News Briefs
D.A. Summer Program Gives Volunteers
Crash Course in Prosecution
New attorneys from any law firm can pack a lifetime of jury trial
experience into one summer by volunteering to work in Milwaukee County's
Volunteer District Attorney Program.
The volunteer attorneys are sworn in as public service special
prosecutors and spend three months prosecuting defendants charged with
misdemeanors such as disorderly conduct, battery, criminal damage to
property and drunk driving. After serving in the same capacity as
assistant district attorneys, they return to the private practice firms
that sent them, knowing firsthand how to pick juries, give opening and
closing statements, direct- and cross-examine witnesses and present
physical evidence.
"There's no better way to learn how to try cases than in a
misdemeanor court where you may try two or three cases a week," said
Milwaukee County Deputy District Attorney Jon Reddin who administers the
program.
Special legislation authorizing these public service positions
started this educational program in 1992 to benefit both government and
private law practices. During their terms, which last roughly from
Memorial Day to Labor Day, these special prosecutors cannot work for the
law firms paying their salaries. The district attorney's office, which
pays nothing toward any volunteer's salary, gets a bright, enthusiastic
attorney eager to dive into a courtroom and fill in for vacationing
staff members. Law firms sending these young lawyers, who are just a few
years out of law school, get back an experienced prosecutor.
Seventeen lawyers participated in the program during its first five
summers, handling a combined 164 jury trials and 51 court trials.
Attorney Tim Muth holds the program's record for handling 17 trials
during his three-month stint in 1993, including 14 before a jury.
"There's no way to get that number of trials in private practice in
such a short time," said Muth, who handles mostly civil lawsuits for
Reinhart, Boerner, Van Deuren, Norris & Rieselbach, one of seven
Milwaukee law firms participating in the program.
Reddin and attorney Scott Hansen, one of the program's founders,
agree that the program generates a win-win situation for everyone
involved. Hansen, also with Reinhart, Boerner, Van Deuren, Norris &
Rieselbach, added, "We benefit, the community benefits and the D.A.'s
office benefits."
Six other firms sending volunteers through the program during its
first five summers include: Foley & Lardner; O'Neil, Cannon &
Hollman; Godfrey & Kahn; Quarles & Brady; Michael Best &
Friedrich and Hinshaw & Culbertson.
Courts Amend Rules, Operating
Procedures
Several recent amendments changed the rules and operating procedures
for submitting documents to the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the U.S.
Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit.
Twenty-two, rather than 15, copies of briefs and appendices must be
filed in the supreme court starting July 1. The amendment to Wisconsin
Statutes section (Rule) 809.19(8)1 followed a public hearing March 18.
The court's order will appear in the June Wisconsin Lawyer.
A number of Seventh Circuit rule changes were effective Jan. 1.
However, strict enforcement of Circuit Rule 32 (c), which dictates the
type style for briefs and motions, started only recently, according to
Thomas Strubbe, court clerk.
Circuit Rule 32(c) requires a brief or motion be set in a plain,
roman style, although italics may be used for emphasis. Case names must
be italicized or underlined. The document may use boldface only for case
captions, section names and argument headings. The document may use
all-capitals text only for case caption and section names. Nevertheless,
quoted passages may use the original type styles and capitalization.
The Seventh Circuit's rules are
posted on WisBar in Adobe Acrobat format.
Pocket-size POA is Good PR
Tool
Lawyers now can give their clients some peace of mind that fits in a
wallet.
The laminated Health Care Power of Attorney cards Waukesha attorney
Michael Corcoran recently started giving his estate planning clients
work like medical alert cards. If the bearer becomes incapacitated,
medical personnel can use the card to contact an agent or alternate
agent with access to the bearer's health care power of attorney
documents.
"Clients usually put it right into their wallets as soon as I hand it
to them," said Corcoran.
Corcoran has found the cards to be a great public relations tool that
cost next to nothing to produce. All it takes is some card stock, a
small laminating machine (Corcoran bought his for $50) and a computer
file template that Corcoran is willing to share. Just write him at 100
E. Sunset Dr., Waukesha, WI 53186-7697, or call (414) 542-4429.
Wisconsin
Lawyer
