Vol. 77, No. 3, March
2004
Lawyer Discipline
The Office of
Lawyer Regulation (formerly known as the Board of Attorneys
Professional Responsibility), an agency of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
and component of the lawyer regulation system, assists the court in
carrying out its constitutional responsibility to supervise the practice
of law and protect the public from misconduct by persons practicing law
in Wisconsin. The Office of Lawyer Regulation has offices located at
Suite 315, 110 E. Main St., Madison, WI 53703, and Suite 300, 342 N.
Water St., Milwaukee, WI 53202. Toll-free telephone: (877)
315-6941.
Hearing to Reinstate
Scott E. Selmer
On May 4, 2004, at 9 a.m., a public hearing will be held before
Referee Russell L. Hanson at the St. Croix County Courthouse, 1101
Carmichael Road, Room 1216, Hudson, on the petition of Scott E. Selmer,
Minneapolis, Minn., to reinstate his Wisconsin law license. Any
interested person may appear at the hearing and be heard in support of,
or in opposition to, the petition for reinstatement.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended Selmer's law license for 12
months, effective June 23, 1999, based on discipline reciprocal to that
imposed on him by the Minnesota Supreme Court in 1997, pursuant to SCR
22.25. Selmer's misconduct consisted of knowingly advancing claims,
defenses, or factual positions that were frivolous; knowingly offering
false and misleading evidence in discovery requests; failing to make a
reasonably diligent effort to comply with a legally proper discovery
request by an opposing party; and knowingly making a false statement of
fact to a third person. A more detailed account of Selmer's misconduct
is recited in Disciplinary Proceedings Against Selmer, 227 Wis.
2d 85, 595 N.W.2d 373 (1999).
As to reinstatement, Selmer is required to demonstrate by clear,
satisfactory, and convincing evidence that, among other things, he has
not practiced law or engaged in certain law-work activity during his
suspension; his conduct since the suspension has been exemplary and
above reproach; he has a proper understanding of and attitude towards
the standards that are imposed upon members of the bar and will act in
conformity with the standards; he can safely be recommended to the legal
profession, the courts, and the public as a person fit to be consulted
by others, and to represent them and otherwise act in matters of trust
and confidence; he has the moral character to practice law in Wisconsin;
and he has fully complied with the suspension order and applicable court
rules.
Further information may be obtained from OLR Investigator Melody
Rader-Johnson or Assistant Litigation Counsel Julie M. Falk, 110 E. Main
St., Suite 315, Madison, WI 53703, (877) 315-6941 (toll-free).
Hearing to Reinstate John C.
Widule
On April 26, 2004, at 9 a.m., a public hearing will be held before
Referee Eugene A. Gasiorkiewicz at the Waukesha County Courthouse,
County Board Room, Room 350, 515 W. Moreland Blvd., Waukesha, on the
petition of John C. Widule, Elm Grove, to reinstate his Wisconsin law
license. Any interested person may appear at the hearing and be heard in
support of, or in opposition to, the petition for reinstatement.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended Widule's law license for six
months, effective June 12, 2003, for professional misconduct consisting
of knowingly advancing a factual position without a basis for doing so
that was not frivolous and simultaneously representing two clients with
conflicting interests. A more detailed account of Widule's misconduct is
recited in Disciplinary Proceedings Against Widule, 2003 WI 34,
261 Wis. 2d 45, 660 N.W.2d 686.
As to reinstatement, Widule is required to demonstrate by clear,
satisfactory, and convincing evidence that, among other things, he has
not practiced law or engaged in certain law-work activity during his
suspension; his conduct since the suspension has been exemplary and
above reproach; he has a proper understanding of and attitude towards
the standards that are imposed upon members of the bar and will act in
conformity with the standards; he can safely be recommended to the legal
profession, the courts and the public as a person fit to be consulted by
others, and to represent them and otherwise act in matters of trust and
confidence; he has fully described all of his business activities; he
has the moral character to practice law in Wisconsin; and he has fully
complied with the terms of the suspension order and with the
requirements of SCR 22.26. Widule has asserted an inability to pay
outstanding judgments against him, including the OLR's judgment for the
costs of the disciplinary proceeding and a judgment related to the
underlying conduct for which he was disciplined.
Further information can be obtained from OLR Investigator Katheryn
Sievers, 110 E. Main St., Suite 315, Madison, WI 53703, (877) 315-6941
(toll-free), or from OLR Retained Counsel Robert G. Krohn, 24 N. Henry
St., Edgerton, WI 53534, (608) 884-3391.
Wisconsin Lawyer
