the Wisconsin start making a lot of speeches, I thought I could borrow Court of Appeals (District II) for 11 years and on the trial some of his limericks. But I found they were not suitable for see Obituaries on page 15 (3* ¨ 14,8* 9;:=< < (3* ¨ 14,.56(3* ¨ # ,.-7(3* ¨ 14, §¢¨ © Magnuson Scott;adaughter returned to became aHabitatforHumanityvolunteer traveled thecountrybeforesettlingin I thinkheenjoyedteachingmorethanactually good friend,”Fishersaid.“Andhewasawonderfulteacher Michael S.Fischerrecalledhisfriendandmentor April 2athome.Hewas72. bench inKenoshaCountyforeightyearsbeforethat,died Circuit Courtsandinthe age of28andservedinboththeMilwaukeeCounty Nev associate deanoftheNationalJudicialCollegeinReno, of theUnitedS National CouncilofChiefJudgestheCourts administrative skills.In1988,hewaselectedchairofthe as chiefjudge,from1983-89,andwellknownforhis along withhim.Duringhistenurethere,heservedsixyears violence programs. Healsowasarolemodeland an golf, butlovedtofish. Resolute. Scottdidn’tcarefor Judge BurtonScottinhisboat, Judge MichaelT OBITUARIES Surviving Scottarehiswifeof50years,EvelynC. In aninterviewwiththe Shortly afterhisretirement,heacceptedapostas ., whereheserveduntil1994. Judge Michael $% ¨ &' )(+* ¨ # ,.-/(0 Photo credit: W isconsin in2001. ¨ tates. . Sullivan T Kenosha News . Sullivan,whobecameajudgeatthe W continued fromp >"?3@3 isconsin Courtof , Kif Kenosha News rights andwasanearly for fiveyears. chief judge,apositionheheld served ineverydivisionandas the trialcourtinMilwaukee,he years. Duringhis29yearson Milwaukee Countyfor41 in lateMarch. programs anddomestic supporter ofvictim/witness Sullivan championedcivil Sullivan wasajudgein flie, andason,David. >",.1A After that,heandhiswife teaching andlearning brought hisloveof the Courtof he recalled. thrill toomanypeople,” the county dif to holdnightcourtat Zievers said,Scottwanted new ideas.Forawhile, Scott’ Zievers, whorecalled interviewed He helpedmequiteabit.” sitting uponthebench…. 12 ¨ !" # ferent locationsaround When Scottmovedto The newspaperalso Alabama, whereScott ,CB s enthusiasmfor , . The Scotts , ReserveJudge age 14 . “Thatdidn’ Appeals, died Atty Appeals, he . “Hewasa Appeals . Fred t . §¢¨ © ED'1A children, MatthewofLouisville, 1993. the EauClaireCityCouncil.Hewaselectedtobenchin practice, duringwhichtimehealsoservedaspresidentof and KathrynofEauClaire. an assistantU.S.attorney He was64. in early suddenly onaSaturdaymorning Claire Countyin1993andreelected19992005,died of humor W He thenreturnedtoschool,earninganLL.M.fromGeor the FBI,whereheservedasaspecialagentforfouryears. Law Schoolin1967,theEauClairenativesignedonwith enriched hisworkasajudge. long andvariedworkinlaw-relatedfieldsguided time withfamily listening tomusic,andspending he enjoyed:cooking,reading, life spoketothesimplepleasures entered hiscourtroom. connect withthepeoplewho storytelling, andhisabilityto expected toappointasuccessor been helpingtohandlethecaseload. Gov he wasdefeatedinthe1996election. (he wasknowntoriseat4a.m.andbeworkby6),until establishing areputationforlegalscholarshipandhardwork Court of a wheelchair age 6,Sullivanspentmuchofhislifeusingarmbracesand otherwise –topeoplewithdisabilities.S advocate fortheremovalofbarriers–physicaland and twosisters. School in1972. earned anLL.M.degreeintaxationfromJohnMarshallLaw B.A. andJ.D.degreesfromMarquetteLawSchool.He market. snowmobiling. Laterinlife,hesuccessfullyplayedthestock enjoyed checkers,Sheepshead,swimming,fishing,and survived byhisson,Michael D' ¨F(I ashington Universityin After hisserviceonthetrialbench,Sullivanbecamea W W W Throughout hislife,accordingtoobituary Since Newspaper accountsofhis Judge EricJ. Sullivan’ He wasborninMilwaukee1924andgraduatedwith ahl issurvivedbyhiswife,Bette, andthreegrown ahl wasknownforhissense ahl’ April fromananeurysm. Appeals judge.Heservedtherefor12years, , hisdelightin s careerreflectedhiscolorfulpersonality W ahl’ s wife,Jeanne,precededhimindeath.Heis . 12 )(+* ¨ # ,.-/(0 s death,ReserveJudge F§¢G/ H . W ahl, whowaselectedtothebenchinEau , W W J ashington D.C. ahl spent17yearsinprivate T As anewgraduateoftheUW . SullivanJr . T 12 ¨ enn.; CarterofSanDiego; Judge EricJ.W Thomas Barlandhas triken withpolioat ,;(+* ¨ 14, . JimDoyleis ., andhisbrother After workingas , Sullivan , andhis ahl ge

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THIRD BRANCH by Erin Slattengren, policy analyst, Office of Court Operations THE n July 2005, the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of with the Wisconsin Tribal Judges Association (WTJA) IJustice Assistance sponsored a national gathering in and offered advice and support around development of Green Bay to foster tribal-federal-state court relations. This automated case management systems within tribal conference, titled, Walking on Common Ground: Pathways courts. This system would allow for improved to Equal Justice served as the catalyst for Wisconsin to communication of orders among tribes and potentially reconvene its State-Tribal Justice Forum. This is an update with the state court system. The Forum also sponsored a on the Forum’s work. training by CCAP for the WTJA on the benefits of The newly re-established committee consists of five automated case management and how to use WCCA. circuit court judges, five tribal judges, one district court This training will be provided again in the near future administrator, one representative from the State Bar Indian for tribal clerks. Law Chapter, and one representative from the 3. Study and make recommendations regarding issues of Legislative Council’s State- criminal jurisdiction and transfer of jurisdiction. The Tribal Relations Committee. Forum is currently developing a petition to the The director of state courts is an Wisconsin Supreme Court on a process for the ex-officio member, and a policy discretionary transfer of jurisdiction in concurrent analyst from the Director’s jurisdiction cases. Two judicial administrative districts in Office is designated committee Wisconsin (9 and 10) have already developed detailed staff. The committee’s general district protocols for handling concurrent jurisdiction charge is to promote and sustain cases. This rule would provide a statewide legal Judge James B. Mohr communication, education and mechanism for discretionary transfer. The Forum is cooperation among tribal and currently in the process of seeking comment from state court systems and to promote initiatives outlined in the various interested groups, such as the Committee of final report of the Walking on Common Ground conference. Chief Judges. The Honorable James B. Mohr, Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Court Judge and former state court Chief Judge was 4. Endorse and promote educational opportunities for state

appointed by Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson to chair and tribal courts. n this committee.

The State-Tribal Justice Forum met for the first time in

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May of 2006. Members who had been involved in the o

jr[ jr` [ ^qd"sH_ l t previous state-tribal committee provided background to new members. The committee discussed past initiatives and decided to take a new approach in facilitating and Judge Richard L. Ackley, Bad River Chippewa supporting efforts statewide in fostering cooperation among Judge John P. Anderson, Bayfield County state and tribal systems. James Botsford, Wisconsin Judicare, Inc. Following the first meeting, all members agreed to go Judge Michael J. Gableman, Burnett County back to their local jurisdictions and meet with their Judge James R. Habeck, Shawano County respective state or tribal counterpart and discuss projects and Judge Gerald W. Laabs, Jackson County priorities that the Forum should focus its attention on for the Jerry Lang, District 4 court administrator next year. Judge Chris McGeshick, Sokaogon The Forum has met four times in the last year and Chippewa Community Judge Robert Miller Jr., Stockbridge-Munsee discussed the feedback they received from their meetings Tribal Court and worked to prioritize the initiatives on which to focus. Judge James B. Mohr, Lac Courte From these meetings and also from the input received at the Oreilles (chair) Walking on Common Ground Conference, the State-Tribal Judge Neal A. Nielsen III, Vilas County Justice Forum is focusing efforts on the following areas: Rep. Gary Sherman, D-Port Wing Judge Kim Vele, Stockbridge-Munsee 1. Work to institutionalize meetings and ongoing Tribal Court communication between state-court and tribal-court A. John Voelker, director of state courts counterparts. This could include quarterly meetings and a “ride-along” once per year. Staff: Erin Slattengren, Office of Court Operations 2. Develop a process or model protocol of communicating court orders among court systems. The Forum has met W Appleton, whereheserveduntilhis1981appointmenttothe In 1972,hewasappointedtothecircuitcourtbenchin “T heavy workload, andthepossibilityofburnout,” hesaid. appellate court. perspective ontheissuesfacing the statewideintermediate court’ four timesand,forthelastnine years, hasservedasthe to joiningtheOutagamieCountyDistrict worked inprivatepracticeKaukaunaforashorttimeprior General onOkinawafrom1964-67.Followingthat,he administrator elected withoutoppositiontosucceedhim. Judge EdwardR.Brunner independence ishisappointmenthistory institutional memoryandexperience. faculty atthe court. Canehasfoundgreatsatisfactioninserviceonthe said hehasenjoyedworkingasamemberofcollegial most havenothingtodowithcasedeciding–althoughhe for anything.” of mylife,”Canesaid,“andIwouldn’ served asaCaptainintheOf W to appreciatewhatawonderfuljudicialsystemwehavein Education CommitteeandtheExecutiveBoard. Council ofChiefJudges,wherehewasamemberthe W Charles P (two sittingjudges,RichardS.Brown,DistrictII,and the third-longest-servingjudgeincourt’ prolific writer Thomas Cane’ is probablyoneofthebest,ifnotbestinnation.” judiciary issecondtononeandourjudicialeducationsystem A Thomas Cane Chief Judge isconsin Courtof isconsin,” Canesaid.“Otherthanpay isconsin JudicialCommission,andserviceontheNational aking ourfullvacation atonetimeisimpossible because RETIREMENTS "2 A When aveteranjudgeretires,thereisanattendantlossof W “One oftheconcernsIhavefor all judgesisthevery One ofthestrongesttestamentstoCane’ Cane beganhislawcareerinthe Some ofthefacetsexperiencethathewillmiss “One thingIdidlearnfrommynationalexperiencewas ith 26yearsofserviceontheCourt s chiefjudge,apositionthathas givenhimaunique . Dykman,DistrictIV F3 4 8 ;= 2 , andajudgewithnationalreputation. W , anener s departure,thejudiciarywillalsolosea isconsin JudicialCollege,serviceonthe Appeals. Hehasbeenelectedto theseat getic teacher , BarronCountyCircuitCourt,was nine yearslater him totheCourtof Dreyfus (aRepublican)elevated Outagamie County;Gov circuit courtbenchin Democrat) appointedhimtothe Gov of dif was appointedbytwogovernors hard toimaginetoday to serveasajudgeforoverhalf fice oftheJudge , haveservedfor29years). “I havebeenveryfortunate . PatrickJ.Lucey(a ferent politicalstripes. , aseasoned Air Force,wherehe W t tradethisexperience , Iwouldsayour ith ChiefJudge . Though itmaybe Attorney’ s briefhistory . s abilitiesand Appeals, Caneis Advocate Appeals , Cane s Of . LeeS. fice. along theEastCoast.“That’ hunting companions),andtravelthroughthesouthwest motor home,packupthethreeGermanShorthairs(Cane’ W who retiredlastyearfromteachingEnglishandhistoryat very isolating,it’ lawyers, litigants,jurors–and,thoughitcanbeattimes a lotofpeople–communitymembersfromallpartslife, trial benchismyfirstlove,”hesaid.“Thereyougettomeet interaction thathehasmissedontheCourtof the trialcourts,whichprovideameasureofhuman areas ofthelaw another bigissue;youjusthavetostaycurrentinsomany of theworkload. Germany weeks atatime,”hesaid,addingthatjourneystoIreland, sitting judge,becauseyoucan’ Appleton schools. Milwaukee socialworker professor grown children,whoincludeaUniversityofOklahoma are growinguptoo fast.” is expectingtwins,andIhavesix othergrandchildrenwho with myfamily leave? acknowledges, areoverallrelatively minorissues.Sowhy occasionally sloppyfilingshereceives. Butthese,he lack ofmentoringforyounglawyers,andaboutthe heavier oncivillitigation.Healsohasconcernsaboutthe – likemanyofhiscolleagues-hewouldpreferacaseload three timeswithoutoppositionandhelovesthejob,although Richard Greenwoodbecameajudge).Hehasbeenelected for whichhewasselectedwhenthen-City as cityattorneyfortheCityofGreenBay(aposition and servingasDePerecityattorney Thompson. Hehadbeenworkinginprivatepractice treasure that.” share withsometrulygreatjudges,”hesaid.“Iwill from acrossthestate. opportunity todevelopfriendshipswithcolleagues need todoanalyticalworkandhasgivenhiman Jury InstructionsCommittees,whichhassatisfiedhis his careerhasbeenservingontheJuvenileandCivil legal issues.Soitisnosurprisethatoneofthehighlights with hiscolleagues,andthechallengespresentedbythorny people (someofthem),theadoptions,collegialrelationships enjoyed allofthethingsthatmakejudgingagreatjob: 2 ausau EastHighSchool. He alsohopestotravelextensivelywithhiswife,Jane, In retirement,Canehopestoserveasareservejudgein Finally “I’ve reachedapointwhereIwant tospendmoretime Dietz wasappointedin1988bythen-Gov “It’ In his19yearsonthebench,JudgeRichardJ.Dietzhas s averyacademicexperience,andonethatyou )+ . , , aFordMotorCompanyexecutiveinMichigan, Ar , Canehopestospendmoretimewithhisfour gentina, andChilearealsoplanned. ,” hesaid.“MydaughterinNew Hampshire , andthatcanbeachallenge.” And keepingupwithchangesinthelawis s alsoaveryrewardingjob.” , andaspeechpathologistinthe " / P 2 The coupleplanstoupgradethe s somethingyoucan’ t getawayformorethantwo see Retirement , followingastint Attorney . Appeals. “The T ommy s t doasa on p age 18 Judge RichardJ.Dietz s

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¤'¥¢¥¢¦ RETIREMENTS continued from page 17 THIRD BRANCH Dietz and his wife, Candace, have three daughters and a “…I’ve got it in my mind that maybe I will build a log

THE son. “We had a family meeting and told them we were cabin on land I own near Rhinelander,” he said.

going to live three months with each of them,” he joked.

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“That didn’t go over too well. But we do look forward to »

µ"½ ª ºA¼ « ´)½¼ µ7µ"¬ « µ"¬)® Ã;½ ¯ Är® º more time with the grandkids.” His New Hampshire daughter is a published poet; a Just because Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Steven daughter in California is a massage therapist; and his two Luse Abbott is retiring doesn’t mean he’s cracked his last Wisconsin children - a daughter in Wauwatosa and a son in joke about being a judge. While he treats the work of Milwaukee - are, respectively, a physical therapist with the judging with the seriousness it demands, he has found Veterans Administration and an executive with Wells Fargo. that civil litigants appreciate his occasional use of humor in In addition to visiting family, Dietz also plans to travel a lot the courtroom. more in retirement. He and his wife, who teaches Spanish at In fact, during his retirement, the high school and college level, hope to spend more time Abbott said he’ll compile a book in Spain and to return to Ireland. Finally, as time permits, he of some of the more humorous hopes to serve as a reserve judge and do some mediation events he experienced during his and arbitration work. 12 years as a judge. Just don’t “I really have enjoyed these 19 years,” he said. “While expect the language to be I’m looking forward to a different life, I am going to cleaned up. miss it. But there’s a lot to be said for retiring while Abbott said he’ll probably you still enjoy the job. You don’t want to leave as the include in his book the one about courthouse curmudgeon.” the defendant who, as he was escorted out of court by a bailiff, ©ª « ¬)+® ¯ « °.±²¯ ³ ´ ¬F¬ « ³ µ7¶ · ¸ ±¹¬ ª º Judge

called the judge by an epithet and

«)°P½ ¬E¾ ª ¿ ª º2¬ ¬ º¼ Steven Luse Abbott » then blamed it on the bailiff. He’ll Judge Robert A. DeChambeau retired June 1 after a legal also probably include the one about the dirtiest divorce case, career spanning over 40 years, including 20 in Branch 1 of the details of which will have to wait for the book. Dane County Circuit Court. Abbott has faced several major medical challenges in “I have mixed feelings about retiring, but it’s time,” recent years and is now a double amputee, which has not DeChambeau told a reporter from The Capital Times. slowed him down and will not deter him for a moment from Prior to his 1987 election, DeChambeau spent the majority serving as a reserve judge. But the rigorous schedule of an of his career in the Dane County District Attorney’s Office, active judge, though he hated to give it up, was taking its with the exception of a few years in private practice toll. “I was in the hospital,” he said, “and things weren’t immediately following his graduation from the UW Law looking too good, and I had to cancel a couple of trials.” School. Abbott declined to seek re-election this year, and plans to DeChambeau told The Capital Times he has always remain in office until August 1, when Atty. Todd Ziegler found that sentencing defendants in drunken driving will succeed him (see separate story, page 26). Abbott was homicides is among the toughest parts of the job – a first elected in 1995 and re-elected in 2001. Before sentiment with which many of his colleagues across becoming a judge, Abbott worked in private practice and as the state would concur. a court commissioner. His first run for judge was in 1992, “They are particularly difficult, because many when his now-colleague Michael J. McAlpine defeated him times you’ve got someone who has made a very in the race for an open seat. serious error in judgment who is otherwise a Abbott and his wife, Jean, have one son, Barry, who normally law-abiding citizen, and you have very, lives in Berlin, Wis.

very tragic results and a need for there to be some

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punishment. Those are very difficult,” he said. »

º2¬ °A¼ º2¬ Är¬ « ° While he has seen his fair share of challenging cases, DeChambeau has also found his work to be Judge Robert E. Kinney, a longtime, well respected Judge rewarding, especially when “you see people walk out judge whose commitment to the State Bar Mock Trial Robert A. DeChambeau of the courtroom giving me the impression they Program helped Rhinelander to win an unprecedented know they’ve been listened to, and knowing why I made a number of state and national competitions, retired from the decision and being able to accept that and move on with bench effective May 18. Gov. Jim Doyle is expected to their life,” he told the newspaper. appoint a successor. In retirement, DeChambeau plans to serve as a reserve Kinney is one of the longest serving judges in judge and to travel with his wife, Gretchen Hayward, who Wisconsin, having taken the bench 31 years ago at age 28. recently retired from the Dane County District Attorney’s An appointee of Gov. Patrick J. Lucey, Kinney has since Office. DeChambeau also told The Capital Times that he’s been elected five times. Prior to becoming a judge, Kinney considering a building project in northern Wisconsin. was Oneida County district attorney. see Retirements on page 19 ÔPå%Ü)èÚ ÔPÚ ä2Õ ÝéÒ à Ö Ú á ÑÓÒ Ô.Õ Ö Õ ×ÙØ Judge RobertE.Kinney judges; thesuccessorswillstandforelectionin Gov being onthebenchfor31years,” put touseinstateandnationalforums,theirleadership Both areknownfortheirteachingskills,whichtheyhave contributions havebeenmadeoutsideofthecourtroom. longtime serviceonthebench,someoftheirmostimportant retirement. Heismarriedwiththreechildren. will jointhelawfirmofHabush,Habush&Rottier with theyouthofthiscommunity hardworking asheisandsodedicatedtohisjob,especially certainly bedif judge, heworked for1 has beenelected fourtimessince.Priortobecoming a Hof combined judicialexperience. judges whosedeparturewillmeanalossof43years Circuit Courtwillbidafondfarewelltotwolongtime The DailyNews judge fortheUnitedNationsMissioninKosovo,while law opportunities thathighlightthediverseworkavailablein leaving fornewopportunitiesinthelegalprofession– Judge DennisC.Luebke RETIREMENTS Although Luebkeand The judges,DennisC.LuebkeandJosephM. Luebke’ Kinney wasunavailableforcommentonhisplans Luebke joinedthebenchbyappointment in1984,and Over thenextthreemonths,OutagamieCounty Reaction toKinney’ . Luebkehasacceptedanappointmentasinternational fman assaying,“JudgeKinneyishighlyrespected . JimDoyleisexpectedtoappointreplacementsforboth s lastdaywasinJune; ficult tofindareplacementwhoisas Ú)Û+Ü Ò Ý Ô.Þ/ßØ (Rhinelander), whichquotedSherif 1 yearsinprivate practiceandfor s retirementdecisionwasreportedin T roy willbemissedfortheir newspaper granted aninterviewwiththe him for12years.Shealso Mavis knowledgeable ofthelaw been fair our department.Hehasalways and bythemenwomenof among fellowjudges,lawyers fulfillment (he)receivesin with JudgeKinney continued fromp S commissions suchasthe statewide committeesand justice, andtheirserviceon institutionalize restorative to incarcerationand local ef Committee (T T Forum (Luebke)andthePublic District’ served astheEighthJudicial tate/Federal/T rust andConfidenceS Kinney’ .” W T à á/âãÕ ä2Ú åæÚç çÔPÜ W roy’ forts tofindalternatives inkler said.“Itwill , hardworkingandvery s chiefjudge. inkler . “W s judicialassistant, s willbein roy). , hasbeenwith orking firsthand ribal Court , Iseethe age 18 April 2008. T roy also T roy . August. f Jef teering .” , are T f roy ð to embarrassmyself,hedoessowithatrophy ‘trophies thatLuebkehascookedupforhim. that hisothercolleagueshavebeenquiteentertainedbythe line inDennisLuebke’ to change.” you’re reachingsomeoneatamomentwhenthey’reready unexpected momentsinthecourtroomwhereyoufeellike Beyond that, of methatwantstogetbackinthegameasaplayer Prosser said. high regardinwhichheisheldbyotherjudges,” other (chief)judges.Ithinkthatissymbolicofthe Court –andthenelected‘chiefofthechiefs’ been selectedchiefjudgeofhisdistrictbytheSupreme Capitol. “Ifhewerenotfirst-rate,wouldhave T told represented theareainstate a returntohisroots. background inprivatepractice.Hesaidhelooksforwardto reelected threemoretimes.LikeLuebke,hecomesfroma T three yearsasanassistantdistrictattorneyinRacineCounty David the bench–andthatwillmisshim.Justice questions aboutwhyI’mnotatwork.” hardware storeonadayof they gettotakesidesonimportantissues,” of whatajudgedoesisserveasreferee. Crescent individual peopleandcausesIbelievein,”hetold miss notbeingtheadvocateandrepresentativeof the soundofmyownvoice.” with thelettertoeditorwhichdescribedhowmuchIlike the sametee.Ialsohaveasetofmountedmechanicalteeth hole throughinhonorofmywhif explained. “Forexample,Ihaveadriverherethathebore of justiceimpartedtomebythe be theresultofguidanceaf I mayachieveinthisnewendeavorwill,greatmeasure, Macedonia, and eastern EuropeannationthatisborderedbySerbia, working torebuildthecriminalcourtsysteminKosovo,an indicated inhislettertothegovernorthathewouldbe tasks –typing,filing, customerserviceandsoforth –and, Rosemarie Brunsdeftlymanaged anarrayofsecretarial ê roy’ roy joinedthebenchbyelectionin1987,andwas ç Õ Ý Ý Ú ä.ì¢ä2Ú ÔAØ Ø ç T “Basically He waslesscertainthathewouldmiss“beingthepunch “The firmattractsgoodcases,theydevelopthelaw But thereisnodoubtthathewillmisshisworkon Luebke, althoughunavailableforcommentinthisstory In herdecadeattheMilwaukee County Courthouse, The PostCrescent roy saidhewouldmisshiscolleaguesand“the å%Õ Ò ë'Ú Ú ì s colleaguesholdhimisevidentinthestate T . Prosser . “Ihavevaluedandlovedbeingajudge.Butpart T , anytimehecancelebratesomethingI’vedone roy saidhelooksforwardto“goingthe Albania. “I…recognizethatanysuccesses , alongtime á/Ò Ý Ü ââiØ ä2Ú á s pranks,”althoughheacknowledged that thehighesteeminwhich f andnothavingtoanswer Appleton residentwho see íØ forded meandtheprinciples Assembly for18years, W fing morethanoncefrom Õç"îïå%Ú à àØ isconsin courtsystem.” Retirement And there’ T roy said.“I by the ,” s T Ý Ö roy on p The Post .” s apart age 20 , and Judge JosephM.T , .

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÷'ø¢ø¢ù RETIREMENTS continued from page 19 THIRD BRANCH on Valentine’s Day, took on a very different set of duties as looking to go to the next thing, so when this job became

THE the courthouse’s unofficial wedding planner. available, I interviewed and I was lucky enough given the “We had committees for arranging the flowers and competition to make the appointment. In those days there background music; volunteers to bake cupcakes for the were only five court commissioners, and I was one of newlyweds; and people in charge of printing keepsake them,” he said. wedding vows and notifying television stations,” she said. Nearly 30 years later, Liska decided it was time to retire, While professional wedding planners might hope for but still plans to stay involved with the legal profession. nothing unexpected on the big day, Bruns relishes the “I’d like to connect with some of the people that I worked surprises that invariably accompany Valentine’s weddings at with over the years to act of counsel, do research, and the courthouse. Some couples arrive in classic maybe handle some cases ...” tuxedos and white gowns; others show up in blue In addition, he is deciding how to use his newly acquired jeans. Some bring entourages; others favor privacy. spare time. “I have some trips planned and my hobby, “We had one couple that wanted to be married in the hunting, has been something I’ve been doing a lot of this back room and they didn’t want anyone from the TV winter.” Liska also plans to spend time with his family. As it crew to see them,” Bruns said. “We didn’t know if turns out, he said, “I’m as busy as can be.”

they were hiding something or what, but we had to

ý £¤ ¤ !£!£"# ý £$% &¤ '( £$£ ý ÿ¦)+*£"£ ÿ,¢ promise we would do the wedding in the back room and they could leave through the back door.” After 12 years as chief deputy in the Milwaukee County Though managing dozens of weddings could feel Clerk of Circuit Courts Office and 13 years prior to that as Rosemarie Bruns like a full-time job, Bruns – who retired January 12 – clerk of circuit court for Washington County, Jon Sanfilippo spent most of her time assisting Court Commissioner was recently appointed clerk of the United States Court for Frank Liska. the Eastern District of Wisconsin. “Ninety percent of my job was working for Frank Liska, Sanfilippo started his new position at the end of January, who was the head judicial court commissioner,” Bruns said. replacing Sofron Nedilsky who retired after 25 years. While “He retired the week before I did. When people asked why I his duties as a clerk at the federal level are fairly similar to retired a week after him, I joked that I needed a week to those he carried out on the state level, he has noticed there clean up what he left.” are more general responsibilities. In addition to working for Liska, Bruns was also an “For example, the relationship of assistant secretary to Clerk of Circuit Court John Barrett. the courts and clerk of courts Bruns’ first official day of retirement fell on a snowy office to the building,” he said. “I Monday. “I got out of bed, listened to the weather and traffic find myself involved with report, looked outside at the winter blizzard and said to building issues and the physical myself ‘now this is retirement’ and went back to bed,” plant. We have more input and Bruns said. control than in state court.” In retirement, Bruns hopes to continue writing a book of Although he is growing her memoirs, which will include a chapter on the Valentine’s accustomed to working in the Day weddings. She also plans to take trips and spend time federal court, Sanfilippo Jon Sanfilippo with her son and daughter, as well as her grandchildren and acknowledges that he misses the great-grandchild. people he worked with in Milwaukee County. “I still have

contact, but it’s a different kind of thing,” he said.

What he decidedly does not miss is the lack of budget

¢ £ ý ÿ control. “The thing I’m finding that I’m really excited about Following 28 ½ years as Milwaukee County’s in federal court is that the federal court has a decentralized administrative court commissioner, Frank Liska retired budget system that means we have a lot more control over January 2, finally leaving what he jokingly called the three- how we spend the money that is allotted,” he said.

block area where he has lived in his entire life.

- £!)¤ ./"%ý ý£¢ 0&13ü(-ÿ¦ £¢2¤ ¦ £ ÿ “I was putting my last box of papers into the back of my car and I looked up and saw the courthouse where I spent When Corine Bien retired on May 16, Pepin County the bulk of my professional life, to my left was the Circuit Court lost more than 37 years of experience and four community corrections facility, formerly St. Anthony’s court officials rolled into one. Hospital where I was born, and over my right shoulder there Bien served as Pepin County’s register in probate, was Marquette, where I attended law school,” he said. “It probate registrar, juvenile court clerk and judicial assistant. was like I had been running in place.” She began work at the courthouse in 1969 at age 28 as Before his appointment in 1978, Liska spent seven years deputy to then-Register in Probate Thelma Pfeiffer. Bien in private practice working on a variety of cases until said she never expected to matching Pfeiffer’s 41 years of deciding it was time to try something different. “You know, service, but she doesn’t regret getting close. when you’re young, you’re enthusiastic to try it all. I was “It seems like you learn something new just about every see Retirements on page 27 T af statewide committeesthathavetackledmajorissues added thathehasbeenfortunatetoworkonanumberof had thepleasuretoknowoveryears,”Scottsaid.He hard-working staf many talentedand the DCAs,and and JimEvenson, judges, DorothyBain current andpastchief system. W eight yearswiththe W (headquartered in District 9 S (headquartered in District Six has servedboth National Guard,and colonel inthe Representatives. with theU.S.Houseof relation) willtakeup Ed Johnson(no while CourtReporter position withthefederaldistrictcourtinDesMoines,Iowa, District Court to embarkuponnewcareerswiththefederalgovernment. W began workinIowaonMay17. services to interpretation, caseloadmanagement,andimproving (including alternativestoincarceration),language as makingtherecord,developingef honor toworkinthestatecourts.” honor toworkinthefederalcourts,justasithasbeenan position thatwillof always looksfornewchallenges,”hesaid,“andthisisa manage alar classmate attheInstituteforCourtManagement–to work closelywiththeclerk–agoodfriendandformer Court thatservessouthernIowa.Incapacity Representatives. to workasanof reporter career move toSilverSpring, MarylandasEdprepares forhisnew @£A B tevens Point)and fecting thedeliveryofjusticein ausau) duringhis isconsin court isconsin after26yearsofworking asanof The otherJohnson,CourtReporterEd,isleaving “I willmissmy Scott isalieutenant Scott’ Scott willbecomechiefdeputyclerkfortheU.S.District Ed andhiswifeKatie,wholive in Port C%D£EGF£HIE7D%J'KF£D£L%MF£L£M leaving thestatecourtsystem(andstate)thisspring wo longtime,highlyregardedcourtemployeesare . Hisgoalistowork ontheHousefloor . HewillstepdownfromhisOzaukee Countypost s lastdayinhis pro se ge, complexcourtsystem.“Iamapersonwho Air Administrator ScottJohnsonhasaccepteda ficial reporterfortheU.S.House of f I’ve litigants. fer manyopportunities.Itwillbean In February the SupremeCourt,aW support ofJohnson’ now ondisplayattheCourt,waspresentedinthanksforCourt’ Metzgar W ausau of , Col.MichaelHinman,andLt.ScottJohnson.Theflag, W fective justicestrategies fice wasMay4.He , ChiefJusticeShirleyS. isconsin -issuessuch W s active-dutymilit ficial court ashington, will , buthe’llstart , hewill isconsin flagpresentedby(fromlef Abrahamson accepted,onbehalfof ary service. proceedings. committee meetings,depositions,andotherspecial with atrainingprogramthatincludesreportingfor before headingtoOzaukeeCounty caliber bothpersonallyandprofessionally many dif (District 3andthestate)arebiglosersinthisdealon had todigdeepfindhumorinEd’ shortage ofcertifiedcourtreporters,wasamongthosewho court administrators,hasstruggledinrecentyearswiththe other word. of 13yearsasacourtreporterbecausehe’ Ed workedsixyearsasanof District Court Court Reporters Distinguished Service t where heexpect W Court ReporterEdJohnson,who isleaving alent isconsin fortheintrigueofW ferent levels,”Neimonwrote.“Edisofthehighest s togooduse,is shownacceptingthe Administrator MikeNeimon,who,likeall t) Col.T s toputhisst Association in2003. A s ed ward oftheW ficial reporterinMarinette advisor has servedaslegislative Association, forwhichhe Court Reporters gatherings oftheNational performing before hopes tocontinue done overtheyears.He stand-up comedyashehas continue todabblein 20 years. president ofthe reporters thangeneral appreciated bycourt deprecating humorisbetter Association. Court Reporters only workedtheequivalent colleagues isthathehas among afewofhis example, therunningjoke acknowledged. For audiences, Ed and-up-comedy ashington, D.C., , wherehe’ s announcement.“W Ed saidhewill Some ofhisself- . He’ isconsin .” s missedevery N s alsoapast s workedfor W isconsin e

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VXWWY PEOPLE THIRD BRANCH When Rep. Joel Kleefisch, R-Oconomowoc, introduced Media across Wisconsin reported on a poll of 500 likely

THE legislation that would require bright green license plates for voters in the Supreme Court race. The poll, conducted by convicted sex offenders, he got people talking. In a front the Federalist Society, asked respondents to name any one page story, The Capital Times quoted Kleefisch as saying of the current justices or any one of the candidates. Seventy- that he proposed the color green six percent could not name anyone. Nine percent named because children already equate Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson, but no other justice it with ‘Mr. Yuk,’ a symbol was named by more than two percent. Other questions developed for use on poisons. revealed that most (78 percent) do not know that there are The article noted that Ohio seven justices on the state’s court of last resort. issues bright yellow plates to “Heading repeat drunk drivers. No word at from classes on press time on the bill’s chances a local college of becoming law. campus to his Wisconsin’s early years were job inside a Rep. Joel Kleefisch marked by numerous tugs-of- brewery, Corey war waged between Stern has to municipalities that sought to be designated as county seats. make one stop. The battle waged in Juneau County – a battle sparked by the He has to go to need to build a courthouse – was recently recounted by jail.” So began county historian Rose Clark in the Juneau County Star a feature story Photo credit: La Crosse Tribune Times. The contenders were Mauston and New Lisbon. The in the February Justice Sanctions Program Coordinator people of Mauston hatched a two-part plan: first, create a 8 edition of the Jane Klekamp participates in a meeting with Judge Dale T. Pasell and other new county from land that had been part of Adams County; Milwaukee members of the La Crosse County Drug second, win designation as the new county’s seat. Mauston Journal Court. Klekamp was lauded in the May 21 was brilliantly successful in the first endeavor, but not so Sentinel on La edition of the La Crosse Tribune for her much in the second. After working diligently to establish Crosse Justice tireless work to build effective justice strategies in La Crosse. Juneau County, Mauston found itself bested by New Lisbon Sanctions, a day as county seat. Furious, Mauston brought its case to the reporting center Wisconsin Supreme Court, which was sitting in Janesville in that has replaced La Crosse County’s Huber Center, which the summer of 1860. The key to Mauston’s case was closed in January 2006. Most Justice Sanctions ‘clients’ are election clerk C.N. Holden, who was expected to testify required to appear frequently – sometimes daily – and that New Lisbon officials had stuffed the ballot box. In an submit to various alcohol and drug tests. An offender who attempt to prevent Holden’s testimony, New Lisbon misses an appointment is subject to immediate incarceration. obtained a warrant for his arrest. A Mauston lawyer whom Coordinator Jane Klekamp told the newspaper that she the account does not name prevented the New Lisbon revokes 20 or fewer clients per month out of the 200 in the authorities from serving Holden by moving him around a program. Klekamp said that the center’s biggest advantage – series of houses in Janesville. Holden ultimately gave other than cost savings – is its ability to focus on damaging testimony rehabilitation. The staff includes counselors who work with against New Lisbon but the offenders on a variety of issues. subsequently recanted – Among the thousands in Madison for the UW supposedly for fear of commencement ceremonies was U.S. Supreme Court Justice being lynched. The Court Antonin Scalia, who, with his wife, watched his son receive in 1864 held that a Ph.D. in English. While in town, Scalia also did a favor Mauston was the rightful for his son's advisor: he teamed up with Chief Justice county seat. The county’s Shirley S. Abrahamson to perform the professor’s courthouse was built in wedding ceremony in the Capitol. When Scalia realized Mauston in 1875 at a that he had forgotten his robe, he called the chief justice to cost of $10,000. see about borrowing one. Justice Louis B. Butler Jr.’s robe Judge Charles Kahn reacts to an As numerous media fit perfectly. unusually trying week in Milwaukee’s outlets reported, “Community service hours need tracking” headlined an Civil Division. hundreds of hardy souls editorial in the March 14 edition of the Green Bay Press shed perfectly good parkas this winter and ran into Lake Gazette. The newspaper’s editorial board, following a Michigan’s icy waters. Judge Charles Kahn, Milwaukee meeting with Corrections Secretary Matt Frank, called for County Circuit Court, was among those taking the Polar Bear Plunge. see People on page 23 Abrahamson commented onthegreaterlikelihood ofviolent Baum enhancements. Featuredin million renovation,includingnumerous security part ofthelar January dedicationofthe public service.” constant reminderofthepresencestillgoodpeopledoing headlined “A Ministry (MUM),asocialactionor ef justice in this year bachelor Butler isanalumnusofLawrence,whereheearnedhis honorary degreeduringitsspringgraduationceremony will recognizehisaccomplishmentsbyconferringan during commencementseason;first,LawrenceUniversity The Post-Crescent Lawrence UniversityMemorialChapel,andwrittenupby reporting in that moredif sur of they volunteeringtimefornonprofits?[Or]aregetting the editorialproposed.“Aretheycleaningupditches? letting thepubliccheckuponourdefendants’ community service.“[L]et’ sentences thatwouldtrackcompletionofcourt-ordered a statewide,searchabledatabaseofcommunityservice March 14editionofthe of had hopedthatthemovewouldpermittransferof approved bythe by thecounty’ inmates intoanewday-reportingprogramthatwasproposed experiencing asitworkstomoveabout50work-release discussed thechallengesthat Justice LouisB.ButlerJr PEOPLE forts asexecutivedirectorofMadison-areaUrban f easy?” ficers overtothejail,whichisshortstaf ge inthenumberorinmatesonwork-releasewillmake Chief Justice Former DistrictFivecourtadministrator Butler gavethekeynoteaddressathisotheralmamater Justice “Of was recognizedin fender monitoringcouldbedelayed,”anarticleinthe ’ ’ s s degreein1973,andalsowaskeynotespeakerfor W Louis B.Butler Mar isconsin history April. ficult. Of ger JusticeCenterwhichunderwent a$13.9 Selfless Servant,”Baumwaslaudedas“a s CriminalJusticeCollaboratingCounciland tin Luther continued fromp W Shirley S. aukesha CountyBoard.Lawenforcement (Appleton). ficials stillhopedtobeginday Milwaukee JournalSentinel . Madison Magazine W s findaneasy-to-usemeansof King Jr The WestBendDailyNews . Jr Abrahamson ashington CountyCourthouse, Gov W and wasappointedtothe the LawSchool’ Madison. Butlerisamemberof T on May18attheMonona during thehoodingceremony the UW American SupremeCourt becoming thefirst W errace ConventionCenterin . isconsin SupremeCourtby is indemandasaspeaker aukesha Countyis . Jim Doyle age 22 . ganization. Inacolumn celebration heldatthe Law School.Hespoke attended the fed, butarecent Mar s Classof1977, in 2004, for hertireless handy work,” African- y Kay , , Are . , hold deartothemarebeingthreatened.” high, childrenareinvolvedandthingsthey matters traditionallybecauseemotionsrun “Court securityissuestendtocomeupmostlyinfamilylaw outburst infamilycourt,whichmanypeopleoverlook. as actingmayorof Kristine Deiss W replacement. Deisswasappointedtothe city councilpicksamorepermanent former Mayor fill thealdermanicseatleftvacantby job inLouisville,Ky recently resignedtotakeaprivate-sector published anewbookonthesagaof escaped slavewhofoundfreedomin sesquicentennial. honorary doctorateoflawdegreefromRoger the 2006. contribution toMilwaukeehistoryduring Gambrinus Prizeforbestbook-length Milwaukee CountyHistoricalSociety’ a stand-of T legal andconstitutionalhistoryatGeor H. Rober Rescue ofJoshuaGlover the FugitiveSlave Supreme Courtandthefederalcourtsover the lawschool’ Bristol, R.I. University’ significance andimpactofsome conferring thedegree,lawschoolof delivered herremarks“A Hon. doctorate oflawreceivedby Laws, honoriscausa.” graduates, andwearehonoredtoawardyouthisDoctorof intellectual curiosityserveasanexampletoallofour service andtheadministrationofjusticeyour your path-breakingjudicialcareer accomplishments: “ChiefJusticeShirleyS. political responsibility in theircareers,relationshipsand exercisingsocialand them totakerisksinacceptingand facinglife’ neutral, fair be courageousandcommittedto democracy speech, members ofthelawschool’ ech University est BendCommonCouncilin2005to W The Chief Justice W ashington CountyClerkofCourt Ronald isconsin supremecourtplayproducedforthestate’ The Gloverstorywasthebasisfor Ohio UniversityPress Abrahamson encouragedgraduating lawstudentsto t Baker f betweenthe s RalphR.PapittoSchoolofLawonMay18in , impartial,non-partisanjudiciary Abrahamson alsowasthefeaturedspeakerat A. Cass Douglas Bade s commencementceremony has beenselectedtoserve . Itrecentlywonthe Shirley S. , anassistantprofessorof Act. W . est Benduntilthe . and The degree,the15thhonorary f The book,“The W ,” waswrittenby V isconsin Atty iew fromtheBench.”In s boardofdirectors.Inher Abrahamson Abrahamson, wasconferredby . Bade has . Roscoe C.Howard , yourdedicationtopublic Abrahamson’ ficials notedthe W Joshua Glover s gia isconsin andsparked received an , whereshe Abrahamson, , justiceand Abrahamson Chief JusticeShirleyS. Joshua Glover . Sheur W s challenges illiams s many , ged , the s

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mXnno Chief judges are responsible for supervising judicial Subcommittee. Most recently, Nowakowski chaired the

THIRD BRANCH administrative business in each of the state’s ten judicial committee that developed the new weighted-caseload districts. They manage the flow of cases, supervise study, and he helped oversee completion of the new Dane THE personnel, develop budgets, and meet monthly as a County Courthouse. committee to work on issues of statewide importance. In the Seventh Judicial District, which encompasses With the exception of Milwaukee, where the chief judge Buffalo, Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Jackson, La Crosse, is a full-time administrator, chief judges and their deputies Monroe, Pepin, Pierce, Richland, Trempealeau and Vernon maintain court calendars in addition to handling counties, Judge William D. Dyke, Iowa County, succeeds administrative matters. Chief Judge Michael J. Rosborough. In the Fourth Judicial District, which encompasses As circuit court judge in Iowa County, Dyke has Calumet, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, and overseen a variety of innovative outreach and diversion Winnebago counties, Deputy Chief Judge Darryl W. Deets, programs, including a successful teen court. He’s a member Manitowoc County, succeeds Chief Judge L. Edward of PPAC’s Subcommittee on Effective Justice Strategies. Stengel, Sheboygan County. Under his leadership, Iowa County became one of five Deets, who has been deputy counties in the state participating in Assess, Inform and chief judge since August 2001, Measure (AIM) to help assess the needs and risks of has served on the Supreme criminal offenders. Dyke was appointed in 1997 and has Court’s Judicial Education been re-elected since 1998. Committee and on the planning During his 12 years in judicial committee for the 2005 Bench administration – six years each as and Bar Conference at which he chief judge and deputy chief judge was a presenter. – Rosborough has become known In Manitowoc County, he led for his collaborative and supportive several initiatives, including management style. His district- setting up a CASA (court- wide training programs for judges Chief Judge Deputy Chief Judge appointed special advocates) on topics such as domestic L. Edward Stengel Darryl W. Deets program and a victim impact violence, and child abuse and panel for repeat drunk drivers in Sheboygan, Manitowoc, neglect became models for training and Calumet counties. He also started a mentoring program programs statewide. Rosborough Chief Judge Michael J. and served as a mentor for youth in the juvenile justice has headed the PPAC Court Rosborough system. Judge Deets was appointed to the bench in 1998 and Finance Committee and the Chief has been re-elected since 1989. Judges Juror Selection and Stengel, who has served as chief judge since August Treatment Subcommittee. 2001, is president of the Wisconsin Voluntary Trial Judges Chief judges re-appointed to Association. He is a past deputy chief judge and has served their posts include First District on the Executive Committee of the Judicial Conference and Chief Judge Kitty K. Brennan, on the Criminal Benchbook Committee. Milwaukee, and Tenth District In the Fifth Judicial District, which encompasses Dane, Chief Judge Benjamin D. Proctor, Green, Lafayette and Rock counties, Judge C. William Eau Claire. The First District Foust, Dane County, succeeds Chief Judge Michael N. encompasses Milwaukee County; Nowakowski, Dane County. the Tenth Judicial District Judge William D. Dyke Foust is a former Dane encompasses Ashland, Barron, County district attorney who Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, was appointed as a judge in Polk, Rusk, St. Croix, Sawyer, and Washburn counties.

1997 and elected in 1998. He Other chief judges are: ~ served as presiding judge of District 2, Judge Gerald P. Ptacek, Racine County the Dane County criminal (District 2 encompasses Racine, Kenosha, and Walworth

division from 2001 to 2005 counties) ~ and has headed the Criminal District 3, Judge J. Mac Davis, Waukesha County Benchbook Committee since (District 3 encompasses Jefferson, Ozaukee,

2002. He is a member of the Washington, and Waukesha counties) ~ Chief Judge Judge C. William Foust Dane County Criminal Justice District 6, Judge John R. Storck, Dodge County (District Michael N. Nowakowski Group and has served on the 6 encompasses Adams, Clark, Columbia, Dodge, Green Coordinated Community Response Task Force, first as Lake, Juneau, Marquette, Portage, Sauk, Waushara, and

district attorney, and then as a judge, since 1989. Wood counties) ~ Nowakowski became chief judge in 2001 and was District 8, Judge Sue Bischel, Brown County (District 8 selected as chair of the Committee of Chief Judges in encompasses Brown, Door, Kewaunee, Marinette,

August 2006. During his administrative tenure, he has Oconto, Outagamie, and Waupaca counties) ~ served in a variety of key posts, including as chair and District 9, Judge Dorothy L. Bain, Marathon County secretary of the Judicial Conference. He also has served on (District 9 encompasses Florence, Forest, Iron, the Civil Benchbook Committee and the Supreme Court’s Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Menominee, Oneida,

Planning and Policy Advisory Committee’s Planning Price, Shawano, Taylor, and Vilas counties) services theClerk’ collaborating withCCAP staf brought himtoMadison.“Iamdelighted tobeworkingwiththeClerk’ see similaritiestorealfiguresand eventsofthemid-1990s,Schankersaid. public defenderintheother character namedNoraLumsey third. Bothpublishednovelsfocusontheappellateprocessandfeature alead 1998) and has authoredtwolegal-themednovels, e) d) the clerkofIndianaSupremeCourt,Court in Indianapolis. Indiana University “a starvingartist,”workingintheaterandfilmbeforeearningalaw degreeat speaking, “alloftheabove”isbestanswer is thenewclerkofSupremeCourtand Y China lastyear Madison willbeagoodplacetoraiseJulia,6,whomthecoupleadoptedfrom c) b) a) court clerk Indiana lawyerisnewappellate Katie, 8;Daniel,10;andJoseph,12. an inner A Wisconsin LawJournal David R.Schanker ork Universityandamaster ward. HelivesinMiddletonwithhiswife, NEW All oftheabove A The clerkofSupremeCourtand As thecoupleworksonrelocating, Schankerissettlingintotherolethat A A The worksarefiction,butpeoplefamiliarwiththeIndianacourt systemmay Who isDavidR.Schanker? Schanker justrelocatedfromIndianapolis,whereheservedaschiefdeputyto Given thatthisarticleappearsin Schanker alsoholdsanunder Schanker grewupinNewJerseyandlived Hanrahan recentlywasselectedfortheLeaderinLaw Prior tohislegalcareer f, adedicatedandprofessionalgroup ofpeople,”hesaid.“Ilookforwardto novelist andplaywright film buf guy whoenjoyshomefix-upprojects -city emer Natural Law F ACES f andformerteacheroffilmcreativewriting . gency foodandclothingprograminMilwaukee. , asdidSuzanne.Heworkedinprivatepracticeforfouryears s Of fice providestothecourts,bar . HeisalsoarecipientoftheS continued fromp (S and theotherjudicialagenciesin improvingthe t. Martin’ , Hanrahanledseveralsocialjusticeef . daughter Julia.Hestartedwiththecourts Madison withhiswifeSuzanneandyoungest he heldfornearlyeightyears.Heismovingto couple alreadyhadagoodimpressionof there asachild.ContributingtoMadison’ age daughterCheshire,whoattendedaviolincamp from visitingS Schanker said,aretheCapitol,UW national listserv Connecticut College,theSchankersanticipate resources suchasthe ’ s degreeinwritingfromColumbiaUniversity , whoworksasalawclerkinonenoveland When hespottedthe While Cheshirehasmovedontoattend graduate degreeinfilmandtelevisionfromNew s Minotaur The ThirdBranch A CriminalAppeal age 3 tevens Pointwiththeirnowcollege- , hesaid“jumpedatit.” Anne LeGare,andhisthreechildren, Appeals . , 2001),andhe’ Appeals. Buttechnically Appeals and Arboretum. W tellman Justicefor , onemightguessSchanker Y isconsin jobpostingona ork Cityfor15yearsas , andthepublic.” (S t. Martin’ A s workingona T ward ofthe ax Court–ajob forts including , andnatural W April 9. s appeal, s Minotaur s Of The isconsin W omen fice . He , ¬ ¬ ¦§©¨ª« ¨7¨¦ /x st by legal needsstudy W Committee, presentedtheresultsof S J. Sankovitz,amemberofthe represented litigants. develop initiativestohelpself- increase funding streamsforservices, and academiatocreatepermanent partnerships betweenthebench,bar would requirecollaborative availability ofcivillegalservices W (which alsoincludedJustice by MarquetteLawSchool. Committee, theconferencewashosted access tociviljusticein gathered todiscussthefutureofequal than 200lawyersandjudgeswho C www the reportat report onunmetcivillegalneeds. Read recommendations cont focused onotherkeyfindingsand Much oftheconferencediscussion W the first Or Conference, heldonMarch16. 500,000 Needs,” revealsthatmorethan W to ensureaccessjusticeforall how toworkandplancollaboratively lively andengaging,focusedon Law School. distinguished professoratMarquette former JusticeJanineP brainstorming exercisefacilitatedby topic oftheclosingsession,a legal assistance. serious civillegalproblemswithout Gap: March andtitled“BridgingtheJustice atewide tate Bar alsh Bradley)thatincreasingthe isconsin’ isconsin Legal isconsin citizens. Ann Zimmerman, ganized bytheS Abrahamson toldtheaudience Milwaukee CountyJudgeRichard Meeting theselegalneedswasthe .wisbar +¥ Abrahamson welcomedmore hief JusticeShirleyS. W isconsin’ W W pro bono pro se Access toJustice isconsin EqualJustice isconsin residentsface s firstcomprehensivecivil .org/committees/atj/study The discussionwas coordinator s UnmetLegal . ¦¡7¢£X¤¥ ¨ Assistance The study legal servicesand tate Barof ained inthenew . Geske,nowa W isconsin at , issuedin Ann .

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´Xµµ¶ AWARDS continued from page 9 THIRD BRANCH conduct the training, as did Clerk of Circuit Court Diane The award recognizes THE Fremgen, Winnebago County; Deputy Clerk Susan Schaffer, documents that contribute Eau Claire County Circuit Court; and Deputy Bill Blumer, significantly to the Dane County Sheriff’s Department. expansion of knowledge and

public understanding of

¹)º£»½¼£¾)¿ À£º#¿ ÁÂ£º£ÁÃÄ¿ ÅÆ#¿ ÁÇ£È£Å%ÁQ¿ Å government agencies, and Filing a Petition for Review, a new booklet developed that provide inspiration and by Supreme Court Commissioner Nancy Kopp and former pleasure to an identifiable Clerk of Supreme Court Cornelia G. Clark, edited by Court readership. Work is Information Officer Amanda K. Todd, and designed by recognized for clarity of Cricket Design Works, has been recognized as one of the presentation, typography, top two government publications produced in Wisconsin design and overall appeal. during 2006. The association will The booklet, a plain-English instructional guide for submit the publication for consideration by the American

litigants and lawyers, tied for first place in the Wisconsin Library Association for national honors. É Library Association’s Government Information Round

Table. The award will be presented in June.

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n addition to the Hmong Glossary and the Jury Bailiff Training Program, the following programs also won Iawards from the State Bar: Awards of Exceptional Achievement The Douglas County Bar Association, which The Clark County Bar Association, for developing produced an educational DVD for divorcing parents. and implementing a free legal clinic that offers The Oneida-Vilas-Forest County Bar Association, residents an opportunity to speak with a Wisconsin which created a free legal clinic for residents of the attorney on basic divorce, family matters, small claims, three-county area providing an opportunity to speak and probate issues. The clinic is open once a month at with a lawyer about basic legal questions. Meetings various locations. were held in four locations in Oneida, Vilas, and Forest The La Crosse County Bar Association, for counties. The clinic closed due to lack of use by the developing a custody assessment team DVD in general public. response to comments from parents who felt a need to The Outagamie County Bar Association, which better understand the process. established a safe exchange center where parents can The Marathon County Bar Association, which exchange their children for placement purposes in a received three awards for three separate projects, safe, neutral, supervised location. The project’s goal is including the Hmong Legal Glossary, Hmong Small to minimize the exposure of children to Claims/Landlord Tenant brochures, and “Transitions: domestic violence. An Immigration Legal Resource Guide” in The Portage County Bar Association, which Hmong/English and Spanish/English. developed “Justiceworks,” a public service initiative The Washington County Bar Association, which was that educates the public about the justice system and instrumental in planning the conference entitled, facilitates citizen involvement to help bridge the gaps Domestic Violence: The Batterer as a Parent. This one- between the justice system and related community day conference focused on strengthening the needs. Association members gave presentations to more relationship between institutions and agencies that work than 500 residents, including victims, youth and adult to reduce domestic violence. offenders, families, elected officials, and community groups. Awards of Achievement Each year, local and specialty bar associations The Dane County Bar Association, for preparing develop public service projects with funding from the divorce and paternity flow charts for use with the State Bar’s Local Bar Grants Competition. Bar

association’s family DVD series for pro se litigants. associations can receive up to $2,500. É The association’s Delivery of Legal Services Committee developed the flow charts to accompany its Visit www.wisbar.org/bargrants to download an second DVD for unrepresented litigants going through application. For more information, contact Kris Wenzel, the divorce or paternity process. State Bar outreach coordinator, at (800) 444-9404, ext. 6185, or (608) 250-6185. Locante &ZieglerLLP mar defeated privatepractitionerKaraBur 21 yearsonthebench,isDistrict S career inprivatepracticeemphasizingconsumerlaw law schoolat20.Hecametothebenchaftera22-year Monroe County( Abbott, whoisretiringafter12yearsonthebenchin T L. GoodmanoftheSpartalawfirmOsborne,& Gordon Myse,whoendorsedhimintheelection. served asalawclerktoretiredCourtof Pocan winsMilwaukeerace backlog thathasaccruedsincePerlich’ School. HewassworninMay14tohelpdealwiththe Brinckman. Horneisa1979graduateoftheUW Judge W Joseph H.Riedner around thestate,”shesaid. miss thepeople,camaraderie withtheotherregistrars opportunities forprofessionalinteraction arelimited.“I’ll special importanceinsmall,rural countieswhere better” -particularlytheadvent of e-mail,whichis workshop, saidtechnologyhasmadeherjob“infinitely a ConsolidatedCourt who rememberssettingupherowncomputerafterattending development –theadventofinformationtechnology work, adramaticincreaseindivorces,and–positive Bien said. day Morey Ù ÚÜÛxÝxÞ¥ßÜàIáâ ripp SC,byabout650votesoutof6,700cast. RETIREMENTS p Atty Ziegler defeatedanotherprivatepractitioner Ziegler isa1995graduateoftheUW Judge Among thosechanges:anincreaseinjuvenilecourt In all,Bienserved fivejudgesduringhercareer: Judge , andtherehavebeenalotofchangesovertheyears,” art gin. Eliminatedintheprimaryelectionwas , JudgeJamesJ. Duvall,andJudgeJohn . a lawyerwillsucceedJudge T illiam S.Pocan W odd L.Ziegler illiam S.Pocan,appointedbyGov see separatestory,page18 continued fromp , JudgeGarySchlosstein, JudgeDaneF Automation Programs(CCAP) , willsucceedJudgeS , oftheSpartalawfirmGleiss, crime’ attorney whoranona‘tough Liegel, anassistantdistrict challenger Christopher of about80,000cast.Pocanbeat mar to afull,6-yeartermby Michael Sullivan,wonelection last JulytosucceedJudge entered collegeatage16and continued fromp Pocan, aKenoshanative, gin ofabout1,000votesout Atty age 13 platform. . ScottL.Horne,who gos byatwo-to-one s retirement. Appeals Judge Law Schooland ). teven L. . JimDoyle age 20 , Atty Atty Abbott Law Ø A. . John . . Bien, . Mark . Information Office. By grandchildren. children (fourofwhomliveinEau Claire),and16 with herfamily system.” expertise. “Itwillbeliketryingtoreplacetheentire to thepublic.”Headdedthathewouldmissherwisdomand of knowledgethatcomeswithlongexperienceandattention T when Riednerwascountyjudge. Bartholomew elegram article,whereDuvallsaid,“Shehasthestorehouse Amanda T In retirement,Bienlooksforward tospendingmoretime Bien’ Cour without oppositionon W Daniel Gerald P Michael O.BohrenandDonaldJ.HassinJr Patrick J.Faragher T Richard O. Gregory Grau,MarathonCounty Daryl Ramona Barbara T Edward F John John Dominic S. Thomas G Daniel P Andrew P Diane M.Nicks,DaneCounty Michael Kirchman,CrawfordCounty Cir Paul Lundsten,DistrictIV ã)ä'ä£å%å£ä£æç om R. imothy M. illiam F The followingjudgeswereelectedorre-elected cuit Cour Dodge County W Joseph R. s retirementwasreportedinanEauClaireLeader A. Damon, V t of aukesha County W . Finn,PortageCounty T W A. Kluka,KenoshaCounty . Deets,ManitowocCounty . . Ptacek,RacineCounty . Dillon,RockCounty odd, T A. Gonzalez,LaCrosseCounty , acircuitjudgewhocametoPepinCounty Anderson, DistrictII . Appeals . BissonnetteandJohnR.S . Hue,Jef . Grover olfgram, OzaukeeCounty Ø , includinghusbandRonald,seven grown Vlack, S W Amato, MichaelB.Brennan,and V t: right, MarquetteCounty an W om Sheehan,and BrigidMoroney all, MilwaukeeCounty è2ç T Akkeren, SheboyganCounty : rempealeau County , Menominee/ShawanoCounties , ä£é t. CroixCounty ferson County W . ashington County April 3: Ø torck, ., , Court -

THE THIRD BRANCH ÓÔÔÕ ÍÎÏ7Ð ÑÒ Ö?×

ð£ñ£ò£ð%óGô£ð)î ðõ£ó¦ñö ð£÷ùø£úûð£ñ£ó¡÷ Chief Justice ëíì/ëïî Shirley S. Abrahamson Director of State Courts eputy Director for Court policies and procedures for court A. John Voelker DOperations Sheryl A. Gervasi is management. The office also provides Editor celebrating 35 years with the court statistical data on circuit court Amanda K. Todd system, casting doubt upon her caseload, manages the Associate Editor contention that she is still 39 years old. interpreter program and the C. Colleen Flesher Gervasi started with the Children’s Court Improvement Contributing Writers Administrative Director of the Courts Program, and provides staff for Deborah Brescoll Office – as it was then known – in the Planning and Policy Brigid Moroney 1972. She worked in a clerical position Advisory Committee. Nancy Rottier Tom Sheehan for several years before her promotion Gervasi’s institutional history Erin Slattengren to legislative assistant. That job and people skills (which include A. John Voelker eventually became the legislative a remarkable ability to say just Ann Zimmerman liaison post, which Gervasi held until about anything to anyone) have Editorial Committee her 2003 appointment as deputy served her well in the court Sheryl A. Gervasi Hon. Michael J. Rosborough director. system. She counts many of the Vernon County Circuit Court In her current role, Gervasi state’s judges, the chief justice, and Gregg T. Moore District Ten Court Administrator oversees a group of central-office staff members of the Supreme Court among Carolyn Olson as well as the district court her close friends. A number of judges Iowa County Clerk of Circuit administrators, working to provide and legislators attended her 25th Court judges and clerks of circuit court with anniversary party in 1996. Graphic Design/Layout technical assistance and management Although she frequently threatens C. Colleen Flesher help. This includes disseminating to retire, she insisted that no change is relevant legislative information, imminent – much to the relief of her The Third Branch is a offering guidance as to the practical colleagues in Madison and judges quarterly publication of the

effects of new legislation, and setting across the state. ê Director of State Courts

Office, providing news of

Send questions, comments, n Tuesday, June 19, for the first time in the history of the state, a statewide and article ideas to: Oconference on self-representation will be held. Representatives of the courts Amanda K. Todd in all 10 Wisconsin judicial districts will come together to focus on improving Court Information Officer P.O. Box 1688 services to people who represent themselves in court. The statewide conference is Madison, WI 53701-1688 an outgrowth of last June’s first-ever joint meeting of the Ninth and Tenth phone Judicial Districts in Chippewa Falls. (608) 264-6256 The program will focus on how to build the necessary infrastructure for e-mail supporting sustainable court-based pro se programming; available resources for [email protected] program development; and various Wisconsin-based model programs. fax Judge Kevin S. Burke, who serves on the district court in Hennepin County, (608) 267-0980 Minn., will deliver the keynote address on the connection between public trust and confidence in the justice system and pro se assistance. Burke is the recipient of many national awards for judicial leadership and excellence, and has spoken frequently both within the United States and in Canada, Mexico, China, India, and Ireland regarding improvement in judicial administration and court leadership. Leading the program will be the respective chairs of the District 9 and District 10 committees on self-represented litigants: Deputy Chief Judge Gary L. Carlson, Taylor County Circuit Court; Clerk of Court Karen Hepfler, Chippewa County Circuit Court; and Atty. Ann Zimmerman, who coordinates statewide pro se projects as executive assistant to Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson. Director of State Courts A. John Voelker will also participate. More than 50 committee members and others – including judges, attorneys, court commissioners, clerks of court, registers in probate, staff from the State Bar and Wisconsin Judicare, academics, and community members are expected to attend. For more about services for the self-represented litigants, see page 6.

The conference will run from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., June 19, at 212 River Drive in Wausau. For more information, contact Ann Zimmerman at (608) 261-8297 or www.wicourts.gov [email protected].