Saichek's legacy: It's not about winning - it's about justice

March 27, 2003

David Saichek, former State Bar president, passed away on March 23. A small-firm practitioner in Milwaukee, Saichek was concerned about educating the public and lawyers about the practice of law by developing a better understanding of the judicial system.

"Dave was deeply dedicated to the State Bar and to the legal profession, and he was a role model for all later Bar presidents," said State Bar President Pat Ballman. "We will miss him greatly."

"Dave understood and believed in the ideals of our profession and actively promoted those beliefs," said State Bar President-elect George Burnett. "On the important issues facing our profession, everyone knew where Dave stood."

Saichek plunged into participating in local, state, and national bar activities early in his career. A 1964 U.W. Law School graduate, Saichek began his career as an associate and later a partner with Milwaukee attorney Irving Gaines, who inspired Saichek to "get involved."

"It was a great pleasure working with Dave," said Gaines. "He was an extremely fine attorney who was capable of learning quickly what needed to be done whenever he was exposed to new situations, which included a natural ability to try and argue cases."

"I had the good fortune to be one of the 50-year members recognized at the State Bar Annual Convention in 1997 when Dave was president," continued Gaines. "It was a great moment to be recognized for 50 years of service, and that my dear friend and former partner could be a part of it made the moment that much more special."

"David was much more than an outstanding attorney," said Ted Hertel, Saichek's former partner. "He was also a very caring individual. One could see that not only in the way he treated his clients, but also in the way he treated his many acquaintances. David loved life, enjoyed his family, adored his grandchildren, and enthusiastically talked about sports. He was blessed with a terrific sense of humor that he kept notwithstanding the adversity a trial lawyer faces on a near daily basis. We worked together for 30 years not only as colleagues but as friends. The legal community will miss him, but his friends will miss him more."

"Dave gladly put in the hours for the State Bar and he enjoyed every minute of it," said longtime colleague and Elkhorn attorney Lowell Sweet. "During his presidency he wanted to educate the public and lawyers about the practice of law. To Dave the practice of law is not a game of winning. It's about justice. He understood that lawyers, especially trial lawyers, often take on an unpopular cause that they don't believe in, but when justice is served everybody wins."

The agenda for Saichek's term as State Bar president included a public outreach program explaining the roles in society of civil lawyers, judges, prosecutors, and defense lawyers; improving relationships between the three government branches; studying the effect of violence on the ability of the justice system to function; and identifying and creating affordable technology for all Wisconsin lawyers.

"One of Dave's pet projects as Bar president was a cable and broadcast outreach program," said Racine attorney Robert Goepel, a long-time friend who served as Board of Governors chair during Saichek's term. "Dave believed that even if people didn't learn their basic civics in the fifth through eighth grades about the three branches of government, it was never too late to teach them. He wanted to help people learn how lawyers protect the public interest and maintain a peaceful society."

As president-elect Saichek organized the Commission on the Judiciary as a Co-equal Branch of Government. Its mission was to study and improve relationships among the three governmental branches. He also launched a second commission, called Violence and the Administration of Justice. While Saichek knew lawyers might not be able to stop the root causes of violence, the commission's goal was to analyze and try to do something about the effect of violence on the ability of the justice system to function.

"Dave's dedication to the State Bar of Wisconsin is unparalleled," said former State Bar President Steve Sorenson. "No one served more years on the Board of Governors with his enthusiasm and devotion. Dave and I did not always agree on the direction of the State Bar, but we both kept the best interests of the organization in our sights as we advocated our positions. Dave was one of the most gracious hosts the Presidency of the State Bar of Wisconsin has ever had. I can remember several times after everyone else had left the meeting or convention that Dave and I would wander out some where just to relax and reflect. Those are the times we now seem to miss in our busy lives but Dave never did."

Saichek was elected to the first of his seven terms on the State Bar Board of Governors at the age of 31 and was a founding member of the State Bar Young Lawyers Division, serving as its second president. He was active in the Milwaukee Bar Association, serving on its Judicial Selection Committee, as a board member, and as president and chair of the Milwaukee Young Lawyers Association. Saichek also was a member of the ABA Young Lawyers Division Executive Council and editor of the ABA Litigation News. He served as president of the Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, and on the National Board of Governors of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

"Periods of mourning are difficult for organizations such as ours, when a leader is lost who has contributed so greatly to the growth, vitality, and stature of the organization and the profession on which it is predicated," said Jane Garrott, Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers (WATL) executive director. "Dave Saichek served as president of the WATL in 1979, but he did not fade away - he served on WATL's Board of Directors and continued to attend meetings and contribute so that justice would be preserved. We will miss him greatly."

During his career Saichek served lawyers as a member of the State Bar's Finance, Convention & Entertainment, Board of Governors Strategic Planning, and Senior Lawyers Division Awards & Recognition committees; as Executive Committee chair; and was a member the Wisconsin Law Foundation.

He leaves his wife Judy Ann, a daughter, a son, and two grandchildren.

Funeral services are planned for 11 a.m., March 27 at Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home, 4750 Santa Monica Blvd. Interment will follow at the Spring Hill Cemetery, 166 S. Hawley Ct., Milwaukee. Memorial contributions can be made to a charity of choice.