Dec. 17, 2014 – Get involved in activities that influence the practice of law and guide the State Bar. Deadlines are fast approaching for the 2015 elections.
State Bar Offices
The State Bar will elect a president-elect, a treasurer, and a Judicial Council representative, and all four divisions will elect officers in 2015. Deadlines to run for these leadership offices are approaching. State Bar members also can make officer nominations by filing a petition with the State Bar by Feb. 2, 2015. Petitions must be signed by 100 active Bar members. To receive an officer petition, contact Jan Marks by email or by phone at (608) 250-6106, or (800) 444-9404, ext. 6106.
Board of Governors
Districts 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 will elect governors in 2015. District 2 (Milwaukee) elects seven; District 9 (Dane) elects three; and all other districts elect one. The Board of Governors is the State Bar's policymaking body. Governors serve two-year terms.
To be considered for a seat on the Board of Governors, members must submit a petition signed by 10 active members in their district at the State Bar by March 2, 2015. Trouble downloading the petition? Contact Jan Marks by email or by phone at (608) 250-6106, or (800) 444-9404, ext. 6106.
Division Electronic Elections: Are you set up to receive your ballot?
The State Bar of Wisconsin has partnered with Survey & Ballot Systems to administer the Government Lawyers Division, Non-Resident Lawyers Division and Young Lawyers Division elections. To assure your election specific email arrives safely in your inbox in April, 2015, simply add the following email address as an approved sender: noreply@directvote.net. You will be receiving ballots and bios for those divisions in which you are eligible to vote. Division election ballots will be emailed no later than April 10, 2015 and must be returned by April 24, 2015. If you do not follow the process described above, your ballot may go directly into your Spam Folder.
If you are interested in confirming whether you have a hold code on your member record which might prevent you from receiving electronic ballots, please phone a State Bar Customer Service representative at 800-728-7788.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Annette Ashley, Member Services Manager, at aashley@wisbar.org.
Senior Lawyers Division
If the election is contested, the Senior Lawyers Division ballots will be mailed no later than April 10, 2015 and must be returned by April 24, 2015. Persons elected will take office July 1, 2015.
Division Officers
The State Bar divisions are selecting candidates to run in their 2015 elections. Eligible State Bar members interested in running for a division office can submit their interest to the contact person identified and within the timeframe below:
Government Lawyers Division (GLD) members will choose a president-elect, secretary, treasurer, and three division directors to serve two-year terms. GLD members are asked to send resumes and letters of interest to the GLD Nominating Committee, attn: Annette Ashley, by Jan. 14, 2015.
Nonresident Lawyers Division (NRLD) members will choose a president-elect for a one-year term, and a secretary, treasurer, and five directors to serve two-year terms. Please note that only active and emeritus-status NRLD members can run for these positions. Interested NRLD members are asked to send resumes and letters of interest to the NRLD Nominating Committee, attn: Kris Wenzel by Jan. 11, 2015.
Senior Lawyers Division (SLD) members will choose a president-elect for a one-year term and a secretary, treasurer and three directors to serve two-year terms. SLD members should write to the SLD Nominating Committee, attn.: Annette Ashley, by Jan. 7, 2015.
Young Lawyers Division (YLD) members will choose a president-elect for a one-year term and a treasurer and five directors to serve two-year terms. Interested YLD members are asked to send resumes and letters of interest to the YLD Nominating Committee, attn.: Kris Wenzel, by Feb. 1, 2015.
Send letters to the appropriate nominating committee State Bar, P.O. Box 7158, Madison, WI 53707-7158. You may also email the contact persons above at the following email addresses: Annette Ashley (aashley@wisbar.org) and Kris Wenzel (kwenzel@wisbar.org).
Voting
State Bar Offices and Board of Governors
Election ballots will be mailed no later than April 10, 2015, and must be returned by April 24, 2015. Persons elected will take office July 1, 2015.
