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Vol. 70, No. 5, May
1997
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.
Go to the WisBar Toolbox and download Acrobat Reader NOW!
Need an Acrobat tutorial? Go
to the WisBar Toolbox
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. | 