October 2004
Deadlines near for State Bar officers and district governors, board
approves redistricting proposal
The State Bar Nominating Committee seeks candidates for 2005 State
Bar officers. Those wishing to be considered for president-elect,
treasurer, or Judicial Council representative should send nominations to
the State Bar by Nov. 3.
President-elect D. Michael Guerin, Milwaukee, will chair the
committee, which includes former State Bar President Thomas Sleik, La
Crosse; Charles (Chutty) Senn, Thorpe; Gov. Peggy Miller, De Pere; and
Gov. James Quinn, Wisconsin Rapids. The committee will choose two or
more candidates each for the offices of president-elect and treasurer by
Dec. 15. Officer nominations also can be made by filing with the State
Bar a petition signed by 100 active Bar members by Feb 1.
Board of Governors petitions due in March. Districts
1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 will elect governors in 2005.
District 2 (Milwaukee County) will elect seven governors; District 9
(Dane County), three; and all other districts, 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, members must submit, by
March 1, a petition signed by 10 active members in their district.
Reapportionment of Board of Governor districts.
Under SCR 10.05 (2), the State Bar must file a petition with the
Wisconsin Supreme Court every 10 years to reapportion Board of Governor
districts based upon changes in the active membership of the State Bar
and other circumstances. State Bar President Michelle Behnke appointed
Gov. Grant Birtch, Neenah, to chair a committee to develop a proposal
for board approval.
The board approved the committee's proposal, which will be submitted
to the supreme court, and, if approved, will become effective in the
spring 2005 elections. The committee recommends increasing District 9
(Dane) and District 6 (Waukesha) by one governor each, decreasing
District 2 (Milwaukee) by one governor, and moving Lincoln County from
District 16 to District 11.
"We tried to fairly represent the voting members through equal
representation on the board of governors," said Birtch. "A major concern
dealt with the northern tier of the state. It is a huge area to be
represented with a small number of voting members in many counties -
some between 12 and 24 members. The proposal attempts to bring
representation in line with number of voting members per governors while
keeping multiple-county bars together. The committee believes that this
proposal makes limited changes in the northern counties and meets the
needs of all districts."
Elections. Election ballots will be mailed no later
than April 8 and must be returned by April 22. Those elected will take
office July 1, 2005. For more information or to receive a petition, call
Jan Marks at (800) 444-9404, ext. 6106, or (608) 250-6106, or jmarks@wisbar.org.
Inside the Bar
