On Dec. 30, 2024, Joan M. Boyd filed a petition for reinstatement of her Wisconsin law license. The Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) will investigate the eligibility of Boyd for reinstatement of her license and has assigned OLR Matter No. 2024MA1851 to its investigation.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended Boyd’s law license for five months in 2008 for five counts of professional misconduct in three client matters. In each representation, Boyd failed to provide competent representation. She also failed to act with reasonable diligence and made a misrepresentation to one of her clients. Disciplinary Proc. Against Boyd, 2008 WI 103, 314 Wis. 2d 14, 752 N.W.2d 882.

In June 2009 the court suspended Boyd’s law license for six months for 13 counts of misconduct arising out of five client matters. Boyd’s misconduct included failure to provide competent representation, failure to terminate her representation and protect her client’ s interests, failure to keep her clients reasonably informed about the status of their matters, failure to return unearned fees, failure to deposit a check into her client trust account, and failure to cooperate with an OLR investigation. Disciplinary Proc. Against Boyd, 2009 WI 59, 318 Wis. 2d 281, 767 N.W.2d 226.

In May 2010 the court suspended Boyd’ s law license for an additional 12 months, to run consecutive to her prior suspensions. The court found that Boyd had committed 11 counts of professional misconduct arising out of four client matters. The findings of misconduct included failure to act with competence, failure to act with diligence, failure to keep her clients reasonably informed, and charging an unreasonable fee. Disciplinary Proc. Against Boyd, 2010 WI 41, 324 Wis. 2d 688, 782 N.W.2d 718.

On Feb. 21, 2013, the court accepted Boyd’s petition for voluntary revocation and revoked her law license for multiple counts of misconduct that included failure to act with competence in multiple matters, failure to act with diligence, failure to communicate with clients or keep her clients reasonably informed, failure to perform services for which she was hired by multiple clients, charging an unreasonable fee for legal services, failure to refund unearned fees or to return case files upon termination of representation, failure to inform clients when her law license was suspended, misrepresenting to a court that she had informed the clients of that suspension, and assisting a disbarred attorney to engage in the unauthorized practice of law. That petition also resolved OLR investigations regarding whether Boyd lacked competence and diligence in multiple matters, failed to perform services for which she was hired by multiple clients, failed to refund unearned fees or case files upon termination of representation, failed to communicate with clients, and failed to notify clients that her law license had been suspended. Disciplinary Proc. Against Boyd, 2013 WI 20, 345 Wis. 2d 636, 827 N.W.2d 89.

Boyd has the burden of demonstrating by clear, satisfactory, and convincing evidence that she has the moral character to practice law in Wisconsin, her resumption of the practice of law will not be detrimental to the administration of justice or subversive of the public interest, the representations made in her petition are substantiated, and she has complied fully with the terms of the order of her suspensions and revocation and with the requirements of SCR 22.26 regarding an attorney’ s activities following suspension or revocation.

Interested parties may submit written comments regarding Boyd and her petition to the OLR, Attn: Beth Kugler, P.O. Box 1648, Madison, WI 53701-1648. Alternatively, written comments may be submitted via email to Beth.Kugler@wicourts.gov. Comments must be submitted within 60 days after date of filing of petition. All comments will be forwarded to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. If a referee is assigned to conduct a hearing in this matter, all comments will also be forwarded to the referee. Individuals who submit comments may be contacted by the OLR for more information.

Upon completion of the investigation of Boyd’s petition, the OLR will file a response with the Wisconsin Supreme Court. If the OLR does not oppose reinstatement, the OLR will enter into a stipulation for reinstatement with Boyd for direct consideration by the supreme court. If the OLR opposes reinstatement, a referee will be appointed and a reinstatement hearing scheduled.

Notice of any hearing on Boyd’s petition will be sent to those requesting such notice. A request for notice of hearing must include the address to which the notice is to be sent, and should be directed to the OLR at either the post office box or email address above.

Information regarding the status of Boyd’s petition and any hearing can be obtained from the OLR and is available at:

https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/lawyerreg/statuspetition.htm.

This notice is published pursuant to SCR 22.30(1) and will be the only notice published regarding this matter.