State Bar honors more than 140 lawyers and judges at
Annual Convention in May
May 2, 2005
The State Bar 2005 Annual Convention from May 4 to 6 at
the Midwest Airlines Center in Milwaukee, this year is held in
conjunction with the Annual Judicial Conference. The convention kicks
off on Wednesday with the Members Recognition luncheon. One hundred
seventeen attorneys who were admitted to practice in 1955 will be
recognized for their half century as members of the State Bar. Wisconsin
Supreme Court Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson will address the honored
50-year members at the luncheon, 11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. (See list
of 50-year members.)
Also at the Members' Recognition Luncheon, outgoing State Bar
President Michelle Behnke will present the President's Award to
eight individuals who have made a difference during her term. Recipients
include: Thomas Basting Sr. and Kent Carnell, both of
Madison, for serving as "special counsel" to the president
and sharing their wealth of litigation experience to help prepare the
president for the numerous Supreme Court petition hearings this year;
Grant Birtch, Neenah, for serving as Redistricting Committee
chair; Rex Ewald, Monroe, and Eileen Hirsch, Madison, for
serving as Chair and Vice Chair of the Section Leaders Council as the
group underwent reorganization; John Macy, Waukesha, for serving
as WisTAF Committee chair; Chris Misurek, Hastings, Minn., for
many years of service on the Nonresident Lawyers Division board; and
Pam Pepper, Milwaukee, for serving as the chair of the Board of
Governors. (See President's
Awards.)
The Wisconsin Law Foundation will honor Richard Cates,
Madison, and G. Lane Ware, Wausau, with the Charles L. Goldberg
Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes the lifetime achievement
of an individual in the legal profession with a record of service to the
profession and to the public. The award is named after the former State
Bar president, a leader in launching free legal services to the
poor.
The Senior Lawyers Division will honor Hon. Paul C. Gartzke,
retired Presiding Judge Court of Appeals, District IV, with the Leonard
L. Loeb Award. The award, recognizing a senior lawyer (age 60 or older)
who has improved the legal system and shown leadership in advancing the
quality of justice for all, is named after the former State Bar
president who was instrumental in establishing the Senior Lawyers
Division. (See Leonard
L. Loeb award.)
The Members' Recognition luncheon, 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m., is
a ticketed event. Reservations are $25.
Several awards will be presented later on Wednesday at the Joint
Bench and Bar Reception and the Volunteer Lawyers Recognition
Celebration.
The Bench and Bar Committee will recognize Hon. Lee E. Wells,
a retired Waukesha County Circuit Court judge, with the 2004 Lifetime
Jurist Achievement Award and Hon. Mark S. Gempeler, Waukesha
County Circuit Court, with the 2004 Judge of the Year Award. The
Lifetime Jurist Achievement Award recognizes individuals who have
"made a difference" during their tenure on the bench. The
Judge of the Year Award recognizes a jurist who has improved the
judicial system during the past year by his or her leadership in
advancing the quality of justice, judicial education, or innovative
programs. Both awards will be presented at the Joint Bench and Bar
Reception, 5 - 6:30 p.m. No ticket is required for this free event.
(See Judicial
Awards.)
The annual Volunteer Lawyers Recognition Celebration, 6 - 8 p.m.,
acknowledges individuals who made outstanding pro bono, public service,
or law-related education contributions in 2004.
The 2004 award recipients include: Steven A. Zach, Madison,
Law-related Education Attorney of the Year; Kathleen Meter
Lounsbury, Madison, Hotline Attorney of the Year; Roy W.
Froemming, Madison, Pro Bono Award for a Private, Government, or
Corporate Practitioner; Carol W. Medaris, Madison, Pro Bono Award
for a Legal Services Attorney; Dane County Bar Association Delivery
of Legal Services, Pro Bono Award for a Law Firm or Local or
Specialty Bar Association; Carol W. Medaris, Madison, Dan
Tuchscherer Outstanding Public Interest Law Attorney; Stacia
Conneely, U.W., and Stefanie Ebbens, Marquette,
Outstanding Public Interest Law Students; Timothy D. Edwards,
Madison, WisLAP Volunteer of the Year Award; Michael J.
Remington, Washington, D.C., Belle Case La Follette Outstanding
Professional Award; Richard S. Gallagher, Milwaukee, Donald
O'Melia Local Service Award; Irene Wren, Madison, Gordon
Sinykin Award of Excellence; and Winn S. Collins, Appleton, Hon.
Charles Dunn Wisconsin Lawyer Author Award.
This event is sponsored by the State Bar's Law-related
Education, Lawyer Referral and Information, Legal Assistance, and
Communications committees; Public Interest Law Section; Wisconsin Law
Foundation; and Wisconsin Supreme Court. No ticket is required for this
free event, a reservation is recommended.
State Bar President-elect, D. Michael Guerin will be sworn in as the
50th State Bar President on Thursday at 5:15 p.m. Chief Justice Shirley
Abrahamson will address the guests and administer the oath of office.
President Michelle Behnke will reflect on her year as State Bar
president and Guerin will address issues affecting the State Bar and the
legal profession in the coming year. Immediately following the swearing
in ceremony, attendees are invited to the president's reception
honoring Michael Guerin. Admission to the ceremony and the reception is
free for all convention attendees.
Find out more
about the State Bar's 2005 Annual Convention or register for one
of these events.
