Jill M. Kastner wins president-elect post.
April 27, 2018 –
Jill M. Kastner of Legal Action of Wisconsin Inc., Milwaukee, is the next president-elect of the State Bar of Wisconsin.
In the elections ending April 27, 2018, Kastner defeated Randall L. Nash of Nash Law LLC, Milwaukee, by 3,080 votes to 2,117.
Kastner will serve a one-year term as president-elect beginning July 1, before succeeding Christopher E. Rogers as State Bar president on July 1, 2019.
“I am truly humbled by the honor of being elected to serve the State Bar and its members,” Kastner said. “I am eager to get to work advocating for lawyers, providing quality benefits that improve the lives of our members, promoting diversity and inclusion, and improving access to justice.”
Kastner is the first female State Bar president-elect in a decade; the last is Diane Diel of Milwaukee, who served as State Bar president 2008-2009.
“I look forward to when it’s not unusual for women and people of color to be in the State Bar’s top leadership positions,” Kastner said.
See more information about Kastner.
Starlyn R. Tourtillott wins secretary post.
Margo Kirchner elected as Judicial Council representative
In Other State Bar Races
Starlyn R. Tourtillott of Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin - Legal Services Department, Keshena, was elected to a two-year term as secretary, defeating Makda Fessahaye of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, Madison, by 2,829 votes to 2,046.
Winning a three-year term as Judicial Council representative is Margo S. Kirchner of Wisconsin Justice Initiative Inc., Milwaukee, defeating John R. Orton of Curran, Hollenbeck & Orton S.C., Mauston, by 2,773 votes to 2,285.
Board of Governors
Those elected to serve two-year terms beginning July 1 as district representatives on the State Bar Board of Governors are:
District 2 (five vacancies)
- Karen M. Bauer, Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee Inc., Milwaukee, UW 2009
- Andrew P. Beilfuss, Quarles & Brady LLP, Milwaukee, Marquette 2005
- Brittany C. Grayson, Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office, Milwaukee, Marquette 2011
- Elizabeth K. Miles, Davis & Kuelthau SC, Milwaukee, Marquette 2009
- Krista G. LaFave Rosolino, Warshafsky, Rotter, Tarnoff & Bloch S.C., Milwaukee, Tulane University 2013
District 4 (one vacancy)
District 6 (two vacancies)
District 8 (one vacancy)
District 9 (four vacancies)
- Kathleen Chung, Madison, Marquette 2001
- Jeff A. Goldman, DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C., Madison, UW 2002
- Patricia Epstein Putney, Bell Moore & Richter S.C., Madison, Brooklyn Law School 1989
- Laura Skilton Verhoff, Stafford Rosenbaum LLP, Madison, UW 1997
District 10 (one vacancy)
District 12 (one vacancy)
District 14 (one vacancy)
District 16 (one vacancy)
- Amanda J. Ley, State Public Defenders Office, Wausau, Washington College of Law, American University 2011
About the Election for the State Bar Board of Governors
The Board of Governors is the State Bar's policymaking body. Governors serve two-year terms.
Districts 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, and 16 elected governors in 2018. District 2 (Milwaukee) elected five; District 6 (Waukesha) elected two; District 9 (Dane) elected four; and all other districts elected one.
Not sure which district is yours? See the district map.
New Division Officers and Board Members Announced
All terms begin on July 1. The presidents-elect serve a one-year term before becoming president and then serve one year as past president. The secretary, treasurer, and board members’ positions are two-year terms.
Government Lawyers Division
President-elect: Joseph M. Cardamone III, Kenosha
Board members:
Rebecca Kiefer, Milwaukee
Hon. Lisa Marmet, Milwaukee
Michael P. May, Madison
Nonresident Lawyers Division
President-elect: Theresa McDowell, Orlando, Florida
Board members:
Paul Conrad, Washington, D.C.
Renae Flowers, Washington, DC
Erik R. Guenther, Las Vegas, Nevada
Debra Kuper, Trophy Club, Texas
Viet-Hanh Nguyen Winchell, Lake Elmo, Minnesota
Senior Lawyers Division
Officers and board members will be announced in June.
Young Lawyers Division
President-elect: Emily Stedman , Milwaukee
Secretary: Ben Roovers, Milwaukee
Board members:
Jose Castro, Milwaukee
Michael Gentry, Milwaukee
Andrea Lau, Waukesha
Emil Ovbiagele, Milwaukee
Jenny Y. Yang, Milwaukee