Farewell to Six Lawyer-Legislators

State senators and representatives have announced their intentions to leave the Legislature in record numbers. More than 20 legislators have announced they will not seek reelection or have already left office following this legislative session. Six of those outgoing members are lawyers. That reduces the number of attorneys in the 132-member state Legislature to just 10.

Outgoing members cite varied reasons for leaving: running for a higher legislative office, accepting positions in state government, returning to private-sector employment, or retiring. Here's a brief look at the outgoing lawyer-legislators and their plans for the future.

Sen. Lynn Adelman (D-Mukwonago) was first elected to the senate in 1976. He resigned from that seat in late 1997 to accept a federal judgeship in the U.S. Eastern District Court of Wisconsin (Milwaukee).

Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Madison) was elected to the assembly in 1992. She is leaving the Legislature in order to run for the open 2nd Congressional District seat (south-central Wisconsin).

Rep. Mark Green (R-Green Bay) was elected to the assembly in 1992. After six years in office, he is leaving the Legislature to pursue higher office as he runs for the 8th Congressional District seat (northeastern Wisconsin).

Rep. Bill Murat (D-Stevens Point) was elected to the assembly in 1994. After four years in office, Murat is retiring from the Legislature.

Rep. Jim Rutkowski (D-Greenfield) was first elected to the assembly in 1970. With 27 years of legislative service, Rutkowski resigned in late 1997 to accept a position at the Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission.

Rep. Becky Young (D-Madison) was elected to the assembly in 1984. She served 24 years in the assembly before deciding that retirement was the change of pace she needed.

Wisconsin Lawyer