Sept. 2, 2020 – Former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices Jon Wilcox and Louis Butler Jr. have each quietly but effectively helped to lead and expand the Wisconsin Law Foundation, the State Bar of Wisconsin’s charitable arm.

In thanks to their dedication and longtime service, the Wisconsin Law Foundation is honoring them in a special online recognition event on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020. The event will include special remarks from former Wisconsin Governors Tommy Thompson and Jim Doyle, and former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices David Prosser and Janine Geske.

“These are two incredible individuals who have given unselfishly of themselves in service to others,” said Peggy Herliztka, Foundation president. “Both have been giving back to their profession and communities since early in their legal careers. They each have made the Foundation, the profession, and our communities better than when they found them.”

Justice Butler: Expanding the Fellows

In a decade of service to the Foundation, Justice Butler had a profound effect in advancing the Foundation’s mission and work. As president of the Fellows of the Law Foundation, which honors lawyers who have given back to their profession and communities, Justice Butler expanded the organization to become more inclusive. Under his leadership, the Fellows better recognized the contributions of women lawyers, younger lawyers, and those from diverse backgrounds and practice areas and from rural and out-of-state communities.

“As the first Black lawyer to serve on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, he wrote thoughtful, scholarly, and exceptional opinions,” said Jon Axelrod, Fellows past president.

“He is known for his civility and commitment to equal rights, and as a scholarly advocate who could disagree with the opposition without ever being disagreeable.”

Justice Wilcox: Dedicated to the Foundation’s Mission

For nearly 30 years, Justice Wilcox has served on almost every committee and in nearly every leadership position with the Foundation. He has been instrumental in guiding the Foundation’s growth and development.

His particular passion has been promoting the Foundation’s work to connect adults to the law through programs such as mock trial.

“Committed to the Foundation’s mission, Justice Wilcox was an active participant in the work of making grants to worthy law-related education and public-service projects,” said Cheryl Daniels, Foundation past president and president-elect of the State Bar of Wisconsin. “Throughout his long tenure on the Foundation board, he was a thoughtful and passionate supporter of the evolving nature of the Foundation, ensuring its vitality as the charitable arm of the State Bar.”