May 20, 2013 – Wisconsin’s Federal Nominating Commission will continue to accept applications for a vacancy on the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin until Noon on Wednesday, May 29, 2013. The opening results from the retirement and subsequent passing of United States District Judge John Shabaz.

Visit the Commission’s website at www.wisbar.org/fnc to download the application and instructions (which are separate documents).

The Commission seeks qualified candidates, including women and minority candidates, for appointment to the vacancy.

U.S. Senators Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin established the Commission on April 17, with the purpose of making recommendations for vacancies in federal judgeships and U.S. attorney positions.

Attorneys Michelle Behnke and Paul Swanson co-chair the Commission for the Western District judicial vacancy. Other commission members are William T. Curran, Richard Esenberg, Frederic Fleishauer and Barbara Zack Quindel.

State Bar of Wisconsin President Kevin Klein praised Wisconsin’s U.S. senators for moving the selection process forward.

“I am very pleased with the collaborative effort by both Senators Baldwin and Johnson to establish the Federal Nominating Commission,” Klein said. “The Western District Judgeship had been declared a ‘judicial emergency’ by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts both for caseload needs and length of vacancy.  It is extremely important to the legal profession and the people of Wisconsin to move this process forward and to have a full complement of judges ready to serve Wisconsin.”

All inquiries and correspondence regarding the Federal Nominating Commission should be directed to Lisa Roys, Public Affairs Director, State Bar of Wisconsin, P.O. Box 7158, Madison, WI 53707-7158. Roys may also be reached toll-free at (800) 444-9404, ext. 6128 or via e-mail at lroys@wisbar.org.

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