Oct. 20, 2009 – Surrounded by family and friends, 83 lawyers who passed the bar exam, joined by one UW graduate from the class of 2009, were admitted to practice in Wisconsin on Oct. 19. The lawyers were welcomed by members of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Board of Bar Examiners (BBE) chair James A. Morrison, State Bar president Doug Kammer, and all seven justices of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
New Wisconsin lawyers take the lawyer’s oath in the Supreme Court Hearing Room.
Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson presided over the three ceremonies. Justices Ann Walsh Bradley, N. Patrick Crooks, and Michael J. Gableman administered the oath in the supreme court hearing room.
Following each swearing-in ceremony, Justice David T. Prosser spoke to the new lawyers. “All of you are about to participate in a time honored Wisconsin tradition. In a few moments you will sign your name in a book, the latest volume in a complete record of Wisconsin attorneys dating back before statehood more than 160 years ago. Every person who has ever been a member of the Wisconsin Bar has signed one of these books. As you sign in, please think about the people who have signed these volumes before you. They include some of the best minds and most valuable citizens in this state’s history, including the first elected governor of Wisconsin Nelson Dewey. They include men and women who have been giants of the legal profession, wise counselors, creative advocates, and brilliant scholars who have served as role models for the Bar and as mentors for young lawyers.”
Noting that many attorneys have made life better for people and for society as a whole and many have been “absolute pillars of the communities in which they live,” Prosser continued, “Sadly, if we were to examine these volumes they also include names of some people who have betrayed their clients. They have disgraced our profession and violated the law. These people also stood before the Wisconsin Supreme Court in a ceremony exactly like this one.”
The Attorney’s Oath. “They took the same oath that you did but somehow they lost their way,” said Prosser. “The oath goes well beyond a pledge – not to betray clients, not to disgrace the legal profession, not to violate the law. The oath is a carefully written summary of the code of professional responsibility. It stresses that the law is a great calling for dedicated professionals who are committed to uphold high ethical standards and are determined to provide service to others.”
A noble profession. Noting that each of the supreme court justices have, over time, the opportunity and privilege to address new attorneys with the hope of imparting some insight or inspiration, Prosser pointed out that his colleagues’ messages focus on service, professionalism, commitment to excellence, courage to take a stand, high ideals and excellent moral character.
“When the Chief Justice speaks she often singles out an attorney who has made significant pro bono contributions,” said Prosser. “She points to that attorney as one whose service should be admired and whose example should be followed.
“Some of the other justices explain the critical function of law in society and of avoiding disputes and resolving conflict,” he said. “They acknowledge that the law is not much better than the professionalism and good will of the attorneys and judges who give it life. Justice Crooks frequently speaks of the indispensible commitment to excellence explaining that truly great lawyers are not willing to settle for mediocrity. Justice Bradley likes to emphasize courage, courage to take a stand, courage to reject the inappropriate compromise, courage to resist the many temptations that will present themselves to you, including the temptation to cut corners. All of the members of the court point to the nobility, at least the potential nobility of the legal profession.
In what has become a Wisconsin Supreme Court tradition in the past few years, new lawyers applaud family members for their support and encouragement immediately following swearing-in ceremony.
“Today you leave behind the status of law student and enter the ranks of attorneys, and in doing so you become trustees of the legal profession,” said Prosser. “As attorneys you are charged collectively with the responsibility of making this profession greater than you found it.”
Build a profession of service. “When you sign the book, you start your professional life in Wisconsin with a blank page. You will decide what entries appear on your page in the years ahead. I urge you to set high standards and lofty goals.”
Prosser ended with a story often told by the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson about a visitor at a cathedral under construction. “The visitor questioned three workmen as to what they thought they were doing,” said Prosser. “The first one muttered ‘I’m making a living.’ The second gave the uninspired reply, ‘I am laying this stone.’ The third one looked up toward the sky and said with faith and pride, ‘I am building a cathedral.’”
“My charge to you today is to make your career a cathedral of service to others and to the rule of law,” concluded Prosser.
The State Bar welcomes the following attorneys.
Future State Bar members sign in before entering the Supreme Court Hearing Room for the swearing–in ceremony. The State Bar welcomed 84 new members during three ceremonies on Oct. 19.
New lawyers and their families take a few moments for pictures in the Capitol rotunda before heading to Madison Club where the new lawyers will sign the supreme court roll.
New member Summer Hart Carlisle signs the supreme court roll. Carlisle will be joining a small practice in Milwaukee. Every lawyer admitted to practice in Wisconsin since the state was a territory has signed the roll.
Timothy Mark Brovold, Eden Prairie, Minn., signs the supreme court roll as his wife Jess and attorney uncle Bruce, Arcadia, Wis., look on. Brovold will be joining a small firm in Milwaukee.
David A. Biggs, Crystal, Minn., and his wife enjoy the welcoming event at the Madison Club. Biggs hopes to practice in Madison.
New members and their families relax and enjoy a light snack at the State Bar sponsored welcoming event at the Madison Club after the being sworn in at the Capitol.
New lawyer, Timothy Brovold and daughter.
- Amy Nicole Halbur Abraham, LaCrosse
- Melinda R. Alfredson, Neenah
- Heather Bessinger, Milwaukee
- David A. Biggs, Crystal, Minn.
- Ryan Anthony Blay, Milwaukee
- Thomas Broker, Saint Cloud, Minn.
- Timothy Mark Brovold, Eden Prairie, Minn.
- Patrick E. Bruce, Rockford, Ill.
- Thomas M. Burnett, Milwaukee
- Summer Hart Carlisle, Milwaukee
- Grant Collins, Hastings, Minn.
- Zachary John Corey, Milwaukee
- Bernardo Cueto, La Crosse
- Kasey Ann DeLuke, Madison
- Betheny M. Dillhoff, Kenosha
- Andrew Disch, Verona
- Devin Dregne, Readstown
- April Dunlavy, Clintonville
- Lesley M. Ellefson-Porras, Middleton
- Sheryl Eubanks, Waukesha
- Benjamin C. Fee, Milwaukee
- Brandon W. Fitz, Madison
- Patricia Foley, Milwaukee
- John C. Geis, Clinton Township, Mich.
- Carissa M. Giebel, Shiocton
- Elizabeth Giedd, Beaver Dam
- Eric M. Hailstock, Milwaukee
- Scott L. Haugen, Owatonna, Minn.
- Amber L. Herda, Milwaukee
- Matthew Stephen Hofmeister, Milwaukee
- Syeda Asra Husain, Middleton
- Paul G. Johnson, Brookfield
- Kristine Margaret Kerig, Minneapolis
- Christopher Thomas Koehnke, Milwaukee
- Nathan Paul Kollath, Green Bay
- Paul A. Jones, Neenah
- Jamie M. Julian, Portage
- Martin W. Karpel, Milwaukee
- Lindsey Anne Kraig, Fond du Lac
- Michelle E. Lambert, Milwaukee
- Cindy L. Lane, Milwaukee
- Rebecca Jean Lauber, Milwaukee
- Christopher Luke Le Fevre, Green Bay
- Kenneth R. Logsdon, Oak Creek
- Luanna H. Marko, Waukesha
- Kristina J. Matic, Milwaukee
- Abigail Mayer, Comstock
- Patrick Alexander S. Mills, Monroe, La.
- Nicholas John Mittermann, Fish Creek
- Kenton James Moorhead, Milwaukee
- William Scott Nelson, Wauwatosa
- Andrew Lawrence Nolan, Milwaukee
- Christopher Edward Nyenhuis, Milwaukee
- Kathleen M. Pagel, Milwaukee
- Sarah Beth Painter, Madison
- Matthew Parmentier, Fond du Lac
- Jeffrey R. Passafaro, Cedarburg
- Joseph Putzstuck, Appleton
- Kristen Reddinger, Wauwatosa
- Heather L. Reinke, Green Bay
- Gessner Rivas, Eagan, Minn.
- Anthony David Russomanno, Madison
- Gregory T. Ryan Jr., Milwaukee
- Nicholas T. Saganski, Madison
- Nicole Faye Salonen, Larsen
- 66. Timothy William Schmidt, Milwaukee
- Jason Abraham Schultz, Madison
- Christopher James Simonds, Racine
- Leah J. Stoecker, Milwaukee
- Daneille M. Strong, Eau Claire
- Charles Steven Summers, La Crosse
- Kathy A. Thomack, Madison
- Ann E. Trader, Madison
- Michael Evan Trager, Wauwatosa
- Eric James Van Schyndle, Milwaukee
- Christopher David Virnig, Madison
- Michelle Wagner, Milwaukee
- Callie Marie Wahl, Mahtomedi, Minn.
- Jennifer Lynn Wellan, North Platte, Neb.
- Todd R. Wickert, Kaukauna
- Regina R. Wind, DeForest
- Jonathan Paul Witt, Milwaukee
- Lauren A. Wu, Milwaukee
- Jessica McNamara, Madison (May 2009 Graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School)
