Dec. 1, 2023 – Ryan Billings and Jennifer L. Johnson have accepted nominations to run for 2024 State Bar of Wisconsin president-elect.

Both candidates are lawyers active in Milwaukee. Johnson (Indiana University’s Robert H. McKinney School of Law ​2014) is with Legal Action of Wisconsin. Billings (Harvard 2004​) is with Kohner, Mann & Kailas S.C.

The president-elect serves a one-year term before becoming president on July 1, 2025.

The nominees for secretary are Martina Gast (U.W. 2011), an attorney with Pipestone Law, LLC, in Lake Mills; and William Wallo (Oklahoma 1992) of Bakke Norman S.C., Eau Claire.

The candidates for Judicial Council representative are Margo Kirchner (Michigan 1992) with Wisconsin Justice Initiative Inc. in Milwaukee; and Matthew Rowe (Minnesota 1997) with Ruder Ware LLSC, Wausau.

“I am pleased to announce this slate of candidates who have demonstrated leadership and commitment to the bar and who bring experience from a variety of practice areas and life experiences,” said Jane Bucher, State Bar president-elect and chair of the Nominating Committee. “The committee worked collaboratively to select well-rounded candidates.”​

The Nominating Committee members, appointed by State Bar President Dean Dietrich, are:

• State Bar President-elect Jane Bucher, chair
• Randy Brotherhood, Milwaukee
• Kathleen Grant, Madison
• Kristen Hardy, Milwaukee
• Renee Read, Neenah

State Bar members can also run for an officer position by filing a petition signed by 100 active State Bar members. The deadline to submit a petition is Feb. 1, 2024. For more information and to receive a petition, contact Kim Jansen via email, or at (608) 250-6106 or (800) 444-9404, ext. 6106.

Those elected take office July 1, 2024.

Candidates Needed for Board of Governors Positions; Submit Petitions by March 1, 2024

The Board of Governors is the State Bar's policymaking body, and governors serve two-year terms.

Consider contributing your time and expertise as a Board representative. Members who wish to run for these positions must file a petition, signed by 100 active State Bar members, by March 1, 2024. To receive a petition, contact Kim Jansen via email or call (608) 250-6106, or (800) 444-9404, ext. 6106.

Districts 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, and 16 will elect governors in 2024. District 2 (Milwaukee) will elect five; District 6 (Waukesha) will elect two; District 9 (Dane) will elect four; and all other districts will elect one.

To receive a petition or for more information, visit the Board of Governors’ page on WisBar.org, or contact Kim Jansen via email, or at (608) 250-6106 or (800) 444-9404, ext. 6106.

Those elected will take office July 1, 2024.

Find out about other State Bar leadership opportunities.

Vote in April: Look for Your Email Ballot

All State Bar elections (including for State Bar divisions and sections) will be held via an electronic ballot in 2024, starting April 11, 2024.

The election closes at noon Central time on April 26, 2024.

To ensure you receive your State Bar election ballot, add noreply@directvote.net as an approved sender in your inbox sometime before April 1. This prevents the ballot from being identified as spam.

Please note: If you have placed any holds on emails from the State Bar, you may not receive an electronic ballot. Contact Customer Service at (800) 444-9404 to verify that your account is set up to receive your email ballot.

State Bar members with no email address on file will receive paper ballots. Paper ballots will be mailed on April 10, 2024.