Board of Governors debate membership status and other issues at June 25 Board meeting

Fiscal Year 2011 Executive Committee members (Terms begin July 1)

State Bar FY 11 officers and division representatives with newly elected members to Executive Committee (Seated from left): President-elect Jim Brennan, Milwaukee; Margaret Wrenn-Hickey, Milwaukee; President Jim Boll, Madison; GLD representative Mike Kernats, Madison; Past President Doug Kammer, Portage; NRLD representative Gordon Kirsten, Wichita, Kan.; Charles Hanson, La Crosse; and Kelly Nickel, Milwaukee. Standing from left: Paul Swanson, Oshkosh; William Curran, Mauston; and Kevin Klein, Phillips. Not pictured Senior and Young lawyers division representatives.

June 25, 2010 – By the narrowest of margins, the State Bar’s Board of Governors (BOG) voted to not advance a petition regarding the association’s mandatory (integrated) structure to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, among other actions taken at the Board’s June 25 meeting at the State Bar Center in Madison.

Twenty-five of 42 governors in attendance voted in favor of a motion made by governor Robert Goepel to approve a petition developed by the Strategic Planning Committee (SPC). However, this was one vote short of the 26 required to achieve the 60 percent supermajority of those present specified by State Bar bylaws. Seventeen Board members voted against the motion. Return to www.wisbar.org for more information on this and other Board meeting issues.

The Board of Governors also took action on the following issues:

Reauthorizes amicus brief for en banc hearing in Siefert v. Alexander. The Board reauthorized the filing of an amicus brief in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals case of Siefert v. Alexander should a motion for rehearing en banc be filed. The deadline for filing was today. The Siefert case deals with judicial conduct and free speech. The State Bar takes the position of the judicial commission on all three issues.

Outgoing Board of Governors chair, Jim Brennan of Milwaukee, welcomes Incoming Board of Governors chair, Sue Collins of Madison.

Approves stance against Milwaukee County ordinance. The Board voted unanimously (two abstentions) to take a position opposing a proposed Milwaukee County ordinance that would prohibit legal entities from filing class action lawsuits against the county if the entity is under contract with the county to provide legal services. County Supervisor Lynne De Bruin requested the State Bar’s comments on the proposed ordinance.

Approves support for amicus brief on Red Flags Rule. The Board voted unanimously to join an amicus brief – developed by the New York State Bar Association – in support of the American Bar Association’s lawsuit opposing the Federal Trade Commission’s interpretation of the Red Flags Rule. The Red Flags Rule requires many organizations to implement a identity theft prevention programs designed to detect the warning signs — or "red flags" — of identity theft in their day-to-day operations.

Approves funding for Access to Justice Commission. By unanimous vote, the Board approved a grant of $27,596 to the Wisconsin Access to Justice Commission from the State Bar’s Access to Justice Reserve. The grant will allow the commission to meet, develop its future plans, and conduct education and outreach with other stakeholders in the civil justice system. 

Presents “Scales of Justice” awards to state legislators. The State Bar’s Legislative Oversight Committee presented the “Scales of Justice” award to five Wisconsin State Legislators – Sens. Lena Taylor (D) and Jim Sullivan (D), Reps. Gary Hebl (D), Fred Kessler (D), and Bill Kramer (R) – whose assistance was particularly beneficial to the State Bar during the last legislative session.

Approves annual budget for FY 2011. The Board unanimously approved the proposed State Bar operating budget for fiscal year 2011, providing for $11.5 million in spending with no dues increase. Finance Committee Chair Nick Zales noted that the proposed budget will provide sufficient funding for all current and new programs and “maintains the Bar’s ability to meet its strategic goals.”

Lynnette McNeely, Milwaukee, weighs in on mandatory/voluntary bar discussion during board meeting.

Elects Executive Committee members for FY 2011. Pursuant to Wisconsin Supreme Court Rule 10.06, the Board elected six new governors to the State Bar’s Executive Committee for fiscal year 2011. Those governors are: William Curran, Mauston; Charles Hanson, LaCrosse; Margaret Hickey, Milwaukee; Kevin Klein, Phillips; Kelly Nickel, Delavan; and Paul Swanson, Oshkosh.

Approves Collins as new Board chairperson. The Board voted unanimously to appoint Susan Collins as the State Bar’s Chairperson of the Board of Governors for fiscal year 2011. Collins, who serves as trust counsel for Marshall & Ilsey Trust Co., N.A. in Madison, will replace president-elect James Brennan. Kevin Palmersheim, member of the Board’s Nomination Committee, said Collins has the distinct “ability to build consensus” and direct governors to what is important. 

Approves appointments to the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation. The Board approved outgoing State Bar president Doug Kammer’s four appointees to the 15-member Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Board. Those appointees are attorneys Lee Atterbury, Sarah Fry Bruch, Nick Zales, and non-attorney Robert Wachuta, a vice president at Community Bank of Portage.