July 24, 2013 – Now that the State Bar of Wisconsin has introduced its new Our Courts Wisconsin program, groups are lining up to request that one or more of the presentations come to their city or county.
“Each week we’re getting requests for one of the four Our Courts programs, especially after the very successful presentation of Myths & Realities in Wisconsin’s Courts at the Richland County Courthouse,” said State Bar Public Education Program Manager Marsha Varvil-Weld.
Myths & Realities is just one of the programs community members and school groups can select. The other presentations are Lincoln’s Legacy;, Understanding the Criminal Court Process: Protecting the Rights of Wisconsin Citizens; and Understanding the Importance of Your Court System: Courts Serving Wisconsin Citizens.
All of the programs are free of charge and suitable for audiences of all ages. Each program has a runtime of approximately one hour, but can be tailored to fit shorter or longer events. Lunch gatherings, annual board meetings and classes are just a few of the ideal settings for the presentations.
“Any group is welcome to request that Our Courts be a part of their next meeting or group function,” Varvil-Weld said. “We will work with groups to find the most appropriate program for their event, as well as the right team of presenters.”
Katie Stenz is the public affairs coordinator with the State Bar of Wisconsin. She can be reached at kstenz@wisbar.org, or by phone at (608) 250-6145.
The programs range from the dynamic reading of an essay about Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln’s Legacy to an interactive look at Wisconsin’s courts in Understanding the Importance of Your Court System. Audience members will gain knowledge of criminal court proceedings in Understanding the Criminal Court Process through the use of a fictional case. Myths & Realities is a humorous presentation that helps audience members better understand the judicial system through exploring and critically analyzing pop culture references of court proceedings.
Judge Edward Leineweber and Office of Lawyer Regulation Litigation Counsel Bill Weigel co-presented Myths & Realities to a group of community members this month in an effort to get feedback from members of the public on one of Our Courts more dynamic programs.
A volunteer judge and attorney pair up to present each of the programs, giving audience members a diverse perspective when it comes to the more complex aspects of the court system.
“We have a pool of over 40 judges and attorneys who have graciously volunteered to use their experiences to explain the court system in an easy-to-understand way,” Varvil-Weld added.
To volunteer or request that a program come to your area, contact the State Bar of Wisconsin Public Education Program Manager at 608-250-6191 or PubEdCoordinator@wisbar.org. You may also visit www.wisbar.org/OurCourts for more information.
