SCR CHAPTER 10
REGULATION OF THE STATE BAR
JUDICIAL
COUNCIL COMMITTEE'S NOTE, 1979: The
following rules, called the state bar rules, govern the state bar of Wisconsin
and its members. SCR 10.01 is in the
1977
SCR
10.01 State bar of Wisconsin. (1) There shall be an association to be known as
the "state bar of Wisconsin" composed of persons licensed to practice
law in this state, and membership in the association shall be a condition
precedent to the right to practice law in
(2)
The supreme court by appropriate orders shall provide for the
organization and government of the association and shall define the rights,
obligations and conditions of membership therein, to the end that the association
shall promote the public interest by maintaining high standards of conduct in
the legal profession and by aiding in the efficient administration of justice.
SCR
10.02 Organization of the state bar of
(2)
Purposes. The purposes of the
association are to aid the courts in carrying on and improving the
administration of justice; to foster and maintain on the part of those engaged
in the practice of law high ideals of integrity, learning, competence and public
service and high standards of conduct; to safeguard the proper professional
interests of the members of the bar; to encourage the formation and activities
of local bar associations; to conduct a program of continuing legal education;
to assist or support legal education programs at the preadmission level; to
provide a forum for the discussion of subjects pertaining to the practice of
law, the science of jurisprudence and law reform and the relations of the bar
to the public and to publish information relating thereto; to carry on a
continuing program of legal research in the technical fields of substantive
law, practice and procedure and make reports and recommendations thereon within
legally permissible limits; to promote the innovation, development and
improvement of means to deliver legal services to the people of Wisconsin; to
the end that the public responsibility of the legal profession may be more
effectively discharged.
(3)
Definition. In this chapter,
"state bar" means the state bar of Wisconsin.
SCR
10.03 Membership. (1) Persons included in membership. As of the effective date of this rule,
membership of the state bar consists of all those persons who on that date are
licensed to practice law in this state.
After the effective date of this rule, the membership includes all
persons who become licensed to practice law in this state; subject in each case
to compliance with the conditions and requirements of membership. Residence in this state is not a condition of
eligibility to membership in the state bar.
(2)
Enrollment. Every person who
becomes licensed to practice law in this state shall enroll in the state bar by
registering his or her name and social security number with the association
within 10 days after admission to practice.
Every change after enrollment in any member's office address or social
security number shall be reported promptly to the state bar. The social security number of a person enrolling
in the state bar may not be disclosed to any person or entity except the
supreme court and its agencies, or as otherwise provided by supreme court
rules.
(3)
Classes of membership. (a) The members of the state bar are divided into
4 classes: active members, judicial members, inactive members and emeritus
members. The class of active members
includes all members of the state bar except the judicial members and inactive
members. The class of inactive members
includes those persons who are eligible for active membership but are not engaged
in the practice of law in this state and have filed with the secretary of the
association written notice requesting enrollment in the class of inactive
members. Judges of courts of record,
full‑time family court commissioners, full-time court commissioners, U.S.
bankruptcy judges, U.S. magistrate judges and retired judges who are eligible
for temporary judicial assignment and are not engaged in the practice of law
are classed as judicial members, except that any judicial member may elect to
become an active member with all rights of active membership except to hold
office as an officer or governor or to practice law. The class of emeritus members includes those
persons who are either active or inactive members in good standing but who are
at least 70 years of age and have filed with the executive director of the
association a written notice requesting enrollment in the class of emeritus
members. An emeritus member has all the
privileges of membership in the state bar and need not pay membership dues for
the years following the year in which he or she attains the age of 70.
(b)
Any inactive member in good standing and any judicial member who is no
longer serving in a judicial office may change his or her classification to
that of an active member by filing with the secretary a written request for
transfer to the class of active members and by paying the dues required of
active members. No inactive member who
has not actively practiced law in this state or in another state during the
last 10 years may be transferred to active membership until the transfer is
approved by the supreme court except a judicial member who is no longer serving
in a judicial office shall be classified as an active member upon his or her
written request.
(c)
No judicial or inactive member may practice law in this state or hold
office or vote in any election conducted by the state bar. No person engaged in the practice of law in
this state in his or her own behalf or as an assistant or employee of an active
member of the state bar, or occupying a position, the duties of which require
the giving of legal advice or service in this state, may be enrolled as an
inactive member.
(4)
(a) No individual other than an
enrolled active member of the state bar may practice law in this state or in
any manner purported to be authorized or qualified to practice law.
(b) A court or judge in this state may
allow a nonresident counsel to appear and participate in a particular action or
proceeding in association with an active member of the state bar of Wisconsin
who appears and participates in the action or proceeding. An order granting nonresident counsel
permission to appear and participate in an action or proceeding shall continue
through subsequent appellate or circuit court actions or proceedings in the
same matter, provided that nonresident counsel files a notice of the order
granting permission with the court handling the subsequent appellate or circuit
court action or proceeding.
1. Counsel who seek to provide legal
services under SCR 10.03 (4)(b) shall provide the information listed in
Appendix A to this rule. The applicant
may also include additional information supporting the request for admission
pro hac vice.
2. Counsel who seek to provide legal
services under SCR 10.03 (4)(b) shall pay a nonrefundable fee of fifty dollars
($50) to the Office of Lawyer Regulation for each application for admission pro
hac vice. The fee shall be waived if the application certifies that the
attorney is employed by an agency providing legal services to indigent clients
and will be appearing on behalf of an indigent client, or that the applicant
will otherwise be appearing on behalf of an indigent client in the proceeding
and will be charging no fee for the appearance.
(c) A court in this state may allow a
nonresident military counsel to appear and participate in a particular action
or proceeding representing military personnel without being in association with
an active member of the state bar of Wisconsin and without being subject to any
application fees required by this rule.
(d) If representing a party before an
agency of this state is limited to lawyers, an administrative law judge or
hearing examiner for a state agency may, using the same standards and
procedures as a court, allow a nonresident counsel who has been retained to appear
in a particular agency proceeding to appear and participate in that proceeding
without being in association with an active member of the state bar of
Wisconsin.
(e) A court or judge may, after
hearing, rescind permission for a nonresident counsel to appear before it if
the lawyer by his or her conduct manifests incompetency to represent a client
in a
(f)
Counsel not admitted to the practice of law in this jurisdiction but
admitted in any other U.S. jurisdiction or foreign jurisdiction, who is
employed as a lawyer in Wisconsin on a continuing basis and employed exclusively
by a corporation, association, or other nongovernmental entity, the business of
which is lawful and consists of activities other than the practice of law or
the provision of legal services, shall register as in-house counsel within 60
days after the commencement of employment as a lawyer or if currently so
employed then within 90 days of the effective date of this rule, by submitting
to the Board of Bar Examiners the following:
1. A completed application in the form
set forth in Appendix B to this rule;
2. A nonrefundable fee of two hundred
and fifty dollars ($250) to the Board of Bar Examiners;
3. Documents proving admission to
practice law in the primary jurisdiction in which counsel is admitted to
practice law; and
4. An affidavit from an officer,
director, or general counsel of the employing entity attesting to the lawyer's
employment by the entity and the capacity in which the lawyer is so employed.
A
registered in-house lawyer is authorized to provide legal services to the
entity, client, or its organizational affiliates, including entities that
control, are controlled by, or are under the common control with the employer,
and for employees, officers, and directors of such entities, but only on
matters directly related to their work for the entity and only to the extent
consistent with SCR 20:1.7. A lawyer
registered under this section may provide pro bono legal services to qualified
clients of a legal service program.
Counsel who provide legal services in this jurisdiction under SCR
20:5.5(d)(1) that desire to appear, either in person, by signing pleadings, or
by being designated as counsel in actions filed in courts, administrative
agencies, or other tribunals in this state, must file a separate motion for pro
hac vice admission.
SCR
60.01(8) defines "judge" as "a justice of the supreme court, a
judge of the court of appeals, a judge of the circuit court, a reserve judge, a
municipal judge, a court commissioner, and anyone, whether or not a lawyer, who
is an officer of the judicial system and who performs judicial functions."
(5) Membership
dues and reduction of dues for certain activities. (a)
The annual membership dues for state bar operations for an active member
shall be established as provided herein.
Other classes of members shall pay the fraction of the dues of an active
member as follows: Supreme Court Justices, the full amount; inactive member,
one‑half; judicial members, two‑thirds; and members admitted to
practice for 3 years or less, one‑half.
For purposes of determining an active member's dues status based on the
number of years admitted, there shall be no proration based on the exact month
and year of admission. A fiscal year for
which any dues are required to be paid under Bylaw 1, Section 2 shall count as
a full year and a fiscal year for which no dues payment is required shall not
count as a year. A change in the dues of
an active member for state bar operations may be made by the board of governors
or as set forth herein. The state bar
shall include in the dues statement each year the amount necessary to pay the
costs of the Lawyer Regulation System and of the continuing legal education
functions of the Board of Bar Examiners as approved by the Supreme Court. Judicial members other than Supreme Court Justices
are not liable to pay the portion for the costs of these boards, as reflected
in the dues statement. The state bar shall also include in the dues
statement each year an assessment to support the public interest legal services
fund, as approved by the supreme court.
The state bar shall show separately on its annual dues statement the
portion of the total dues for state bar operations, the assessments for each of
the boards, and other assessments imposed by the supreme court.
(b)1.
The State Bar may engage in and fund any activity that is reasonably
intended for the purposes of the association.
The State Bar may not use compulsory dues of any member who objects to
that use for political or ideological activities that are not reasonably
intended for the purpose of regulating the legal profession or improving the
quality of legal services. The state bar
shall fund those political or ideological activities by the use of voluntary
dues, user fees or other sources of revenue.
2.
Prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, the state bar shall publish
written notice of the activities that can be supported by compulsory dues and
the activities that cannot be supported by compulsory dues. The notice shall indicate the cost of each
activity, including all appropriate indirect expense, and the amount of dues to
be devoted to each activity. The notice
shall set forth each member's pro rata portion, according to class of
membership, of the dues to be devoted to activities that cannot be supported by
compulsory dues. The notice shall be
sent to every member of the state bar together with the annual dues
statement. A member of the state bar may
withhold the pro rata portion of dues budgeted for activities that cannot be
supported by compulsory dues.
3.
A member of the state bar who contends that the state bar incorrectly
set the amount of dues that can be withheld may deliver to the state bar a
written demand for arbitration. Any such
demand shall be delivered within 30 days of receipt of the member's dues
statement.
4.
If one or more timely demands for arbitration are delivered, the state
bar shall promptly submit the matter to arbitration before an impartial
arbitrator. All such demands for
arbitration shall be consolidated for hearing.
No later than 7 calendar days before the hearing, any member requesting
arbitration shall file with the arbitrator a statement specifying with
reasonable particularity each activity he or she believes should not be
supported by compulsory dues under this paragraph and the reasons for the
objection. The costs of the arbitration
shall be paid by the state bar.
5.
In the event the decision of the arbitrator results in an increased pro
rata reduction of dues for members who have delivered timely demands for
arbitration for a fiscal year, the state bar shall offer such increased pro
rata reduction to members first admitted to the state bar during that fiscal
year and after the date of the arbitrator's decision.
(6)
Penalty for nonpayment of dues.
If the annual dues or assessments of any member remain unpaid 120 days
after the payment is due, the membership of the member may be suspended in the
manner provided in the bylaws; and no person whose membership is so suspended
for nonpayment of dues or assessments may practice law during the period of the
suspension.
(6m) Petition for reinstatement from
suspension for nonpayment of dues or failure to file a trust account
certificate. (a) An attorney whose suspension for nonpayment
of annual membership dues for state bar operations or assessments imposed by
the supreme court has been for a period of less than 3 consecutive years shall
be reinstated as a member by the state bar board of governors if he or she
makes full payment of the amount owing and an additional payment of $20 as a
penalty. The secretary of the state bar
shall certify the reinstatement to the clerk of the supreme court.
(b)
An attorney whose suspension for nonpayment of annual membership dues
for state bar operations or assessments imposed by the supreme court has been
for a period of 3 or more consecutive years may file a petition for
reinstatement with the supreme court.
A copy of the petition shall be served on the board of bar examiners and
the office of lawyer regulation.
Separate payments in the amount of $200 each shall be made to the board
of bar examiners and the office of lawyer regulation and shall accompany the
petition. Within 90 days after service
of the petition for reinstatement, the board shall make a determination
regarding compliance and file its finding with the supreme court. Within 90 days after service of the petition
for reinstatement, the director of the office of lawyer regulation shall
investigate the eligibility of the petitioner for reinstatement and file a
response with the supreme court in support of or in opposition to the petition.
(c) An attorney suspended from the
practice of law for failure to comply with the trust account certification
requirement under SCR 20:1.15 (g) shall be reinstated as a member by the state
bar board of governors if he or she files the prescribed certificate. The secretary of the state bar shall certify
the reinstatement to the clerk of the supreme court.
(7)
Voluntary resignation of membership.
If a member of the state bar files with the executive director a written
notice of the member's surrender of his or her license to practice law and the
acceptance by the supreme court of his or her resignation in the state bar, the
person shall then cease to be a member of the state bar and his or her name
shall be removed from the membership register.
Before accepting a resignation, the supreme court shall request from the
office of lawyer regulation information concerning whether the attorney is the
subject of any pending grievances, investigations, or proceedings.
(8)
Avoidance of hardship. The board
of governors may, in any case in which to do otherwise would result in hardship
or injustice, permit the retroactive enrollment of members and waive penalties
prescribed for delinquency in the payment of membership dues.
SCR
10.04 Officers. (1) Titles; Nomination and Election. The officers of the state bar include a
president, a president‑elect, an immediate past-president, a chairperson
of the board of governors, a secretary and a treasurer, who shall be nominated
and elected in the manner provided by the bylaws. Only active members of the state bar residing
and practicing law in
(2)
Duties of officers. (a) President. The president is the chief executive officer
of the association. He or she shall be a
member‑at‑large of the board of governors and shall preside at all
meetings and assemblies of the association and the executive committee. He or she shall make the appointments to and
designate the chairperson of all standing committees, create and appoint
special committees, and be a member, ex officio, of every committee.
(b) President‑elect and past president. The president‑elect and immediate
past-president shall each be a member‑at‑large of the board of
governors and the executive committee and shall perform all other duties
assigned to them by the president or board of governors or under these rules or
the bylaws. At the expiration of the one‑year
term of office of the president, the president‑elect shall succeed to the
office of president and the president shall succeed to the office of immediate
past-president.
(c) Chairperson, board of governors.
The chairperson of the board of governors shall be elected from the
board membership by its members and shall be a member‑at‑large of
the board of governors after his or her election. The chairperson shall be a member of the
executive committee ex officio and shall preside at all meetings of the board
of governors. The chairperson shall
perform the duties of the president in the absence or disability of the
president or in the event of a vacancy in the office of president.
(d)
Secretary. The secretary shall be a member‑at‑large
of the board of governors. The secretary
shall confer with and generally supervise the executive director and the
administrative staff of the state bar as to the keeping of proper minutes and
records, the maintenance of correct membership files and mailing lists and the
general operation of the headquarters office and he or she shall make
recommendations thereon to the board of governors as required.
(e) Treasurer. The treasurer shall
be a member‑at‑large of the board of governors. The treasurer shall confer with and generally
supervise the executive director and administrative staff of the state bar as
to the methods and procedures used in the receipt, collection and safekeeping
of all funds of the state bar and the procedures for disbursement and audit of
the funds. The treasurer shall assist
the executive committee in preparing the annual budget and in presenting it to
the board of governors and shall make recommendations to the board of governors
as to the association's financial affairs, as required.
(3)
Compensation. The officers of the
association shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall receive
reimbursement of their expenses as authorized and directed by the board of
governors.
(3m)
Term of Office. The office of
president and chairperson of the board of governors shall be for one term
only. The offices of secretary and
treasurer may be held for more than one term.
SCR
10.05 Board of governors. (1)
Composition of board. The affairs of the
association shall be managed and directed by a board of governors consisting of
the 6 officers of the association, all of whom shall be ex officio members‑at‑large
of the board, not fewer than 34 members elected from the state bar districts
established under sub. (2), one member selected by the young lawyers division
pursuant to its bylaws, one member selected by the government lawyers division
pursuant to its bylaws, five governors selected by the nonresident lawyers
division pursuant to its bylaws, one governor selected by the senior lawyers
division pursuant to its bylaws, and three nonlawyers appointed by the supreme
court for staggered two‑year terms.
No person appointed by the supreme court shall serve more than two
consecutive full terms. The rights and powers of the ex officio members of the
board are the same as those of elected members. All past‑presidents of
the Wisconsin bar association or of the state bar of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin
state delegate to the American Bar Association house of delegates and the deans
of the Marquette university and university of Wisconsin law schools are
entitled to floor privileges, but without voting privileges.
(2)
State bar districts. (a) For the
purpose of conducting elections of the members of the board of governors, the
board of governors shall divide the state into 16 state bar districts
comprising specified counties and shall establish the number of members of the
board of governors to be elected from each district.
(b)
The number of members of the board of governors elected from each state
bar district shall be in proportion to the number of active members entitled to
vote residing in the district and shall take into consideration all of the
following:
1.
The composition of the judicial administrative districts established by
sec. 757.60, Stats.
2.
The geographical area of each state bar district.
3.
All existing multi-county bar associations.
4.
The representation of members in each state bar district afforded by
members of the board of governors selected by divisions of the association
under sub. (1).
(c)
Every 10 years, commencing January 1, 1995, the board of governors shall
submit to the court a proposed redistricting map dividing the state bar into
districts in accordance with the requirements in par. (b).
(d)
Notice, filing, review, hearing and adoption of a redistricting proposal
submitted under par. (c) shall be provided in SCR 10.13(2) for amendment of
bylaws.
(3) Term; qualifications; nomination and
election. The term of office of each
elected member of the board of governors is 2 years, commencing on July 1 next
following his or her election. No person
is eligible to vote in a district for governor or to serve on the board of
governors from a district unless he or she is an active member of the
association and maintains in the district his or her principal office for the
practice of law. No person is eligible
for election to the board of governors for more than 2 consecutive terms. The eligibility of any person to serve as a
member of the board of governors from any state bar district ceases upon
removal of the person's principal office for the practice of law from the
district. Nominations and elections of
members of the board of governors shall be conducted in accordance with the
provisions of the bylaws.
(4)
Functions. (a) The board of governors has general charge of
the affairs and activities of the association. It may:
1.
Fix the time and place of the annual meeting of members of the
association.
2.
Make appropriations and authorize disbursements from the funds of the
state bar in payment of the necessary expenses of the association.
3.
Engage and define the duties of employees and fix their
compensation.
4.
Receive, consider and take action on reports and recommendations
submitted by committees, sections and the assembly of members of the
association at any annual or special meeting.
5.
Arrange for publication of an official state bar bulletin or journal.
6.
Conduct investigations of matters affecting the association or the
practice of law or the discipline of members of the association. 7. Fill vacancies arising in the membership of
the board of governors or in any office except the office of president. In each case the person appointed to fill the
vacancy shall hold office for the unexpired term.
8.
Adopt bylaws and regulations, not inconsistent with this chapter, for
the orderly administration of the association's affairs and activities.
(b)
The board of governors shall meet at least 4 times each year. Twenty‑four members present at any
meeting constitutes a quorum. Special
meetings of the board of governors may be called in accordance with the
bylaws.
(c)
The board of governors shall establish and maintain standing committees
having respectively the functions defined in the bylaws. The board of governors may create additional
standing committees and special committees and may define the authority and
functions of those standing and special committees.
(d)
The board of governors shall establish and maintain sections for
carrying on the work of the association, each within its proper field of study
defined in its bylaws. Each section
consists of members who voluntarily enroll in the section because of a special
interest in the particular field of law to which the section is dedicated. New
sections may be established and existing sections may be consolidated or
discontinued by the board of governors.
Each section shall be governed by bylaws not inconsistent with this
chapter or state bar bylaws. Section
bylaws and amendments thereto become effective upon approval of the board of
governors.
(e)
A section may express a position on a matter involving a substantial
issue of public policy under the following conditions:
1.
The matter is one on which the section's views would have particular
relevance.
2.
The position is adopted in accordance with section bylaws. 3. The position is clearly taken only on behalf
of the section. 4. The section charges
annual dues at least equal to the cost of its legislative program so that the
cost need not be borne by section nonmembers.
The executive committee or board shall receive a summary of section
positions on matters involving substantial issues of public policy prior to
their publication but inaction by the executive committee or board shall not be
construed as support of such positions.
No committee of the association may publicly express any conclusion or
opinion respecting any substantial issue of public policy without having
procured previous authorization from either the board of governors or the
executive committee of the association.
This prohibition is not applicable to the public release of reports made
by committees to the board of governors prior to action thereon by the board,
unless the board has otherwise ordered.
If any committee or section of the association expresses publicly any
conclusion or opinion on matters other than substantial issues of public
policy, the expression shall indicate that the conclusion or opinion is that of
the section of committee from which it emanates, rather than the conclusion or
opinion of the state bar.
(f)
The members of the board of governors shall receive no compensation for
services to the association, but they and also the members of committees and
the officers and directors of sections and of the young lawyers division, the
government lawyers division, the nonresident lawyers division, and the senior
lawyers division may be reimbursed for necessary expenses in the performance of
their duties.
(g)
A complete summary of the minutes of each meeting of the board of
governors shall be promptly printed in the
(h)
The board of governors shall establish and maintain a young lawyers
division. Membership in the division
shall be voluntary. Those eligible for
membership in the young lawyers division shall be any member of the state bar
under the age of 36 years or any member, irrespective of age, during the first
5 years following admission to the bar.
This division shall be governed by bylaws not inconsistent with state
bar rules and bylaws. The division
bylaws and amendments thereto become effective upon approval of the board of
governors. The young lawyers division
shall stimulate the interest of young lawyers in the objectives and programs of
the state bar and carry on projects which will be of assistance to young
lawyers.
(i)
The board of governors shall establish and maintain a government lawyers
division. Membership in the division
shall be voluntary. Those eligible for
membership in the government lawyers division shall be any member of the state
bar who is a salaried employee of any government. This division shall be governed by bylaws not
inconsistent with state bar rules and bylaws.
The division bylaws and amendments thereto become effective upon
approval of the board of governors. The
government lawyers division shall promote effective collaboration between the
private and public sectors of the bar and provide for the participation of
publicly employed members in the governance of the state bar.
(j)
The board of governors shall establish and maintain a non‑resident
lawyers division. Membership in the
division shall be voluntary. Those
eligible for membership in the non‑resident lawyers division shall be any
member of the state bar who has an address of record outside the state of
(k) The board
of governors shall establish and maintain a senior lawyers division. Membership in the division shall be
voluntary. Those eligible for membership
in the senior lawyers division shall be any members of the state bar who are
age 60 years or older. The division
shall be governed by bylaws not inconsistent with state bar rules and
bylaws. The division bylaws and
amendments thereto become effective upon approval of the board of
governors. The senior lawyers division
shall carry on projects that will stimulate the interest of the senior lawyers
in the objectives and programs of the state bar and carry on activities which
will be of assistance to senior lawyers in the practice of law.
SCR
10.06 Executive committee. (1) Members;
selection. The executive committee
consists of the president, the president-elect, the immediate past‑president,
the chairperson of the board of governors, one representative each from the
nonresident lawyers division, government lawyers division, young lawyers
division, and senior lawyers division selected from their board of governors
representatives and 6 additional members elected annually by the board of
governors at its final meeting of the fiscal year. The 6 additional members shall be elected
from among the governors-elect and the current governors who will serve on the
board of governors during the following fiscal year. A vacancy occurring in the selected
membership may be filled by action of the board of governors.
(2)
Powers. The executive committee
may exercise all the powers and perform all the duties of the board of
governors between the meetings of the board except the executive committee
shall not, unless otherwise authorized by the board of governors: amend the
bylaws; make rules or regulations governing nominations or elections; prescribe
regulations for proceedings before grievance committees; or initiate the taking
of any referendum or poll of members of the association. The executive committee shall directly
receive and act upon all reports of committees on disciplinary matters without
reporting to the board of governors. The
minutes relating to disciplinary matters shall be kept separate from the
general minutes and shall be confidential.
The executive committee shall prepare an annual budget for submission to
the board of governors and shall perform such other duties as the board of
governors may prescribe. Unless otherwise ordered by the board of governors,
the executive committee shall not express publicly any opinion on any matter
including legislation of major public interest or concern or of major
importance to the members of the association.
A complete summary of the general minutes of each meeting of the
executive committee shall be promptly printed in the
(3)
Meeting; quorum. The executive
committee shall meet at the call of the president, or at the call of the
executive director upon the written demand of at least 6 of its members. All members shall be given at least 48 hours'
notice by mail or telephone of the time and place of any meeting. A majority of all members constitutes a
quorum. No action may be taken by the
committee except upon the concurrence of at least a majority of all
members. The concurrence may be
registered by mail, telephone, facsimile, or e-mail.
SCR
10.07 Meetings of the association. (1) Annual
meeting. There shall be an annual meeting of the members of the state bar each
year. The board of governors shall
determine the time and place of the annual meeting and shall arrange a suitable
program.
(2)
Assembly of members. An assembly
of the members of the state bar may be held at each annual meeting for the
purpose of discussing any issues of association public policy.
SCR
10.08 Referendum procedure. (1) Time of
holding. All referendums shall be
conducted in any calendar year at the same time as and simultaneous with the
election of officers and members of the board of governors of the state bar.
(2)
Time for filing request. In order
to be submitted to the membership in the regularly scheduled spring elections,
petitions for referendum initiated by members of the state bar must be filed at
the state bar headquarters no later than the first business day in
January. Nothing in this rule is
intended to prohibit the submission of referendum petitions at any time in the
preceding calendar year after the completion of state bar elections for that year. Any referendum authorized by the board of
governors shall be authorized on or before February 28 of the calendar year in
which the referendum is to be held.
(3)
Subject matter of referendum. (a)
A referendum may inquire as to the opinion of members on any matter of public
policy which is properly the subject of any action by the association,
including proposals for change in the rules or bylaws of the association,
except no referendum may be held on administrative or personnel matters and
expenses or retroactively on dues.
(b) The same substantive question
shall not be submitted to the members by referendum more frequently than one
time in two calendar years.
(4)
Governors may initiate. The board
of governors may, by the affirmative vote of two‑thirds of its
membership, refer to the active members of the association for determination by
mail ballot any appropriate question of public policy, as provided in sub.
(3).
(5)
Members may initiate by petition.
When required by petition as set forth herein, the board of governors
shall submit for determination by the members of the association any question
appropriate for referendum, as provided in sub. (3).
(a) The petition shall succinctly and
clearly state the question to be submitted by referendum.
(b) A referendum must be requested by
petitions containing the signatures of 1,000 members of the state bar eligible
to vote.
(c) Each petition shall contain (i)
the member's signature and full name clearly printed or typed, (ii) the address
of the member's principal office for the practice of law and (iii) the date on
which the petition was signed.
(d) Each petition shall be circulated
by an active member in good standing of the state bar.
(e) The petitions shall be verified by
the circulator who shall swear that the circulator personally obtained all
signatures set forth on the petition and knows them to be members of the state
bar as represented therein.
(f) The 1,000 signatures required
shall include not less than 50 signatures from each of six separate districts
from which members of the state bar board of governors are elected.
(g) All signatures must be obtained
within a period of ninety days before the date the petition is filed.
(h) The petition shall designate the
person to be notified of any insufficiency or improper form under sub. (7).
(j) Members can obtain a petition form
from the executive director.
(k) Non-resident members are
considered to reside in a single, non-resident district.
(6) Procedure for filing
petition.
(a)
The petition must be complete when filed with the state bar headquarters. Upon filing, the petition shall be examined
by the state bar executive director or his or her designee in order to
determine all of the following:
1. Whether the question is properly the subject of a
referendum.
2. Whether the signatures are of members of the state bar
who are eligible to vote.
3. Whether the signatures satisfy the geographic distribution
and time requirements set forth in sub. (5)(f) and (g).
4. Whether the petition is otherwise in order as required
by this section.
(b) The ruling of the executive director shall be
communicated to the person designated in the petition as soon as practicable
and within 2 weeks after the date on which the petition is filed.
(7)
Framing the question. Upon
receipt by the state bar of a referendum petition as described above and
certification by the executive director as to the validity of the petition, the
state bar president shall appoint a committee to frame the exact question to be
submitted to the members. That committee
shall include the person designated in the petition. The committee shall be responsible for
framing the question in a form that is clear, intelligible and meaningful.
(8)
Final certification by board of governors. Any dispute as to the certification of the
validity of the petition by the executive director, or the framing of the
question by the special committee described above, shall be submitted to the
board of governors who shall determine the validity of the petition and the
form in which the question shall appear on the referendum ballot.
(9)
Publication of question. As to
all questions to be submitted to the members by referendum, space in a
reasonable amount shall be provided to both the proponents and the opponents of
the proposition. This space shall be
made available without charge in the state bar's official publication one month
prior to mailing of the referendum ballots or in another state bar mailing to
all eligible voters. State bar mailing
lists shall be equally available at the same costs to both proponents and
opponents of any referendum.
(10)
Conduct of election. The mailing
of the ballots, the return of the ballots, the counting of the ballots and the
reporting of the results shall be conducted in the same manner as set forth in
article 3, sections 4 through 8 of the bylaws for the election of the board of
governors.
(11)
Binding effect. A referendum
receiving an affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast, provided that at
least 25% of the eligible voters vote, shall establish state bar policy until
such time as that policy may be changed or modified according to the
requirements of supreme court rules or state bar bylaws.
SCR
10.09 Disbursements. (1) The board of governors shall make necessary
appropriations for disbursements from the funds in the treasury to pay all
necessary expenses of the association, its officers and committees. It shall be the duty of the board of
governors to cause proper books of account to be kept and to procure an annual
audit thereof by a certified public accountant.
(2)
A financial statement showing assets, liabilities, receipts and
disbursements of the state bar shall be published in the state bar bulletin
prior to the annual meeting. A copy of
the annual audit shall be filed with the supreme court.
SCR
10.10 Committee to review bar
performance. The supreme court shall appoint a committee
to review the performance of the state bar in carrying out its public functions
at such time as the court deems it advisable.
The supreme court shall determine in its order of appointment the size
and composition of the committee. The
state bar shall pay the expenses of the committee.
SCR
10.11 Executive director. There shall be
an executive director of the state bar who is the chief executive officer of
the administrative staff and in direct charge of the state bar office, its records,
property and equipment. The executive
director shall be hired by the board of governors under terms of employment and
compensation fixed by the board. The
executive director shall devote full time to the affairs of the state bar. Subject to the general control of the
officers, executive committee and board of governors and as appropriate and
consistent with the requirements of these rules and the bylaws, the executive
director shall:
(1)
Attend meetings of the executive committee and board of governors and
keep and disseminate the minutes of the meetings.
(2)
Collect, deposit and disburse the association's funds pursuant to the
budget and shall invest surplus funds at the direction of the executive
committee.
(3)
Maintain membership lists and individual member files.
(4)
Advise and assist the officers, governors, sections and committees.
(5)
Make the arrangements for association meetings.
(6)
Perform other duties as directed by the board of governors or officers
or as prescribed by this chapter or the bylaws.
SCR
10.12 Official publication; notice to
members. The
SCR
10.13 Amendment. (1) Amendment of rules. Proposals for amendment or abrogation of
provisions of this chapter may be presented to the supreme court by petition of
the board of governors or by petition approved by the members of the
association through the referendum procedure set forth in SCR 10.08. Hearing upon such a petition will be pursuant
to notice in such manner as the court directs.
(2)
Amendment of bylaws. The
provisions of the bylaws of the state bar of Wisconsin are subject to amendment
or abrogation by resolution adopted by vote of two‑thirds of the members
of the board of governors, or action of the members of the association
expressed through the referendum procedure defined in SCR 10.08. When any
change in the bylaws has been made by the board of governors the secretary
shall publish notice of the change, including a copy of the amendatory
resolution, in the
SCR
10.14 [Deleted.]
Amended November 11, 1980; June 1, 1983; January 21,
1986; February 21, 1986; October 21, 1987; April 11, 1989; January 22, 1990;
November 6, 1990, March 13, 1992; May 7, 1992; April 14, 1993; March 21, 1995;
April 12, 1996; October 30, 1998; November 14, 2001; February 12, 2008; January
1, 2009.
APPENDIX
State Bar By‑Laws
Article I
Membership
Section
1. Membership Register. The
Association shall maintain a membership register for the enrollment of members
of the State Bar, which shall contain as to each member a record showing the
member's address, date of registration, class of original membership and each
subsequent change of membership status, and such other information as may be
required by the Board of Governors from time to time.
Every member shall enroll in the State
Bar by signing and filing in the office of the Association a registration card
showing the following information concerning the registrant:
(a) Full name.
(b) Residence address.
(c) Office address. Location of principal office.
(d) Date of admission to practice in
(e) Date of admission to practice in
any state or states other than
(f) Date and place of birth; and in
the case of a naturalized person, the date and place of naturalization.
(g) Particulars regarding any previous
suspension or revocation of right to practice law in any state or country.
(h) Name of law school and year of
graduation.
(i) Social security number.
Every
change after enrollment in respect of any of the matters above specified shall
be promptly reported to the Executive Director.
Communications from the Association to any member shall be sent to the
latest address furnished by such member.
At the time of enrollment of each member admitted to practice after
these rules take effect, the Association shall deliver to the new member a copy
of the lawyer's oath set forth in sec. 757.29, Wisconsin Statutes.
Section
2. Membership Dues. Membership
dues shall be paid on the basis of a July 1 through June 30 fiscal year and
shall be due and payable to the treasurer on July 1 beginning each such year.
Membership dues for the fiscal year in which admission to the State Bar occurs
shall be paid by the due date stated on an initial dues statement as follows:
(i) for those admitted between July 1 and December 31, full applicable annual
dues; (ii) for those admitted between January 1 and April 30, one‑half
applicable annual dues; (iii) for those admitted between May 1 and June 30, no
dues. The Board of Governors may exempt
any member serving in the armed forces of the United States at the date of
admission or at the beginning of any fiscal year, provided satisfactory proof
of exemption is submitted to the Executive Director within 60 days of the date
dues otherwise would be payable.
Section
3. Penalty for Nonpayment of Dues. (a) Any member admitted to the State Bar prior to
July 1 whose dues are not paid by September 1 shall be notified of his or her
delinquency and the consequent penalties by certified mail sent to the member's
last known address prior to October.
Failure to pay the dues by October 31 shall automatically suspend the
delinquent member. The names of all
members suspended from membership by the nonpayment of dues shall be certified
by the Executive Director to the Clerk of the Supreme Court and to each judge
of a court of record in this state, after first mailing a copy of such list to
each suspended member 10 days before it is filed with the Supreme Court.
(b)
Any member admitted to the State Bar on or after July 1 and whose dues
are not paid within 60 days after the due date stated on his or her initial
dues statement shall be notified of his or her delinquency and the consequent
penalties by certified mail sent to the member's last known address within 90
days after the initial due date. Failure
to pay initial dues within 120 days from the initial due date shall
automatically suspend the delinquent member, and the Executive Director shall
certify such suspension in the manner provided by these bylaws.
(c)
Whenever a member so suspended for nonpayment of membership dues makes
full payment of the amount owing, and in addition thereto the sum of twenty
dollars as a penalty, the member shall be reinstated as a member by the Board
of Governors, and the fact of reinstatement shall be certified by the Secretary
to the Clerk of the Supreme Court.
Provided however in the case of any person whose membership dues shall
have been in arrears for a period of three or more consecutive years, no
application for reinstatement shall be granted unless ordered by the
court. Provided further however, that no
person whose membership is suspended for the nonpayment of dues shall be
entitled to practice law during the period of such suspension.
Section
4. Hardship Cases. The Executive
Director, with the approval of the President, may in individual cases waive or
refund dues or penalties in any case where to do otherwise would work an
injustice or an undue hardship. All such
waivers or refunds shall be reported to the Board of Governors.
Section
5. Dues Reduction Arbitration Procedure. (a) Demands for arbitration of the dues reduction
under SCR 10.03(5)(b) shall be made in writing and shall be delivered to the
Executive Director of the State Bar within 30 days of receipt of the member's
dues statement. Delivery may be made in
person or by first class mail, and mailed demands will be deemed delivered upon
mailing. Demands shall include the name
and address of the member or members demanding arbitration, a brief statement
of the claim or objection, and the signature of the member or members.
(b)
If one or more timely demands for arbitrations are delivered, the State
Bar shall agree to submit the matter forthwith to arbitration. All timely demands for arbitration shall be
consolidated for hearing before the arbitrator appointed, and the provisions of
sec. 788, Stats., shall apply as if the parties had entered into a written
agreement for arbitration. A member
demanding arbitration is required to pay his or her dues by October 31 or 15
days following the arbitrator's decision, whichever is later. Failure to pay dues by such date shall
automatically suspend the delinquent member.
(c)
Upon receipt of all demands for arbitration, the State Bar shall apply
for appointment of an impartial arbitrator to the Chief Judge of the
(d)
Members demanding arbitration shall have access to the financial records
upon which the State Bar based the determination of the amount of dues that can
be withheld. These records shall be
available for inspection and copying during normal business hours. Copying
shall be at the member's expense.
(e)
The arbitrator shall determine the date, time and location of the
arbitration hearing(s) and shall so notify the parties at least 15 days prior
to said hearing(s). The arbitrator will
promptly hold hearings in which the parties will be permitted to participate
personally or through a representative.
The State Bar shall bear the burden of proof regarding the accuracy of
the determination of the amount of dues that can be withheld. All parties will be given the opportunity to
present evidence and to present arguments in support of their positions. The following rules shall apply to the
arbitration proceedings:
i.
There will be no transcripts or post-hearing briefs.
ii.
The arbitrator will issue an award stating the reasons for the decision
within 30 business days of the closing of the hearing. The opinion will be brief, and based on the
evidence and arguments presented.
iii.
The arbitrators will charge a maximum of $100 per hour for services,
including the hearing, preparation and study time, and shall be reimbursed for
all necessary expenses of the arbitration.
iv.
The hearing shall be held within 60 days of appointment of the
arbitrator.
v.
The arbitrator shall not be deemed a necessary party in judicial
proceedings relating to the arbitration.
vi.
The arbitrator shall have no authority to add, subtract, set aside or
delete from any Supreme Court Rule, or State Bar bylaw.
(f)
Members first admitted to the State Bar after the date of notification
to members shall be given that notification with their initial dues
statements. Such members shall be
further notified that they may deliver a demand for arbitration within 30 days
following receipt of the notification.
If arbitration is pending at the date of delivery of a demand for
arbitration by a newly admitted member, the newly admitted member's demand
shall be consolidated with the pending arbitration. All of the provisions of this section shall
otherwise apply to demands for arbitration filed by newly admitted members.
Article II Officers
Section
1. Nominations. The President‑Elect,
the Secretary and the Treasurer of the State Bar shall be elected from a list
of candidates nominated in the following manner:
(a) The President of the Association with
approval of the Board of Governors shall appoint a committee of five members to
nominate candidates for said offices to be voted on at the next annual
election. The nomination committee shall
be approved at the first regularly scheduled Board meeting following the annual
convention. The committee shall issue a
report naming two or more nominees for the Office of President‑Elect, two
or more nominees for the Office of Secretary and two or more nominees for the
Office of Treasurer. Before making its
report, the committee shall solicit from the membership the names of members
interested in seeking nomination to any office scheduled for election. The committee shall make its report no later
than December 15 in each year.
(b)
Other persons may be nominated for any of said offices by petition. Each nominee must provide a petition signed
by not less than one hundred active members of the Association. The petition must be filed in the Office of
the Executive Director on or before the first business day of February of the
year of the election. Before such a
petition may be filed, the nominee must consent in a written statement to
nomination for the office designated in the petition.
Section
2. Voting and Canvass of Ballots. The provisions
of Sections 4 to 8 inclusive of Article III of these By‑Laws relating to
the election of members of the Board of Governors shall be applicable also to
the election of officers.
Section
3. Election of Chairperson of the Board
of Governors. The Board shall elect a Chairperson of the
Board of Governors from its members at its last regular meeting each fiscal
year. The President shall appoint a
nominating committee from the governors at the second to last regular Board
meeting of the fiscal year. The
committee shall nominate one or more candidates for this office. Those eligible for nomination and election to
this office are: all current Board
members, including members whose second terms expire that June, except for the
President and President‑Elect.
While serving as Chairperson of the Board, the Chairperson of the Board
shall be a governor at large and no longer a district governor.
Section
4. Commencement of Term of Office. The terms of
all out‑going officers of the Association and the Chairperson of the
Board of Governors shall end, and the term of their successors shall commence,
on the first day of July.
Article III Board of Governors
Section
1. Qualifications of Electors. Each member of
the Board of Governors shall be elected by the active members of the State Bar
eligible to vote in the State Bar District in which such member of the Board of
Governors has his or her principal office for the practice of law.
Section
2. Term. At the annual
election members of the Board of Governors shall be elected in the several
State Bar districts by the members entitled to vote in each Bar district where
there is a vacancy or vacancies for governor or governors whose terms expire.
Section
3. Nomination Petitions. Nominations
for the Office of Governor shall be by petition signed in respect of each
nominee by not less than ten persons entitled to vote for such candidate. Blank forms for that purpose shall be
supplied by the Executive Director of the Association on request. Nomination petitions for candidates to be
voted on at the annual election in any year shall be filed in the office of the
Executive Director not later than the first business day of March of such year,
provided that before the filing of such petition a statement shall be endorsed
thereon by the nominee to the effect that the nominee consents to nomination
for the office designated in the petition.
No nominating petition for governor shall be filed on behalf of any
member practicing in the same county in which another member is a governor
whose term does not expire at the next annual meeting.
Section
4. Voting List. On the third
Friday of March in each year the voting list shall close for the election in
that year. Every active member of the
Association in good standing on that date shall be entitled to vote in the
State Bar District in which the member's principal office for the practice of
law is located, for officers of the State Bar and for the governor or governors
for such district to be elected that year.
Section
5. Mailing of Ballots. On or before
the second Friday of April in each year the Executive Director shall prepare and
mail required ballots to each active member of the State Bar entitled to vote
at the annual election. One form of
ballot sent to persons entitled to vote in each State Bar District shall
contain the names of the nominees for the several offices of the State Bar to
be filled at the annual election, and a separate form of ballot shall contain
the names of the nominees for the Office of Governor from such district. If any such person entitled to vote in such
election fails to receive his or her ballots, or if it appears that any such
ballot has been lost or destroyed, a new ballot shall be furnished to the
person by the Executive Director. The
fourth Friday of April in each year shall be the last day for voting in such
election and no ballots received after that date shall be counted.
Section
6. Voting of Ballots. No ballot
shall be counted unless returned to the Office of the Executive Director of the
Association on or before the last day for voting, in an envelope furnished by
the Executive Director marked "Ballot."
Section
7. Checking and Custody of Ballots. The Executive
Director shall receive and have custody of the ballots after they are voted
until they are canvassed. All such
ballots shall be segregated as to State Bar districts from which they are
received. The envelope containing the
ballots shall be retained unopened until turned over to the certified public
accountant for canvass.
Section
8. Canvass of Ballots. The ballots
shall be canvassed by a certified public accountant selected by the Executive
Committee. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes for each office
shall be declared elected. In case of a
tie vote the Executive Committee shall determine the successful candidate by lot
drawn by the Committee. The certified
public accountant shall certify the results to the Executive Director, who
shall forthwith notify the candidates and announce the results. Upon completion of the canvass, the certified
public accountant shall retain the ballots subject to the further order of the
Board of Governors.
Section
9. Meetings of Board of Governors. (a) There shall be a regular meeting of the Board
of Governors in each year at the time of the annual meeting of members of the
State Bar. There shall be at least three additional regular meetings in each
year. The meetings shall be on the dates
set by the President and announced no later than thirty days following the
President's assumption of office on July 1.
Special meetings of the Board of Governors may be held at any time upon
call of the President, and shall be called by the President upon written
request signed by seven members of the Board.
(b)
Notice of the time and place of regular and special meetings of the
Board shall be given to each member by the Executive Director by mail or
telephone at least five days before the meeting. At any regular meeting of the Board any
business may be transacted which is within the power of the Board, whether or
not specified in the call or notice of the meeting. At any special meeting of the Board, any
business may be transacted which is within the power of the Board if specified
in the call or notice of the meeting. Members of the Board may participate and
vote by telephone at any special meeting, but not at a regular meeting. Members appearing by telephone at a special
meeting shall be deemed present for the purpose of determining a quorum. Action by the Board may be taken by a
majority of members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present, except
action upon legislative proposals, proposed supreme court rule changes and
proposed executive agency rule changes shall require approval by a 60% majority
of members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present. At any regular or special meeting, any
business placed on a consent agenda that is part of the notice or call will be
acted upon without debate. Business
listed on the consent agenda may be removed by any one governor within a
72-hour notice to the Secretary of the State Bar.
Section
10. Members of Judicial Council. Upon
expiration of the term of office of each member of the Judicial Council
selected by the Wisconsin Bar Association pursuant to the provisions of sec.
758.13, Wisconsin Statutes, the successor in such office shall be elected from
the active members of the State Bar in the manner provided for the election of
officers.
Section
11. American Bar Association Delegates. (a) Upon
expiration of the term of office of each State Bar delegate of the House of
Delegates of the American Bar Association, the successor shall be elected by
the Board of Governors and every vacancy thereafter occurring in such office
shall be filled in the manner specified below.
(b)
The election of delegates shall be held at the meeting of the Board of
Governors held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the State Bar of
Wisconsin each year.
(c)
Qualification for election as State Bar of Wisconsin delegate to the
American Bar Association House of Delegates shall be membership in the State
Bar of Wisconsin and the American Bar Association and shall be made by petition
of nomination to such office endorsed by at least ten members of the State Bar
of Wisconsin Board of Governors, except that a candidate for Young Lawyer
delegate who is otherwise qualified under section 6.4 of the American Bar
Association Constitution shall be nominated by petition endorsed by at least
four members of the Young Lawyers Division Board of Directors. Members of the State Bar of Wisconsin Board
of Governors or, in the case of nomination of the Young Lawyer delegate,
members of the Young Lawyers Division Board of Directors, may endorse any
number of candidate petitions. Petitions
for nomination shall be substantially in the form of petition for election to
the State Bar of Wisconsin Board of Governors as prescribed in Article III,
Section 3 of the State Bar of Wisconsin Bylaws with appropriate changes in
order to make the petition germane to this purpose. Petitions for nominations shall be filed in
the office of the Executive Director of the State Bar of Wisconsin no later
than the 15th day of April in the year the election is to be held.
(d)
Notice of election for terms of delegates expiring at the close of the
American Bar Association Annual Meeting each year shall be substantially in the
form as the notice attached hereto as Exhibit A. Said notice shall be published in the
February and March issues of the Wisconsin
Lawyer each year.
(e)
Commencing with delegates elected at the meeting of the Board of
Governors held in conjunction with the 1994 Annual Meeting of the State Bar of
Wisconsin, no candidate shall be elected to more than three consecutive terms.
Exhibit
A
Notice of Election of State Bar of
An election of two members or in odd
numbered years, one member and one member of the Young Lawyers Division, of the
State Bar of Wisconsin to the American Bar Association House of Delegates
(House) will be held at the meeting of the Board of Governors on the _____ day
of ____ 20 ____. Those members
interested in representing the State Bar of Wisconsin in such capacity are
referred to Article III, Section 11 of the State Bar of Wisconsin Bylaws for
qualifications for election and election procedure. Below is a brief description of the American
Bar Association House of Delegates as well as the duties of said office.
The House has the ultimate
responsibility for establishing Association policy, both as to the
administration of the Association and it positions on professional and public
issues. The House elects the officers of
the Association and members of the Board of Governors upon nomination of the
Nominating Committee. The House has sole
authority to amend the Association's Bylaws and has authority to amend the
Association's Constitution upon concurrence of the Association's Assembly of
members. The House authorizes committees
and Sections of the Association and has the authority to discontinue them. The House sets the dues for membership upon
recommendation of the Board of Governors.
A Delegate is responsible for
attending each meeting of the House, participating fully in its proceedings and
discharging the responsibilities of the House.
The State Bar of Wisconsin reimburses the expenses incurred by its
delegates for transportation and lodging for the meeting of the House held at
the Annual Meeting of the American Bar Association. The American Bar Association reimburses the
expenses, which conform to the American Bar Association policy, incurred by all
delegates for transportation to the Mid-year meeting of the House. The State Bar reimburses its delegates for
lodging expenses incurred by its delegates at the Mid-year meeting of the
house.
It is the responsibility of each
Delegate to keep his or her constituency fully apprised of the actions taken by
the House, and, to the extent possible, matters pending before the House; and
to assist constituent entities in presenting issues of concern for debate and
action by the House.
Article IV Standing Committees
Section
1(a). Appointment. Number of Members. Term. Each of the
standing committees other than the Committee on Legal Assistance and the
Continuing Legal Education Committee shall consist of 12 members. The Committee on Legal Assistance shall
consist of 18 members, 3 of whom are attorneys employed by legal services,
legal aid, or legal assistance providers.
The Continuing Legal Education Committee shall consist of 13 members,
one of whom must be a member of the Government Lawyers Division. The members of each such committee shall be
appointed by the President for a term of three years, so arranged that the term
of office of only one-third of the members shall expire in any year. No person is eligible for appointment to the
same committee for more than two consecutive terms. The Government Lawyers Division member of the
Continuing Legal Education Committee shall be appointed by the President for a
term of one year. The chairperson of
each committee shall be designated by the President for a term of one year. In the event of any vacancy in any committee
it shall be filled by appointment by the President for the unexpired term. Members of committees shall serve until the
appointment of their respective successors.
A majority of the members of any committee shall constitute a quorum for
the transaction of business. Each
committee shall keep a record of its meetings and proceedings and shall submit
an annual report to the Board of Governors.
The Board of Governors may assign powers or duties to any standing committee
in addition to those hereinafter set forth.
(b) Removal for Nonattendance. After two
consecutive nonexcused absences from meetings of any committee, the chairperson
of the committee shall report said absences to the President. The President shall thereupon notify such
member of the member's removal from the committee, and appoint a replacement
for the balance of the term of office.
Section
2. Committee on Continuing Legal
Education. This committee shall provide guidance for the
State Bar of Wisconsin's continuing legal education program, which is designed
to serve the public interest by improving the competence of lawyers. Competence includes knowledge of substantive
and procedural law, principles of ethics and professionalism, and techniques of
law practice management. The continuing
legal education program should be committed to providing a range of high
quality educational and practice resources at competitive prices while
recognizing that its long term vitality is dependent upon fiscal responsibility.
Section
3. Committee on Professional Ethics. This committee
shall formulate and recommend standards and methods for the effective
enforcement of high standards of ethics and conduct in the practice of law;
shall consider the "Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys" as
adopted by the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the observance thereof, and shall
make recommendations for appropriate amendments thereto. The committee shall have authority to express
opinions regarding proper professional conduct, upon written request of any
member or officer of the State Bar.
However, the committee shall not issue opinions as to the propriety of
past or present conduct of specific member attorneys unless requested to do so
by a grievance committee of the State Bar or by the Board of Governors of the
State Bar. Unless waived by the
requestor or subject, the identities of all requestors of past and current
opinions or advice shall be confidential and information relating thereto shall
also remain confidential. Members of the
committee or designees who provide ethics advice to member attorneys shall be
subject to this requirement of confidentiality.
Section
4. Committee on Communications. This committee
shall create, develop and implement effective means and methods of
communication between the State Bar, courts, attorneys, clients, all forms of
media and the general public. It shall
suggest, encourage and foster the activities of local bar associations in
communicating more efficiently and effectively in their respective areas. It shall be responsible for the relations of
the State Bar to the public and shall report and make recommendations from time
to time to the Board of Governors.
Section
5. Committee on Legal Assistance. This committee
shall promote the establishment and efficient maintenance of legal aid
organizations equipped to provide legal services to those unable to pay for
such service; shall study the administration of justice as it affects persons
in the low income groups; and shall study and report on methods of making legal
service more readily available to persons of moderate means, and shall
encourage and assist local bar associations in accomplishing this purpose.
Section
6. Special Committees. Each special
committee shall consist of a number of members determined and appointed by the
President or, if the special committee is a committee of the Board of
Governors, such number as shall be determined and appointed by the President
with the advice and consent of the Board of Governors. Appointments to special
committees shall be for a term of one year.
No person is eligible for appointment to the same special committee for
more than four consecutive years. Creation
or abolition of a special committee by the President is subject to review and
approval by the Board of Governors. The
Chairperson of each special committee, other than a committee of the Board,
shall be designated by the President for a term of one year. The Chairperson of each committee of the
Board shall be designated by the Board for a term of one year. In the event of any vacancy in any special
committee, it shall be filled by appointment by the President or, in the event
of a vacancy in a committee of the Board, by the Board for the unexpired
term. Members of the special committee
shall serve until the appointment of their respective successors. Each special committee shall keep a record of
its meetings and proceedings and shall submit an annual report to the Board of
Governors. The members of any special
committee shall be subject to the removal provisions contained in Section 1(b).
Article V Finance Committee
Section
1. Composition. There shall be
a continuing Special Committee on Finance composed of the President, President‑Elect,
immediate Past-President, Treasurer, Chairperson of the Continuing Legal
Education Committee or his or her designee, and four members who shall be
appointed by the President and shall be experienced with the governing of the
Bar and with financial management. The
President shall appoint the chairperson.
Section
2. Functions. The Committee
on Finance shall review the annual budget proposed by the Executive Director
and make recommendations to the Board of Governors thereon, and shall maintain
continuing budget and expenditure scrutiny during the year. The committee shall
also deal with other financial aspects of the Association's operation,
including review of financial statements and recommendations thereon, pension
administration, investment and other asset management, and long‑range
financial planning; shall serve as a resource on financial policies and
procedures for proposed actions of the Board of Governors and the Executive
Committee; and shall perform such other functions and duties as are assigned by
the Board of Governors, the Executive Committee or the President.
Article VI Section Organization and Activities
Section
1. Establishment, Consolidation and
Discontinuance of Sections. Upon approval of an application for the
establishment of a new section, the Board of Governors, by a vote of a majority
of its members may establish such a section dedicated to a field of law not
committed to any other section or committee of the Association. Every
application to the Board of Governors for the establishment of a section shall set
forth:
(a)
The field of law to which the proposed section is to be dedicated, which
shall be within the purposes of the State Bar and outside the field of law
committed to any existing section or committee of the Association.
(b)
A statement of the need for the proposed section.
(c)
The proposed by‑laws for the government of such section. (d)
The names of the several committees, if any, of the proposed section.
(e)
A list of members of the Association who have signified their intention
of applying for membership in the proposed section.
An application for the consolidation
of existing sections shall set forth the information required in the case of an
application for establishing a section.
Such an application may be granted by the Board of Governors in its
discretion, by vote of a majority of the members of the Board of Governors, but
only after notice by mail to the members of such section.
A section may be discontinued by vote
of a majority of the members of the Board of Governors but only after notice by
mail to the members of such section.
Section
2. Membership of Sections. Any member of
the State Bar shall be entitled at the member's election to enroll in any
section. Section
3. Section Officers and Council. Each section shall have a chairperson and
council and such other officers as the section by‑laws may provide. The council of a section shall consist of the
officers ex officio and such other members as may be provided in the by‑laws. No change in the by‑laws of any section
shall be effective until approved by the Board of Governors.
Section
4. Section Dues. The members of
any section may be required to pay section dues in such amount and for such
purposes as the section, with the approval of the Board of Governors, may from
time to time determine.
Section
5. Section Meetings. The officers
and directors of each section shall arrange for meetings of the section in
conjunction with the annual meeting of the State Bar. Special meetings may be held at such times
and places as the section boards and officers may determine.
Section
6. Reports. Each section
shall submit to the Board of Governors prior to the annual meeting of the
Association in each year a report of the activities of the section.
Section
7. Expenses. Expenditures
out of the dues of sections shall be made only by direction of the council of
the section; and the treasurer of the State Bar shall pay out of such dues only
such amounts as the chairperson of the section shall certify to have been so
authorized.
Article VII Amicus Curiae Briefs Briefs amicus curiae may be authorized and
filed in the name of the State Bar of Wisconsin or one of its sections or
divisions pursuant to the following guidelines, policies and procedures:
Section
1. State Bar of Wisconsin Briefs.
(a) Authorization. The
Board of Governors may authorize the preparation and filing of a State Bar of
Wisconsin brief amicus curiae by an
affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of those members present and voting.
(b) Appropriate Cases. Briefs amicus curiae may be authorized only
when consistent with the purposes of the State Bar, as expressed in SCR
10.02(2).
(c) Preparation and Filing of Briefs.
1.
A brief amicus curiae may be
filed only after review and approval by the President of the State Bar who, in
consultation with others as may be necessary and appropriate, shall insure that
the brief is of high professional quality and an accurate representation of
State Bar policy.
2.
In addition to the person or persons actually preparing the brief, the
President of the State Bar shall also appear as counsel on the brief.
3.
The State Bar shall pay for the costs of printing and filing an amicus curiae brief but will pay no
legal fees for preparation or review of such brief.
(d) Role of Individual Members, Committees,
Divisions and Sections.
1.
Whenever practicable, appropriate State Bar committees, divisions and
sections shall be consulted prior to authorization of an amicus curiae brief.
2.
Individual members, committees, divisions and sections may recommend
that a brief amicus curiae be filed
in the name of the State Bar of Wisconsin, which recommendation shall include:
a.
A full statement of the facts of the controversy and the status of the
litigation;
b.
A statement of the principles of law to be supported with a full
explanation of the applicant's reasons for believing that the case is an
appropriate one for State Bar involvement;
c.
A statement advising when the recommendation was authorized and a
description of any dissenting views when presented by a committee, division or
section;
d.
A full disclosure of any personal or professional interest in the matter
of any proponent of the recommendation, or of any individual member of the
section or division directors or officers or committee members which authorized
the submission of the recommendation;
e.
The name of the person or persons who are proposed to prepare the brief amicus curiae;
f.
The names of all interested parties to whom a copy of the recommendation
has been furnished prior to submission to the Board of Governors or Executive
Committee.
(e) Involvement by State Bar Membership.
1.
Whenever practicable prior to authorizing or filing a brief amicus curiae, notice of the proposed
action shall be published in the State Bar Wisconsin
Lawyer or Newsletter inviting
comment and recommendations from the State Bar membership.
2.
All comments and recommendations from the membership timely received
under (e)(1) shall be considered by the Board of Governors or Executive
Committee prior to taking the proposed action.
Section
2. Section and Division Briefs.
(a) Authorization. No amicus curiae brief shall be filed by
any committee, section or division of the State Bar of Wisconsin without the
authorization provided herein.
1.
Upon receipt of any request to file an amicus curiae brief from any person, lawyer, committee, section or
division of the State Bar, the President or designee shall, as soon as
practical, telephonically or electronically communicate such request to counsel
for the opposing party in the court below and to any other committee, section
or division of the State Bar that reasonably would be expected to have an
interest in the issues of the case and invite any timely comment to such
request.
2.
If a request originates from a court, whether it goes first to a
committee, section or division or directly to the Board of Governors, the
foregoing paragraph shall not apply.
3.
Authorization for the preparation and filing of a brief amicus curiae by a committee, section or
division shall be by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the members
of the Board of Governors present and voting at an official meeting of the
Board of Governors.
4.
In the event the President of the State Bar of Wisconsin determines it
is not feasible or practical for the Board of Governors to meet and act upon a
requested authorization to file a brief amicus
curiae, then Paragraph 3 shall not apply.
In such case the President shall electronically communicate the request
for such brief and any comments to all members of the Board of Governors, which
communication shall be for informational and comment purposes only. The President shall then contact and convene,
either in person or through telephonic or electronic communication, a meeting
of the Executive Committee of the State Bar of Wisconsin. The committee shall then, where deemed
appropriate by the President, assume the responsibilities of the Board of
Governors as to the authorization of the preparation and filing of an amicus curiae brief by affirmative vote
of at least two-thirds of the members of the Executive Committee then
participating and voting, provided that those Executive Committee members
participating and voting constitute at least a majority of the Executive
Committee.
5.
If for any reason the President of the State Bar of Wisconsin is unable
to assume the duties provided for above, the President-elect shall be
authorized to act in the capacity of the President of the State Bar of
Wisconsin for the limited purpose of determining whether or not it is feasible
and practical to require an authorization of the total Board of Governors, or
whether the situation demands immediate action and therefore the convening of
the Executive Committee for the purpose of considering the amicus curiae brief request.
6.
The President has the discretion to refuse to consider a request to file
an amicus curiae brief in the event
it is not submitted in a timely manner.
(b) Appropriate Cases. Briefs amicus curiae may be authorized only
when consistent with the purposes of the State Bar, as expressed in SCR
10.02(2) and the purposes of the section or division as expressed in the
section bylaws.
(c) Preparation and Filing of Briefs.
1.
A brief amicus curiae may be
filed only after review and approval by the chairperson of the section or
president of the division who, in consultation with others as may be necessary
and appropriate, shall insure that the brief is of high professional quality
and an accurate representation of section or division policy and in accordance
with the authorization of the Board of Governors.
2.
In addition to the person or persons actually preparing the brief, the
chairperson of the section or president of the division shall also appear as
counsel on the brief.
3.
The section or division may pay for the costs of printing and filing an amicus curiae brief but may not pay legal
fees for preparation or review of such brief.
4.
The brief must include a statement that it is filed only by the section
or division, not the Board of Governors or any other State Bar entity.
(d) Role of Individual Members, Committees,
Divisions and Sections.
1.
Whenever practicable, appropriate State Bar committees, and other
divisions and sections shall be consulted prior to requesting authorization of
an amicus curiae brief by the Board
of Governors.
2.
A section or division request for authorization to file an amicus curiae brief shall include:
a.
A full statement of the facts of the controversy and the status of the
litigation;
b.
A statement of the principles of law to be supported with a full
explanation of the reasons for believing that the case is an appropriate one
for section or division involvement;
c.
A statement advising when and by what vote it was decided to request
authorization to file an amicus brief
and a description of any dissenting views;
d.
A full disclosure of any personal or professional interest in the matter
of any individual member or officer or director of the section or division;
e.
The name of the person or persons who are proposed to prepare the brief amicus curiae;
f.
The names of all interested parties to whom a copy of the request for
authorization has been furnished prior to submission to the Board of Governors
or Executive Committee.
(e) Involvement by State Bar Membership.
1.
Whenever practicable prior to authorizing or filing a brief amicus curiae, notice of the proposed
action shall be published in the State Bar Wisconsin
Lawyer or Newsletter inviting
comment and recommendations from the State Bar membership.
2.
All comments and recommendations from the membership timely received
under (e)(1)1 shall be considered by the Board of Governors or Executive
Committee prior to taking the proposed action.
Article VIII Indemnification of Officers, Employees, and
Agents
Section
1. Power. The State Bar
of Wisconsin (herein State Bar) shall indemnify any person who was or is a
party or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative and whether with or without merit (other than an action, suit or
proceeding by or in the right of the State Bar) by reason of the fact that he
or she is or was a member of the Board of Governors of the State Bar or its
Executive Committee, an officer or employee of the State Bar, or an agent of
the State Bar acting on its behalf as a committee, division, or section member
or as an appointee of an officer or the Executive Director of the State Bar
(all of the above herein designated as "State Bar Persons"), against
expenses, including attorney's fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement, actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with
such action, suit or proceeding if he or she breached or failed to perform any
duty resulting solely from his or her status as a State Bar Person unless the
breach or failure to perform constitutes any of the following:
(a)
A willful failure to deal fairly with the State Bar or its members in
connection with a matter in which the State Bar Person has a material conflict
of interest.
(b)
A violation of criminal law, unless the State Bar Person had reasonable
cause to believe his or her conduct was lawful or no reasonable cause to
believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
(c)
A transaction from which the State Bar Person derived an improper
personal profit.
(d)
Willful misconduct.
Section
2. Effect of Termination. The
termination of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section (1) by
judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or
its equivalent, shall not of itself create a presumption that indemnification
of the State Bar Person is not required under this section.
Section
3. Success on Merits. To the extent
that a State Bar Person has been successful on the merits or otherwise in
defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in section (1), or in
defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against
expenses, including attorney's fees, actually and reasonably incurred by the
person in connection therewith.
Section
4. Denial of Indemnification. Any
indemnification under section (1) shall be made by the State Bar unless there
is a determination that indemnification of the State Bar Person is improper in
the circumstances because he or she has breached or failed to perform a duty in
a manner described in Section (1)(a) to (d).
Such determination shall be made by one of the following subject to
review by the court which conducted the action, suit or proceeding or by
another court of competent jurisdiction:
(a)
By the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors of the State Bar by
a majority vote of a quorum consisting of members who were not parties to such
action, suit or proceedings; or
(b)
By the Board of Governors of the State Bar by a majority vote of a
quorum consisting of members who were not parties to such action, suit or
proceeding.
Section
5. Advance Payment. Expenses
including attorney's fees, incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit
or proceeding may be paid by the State Bar in advance of the final disposition
of such action, suit or proceedings upon receipt of an undertaking by or on
behalf of the State Bar Person to repay such amount if it is ultimately
determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the State Bar as
provided in this Article.
Section
6. Insurance. The State Bar
shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any State Bar
Person against any liability asserted against the person and incurred by him or
her in any capacity as a State Bar Person whether or not the State Bar would
have to indemnify against such liability under this Article. Where there is
insurance coverage the State Bar will not indemnify against attorney's fees paid
by the State Bar Person except where such person has reasonably retained
counsel because a claim exceeds the insurance coverage.
Article IX Amendment
The provisions of these By‑Laws
shall be subject to amendment or abrogation by (i) resolution adopted by vote
of two‑thirds of the members of the Board of Governors, or (ii) action of
the members of the Association expressed through the referendum procedure
defined in SCR 10.08. When any change in
the By‑Laws has been made, the Executive Director shall publish notice
thereof, including a copy of the amendatory resolution, in the official
bulletin of the State Bar, and he or she shall file a certified copy thereof
with the Clerk of the Supreme Court. A
petition for review of any such change in the By‑Laws will be entertained
by the Court if signed by twenty‑five or more active members of the
Association and filed with the Clerk of the Court within sixty days after
publication of notice of such change. Hearing upon such a petition will be
pursuant to notice in such manner as the Court may direct.
APPENDIX A
STATE OF
CASE CAPTION: APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION
PRO HAC VICE
Case Number:
I declare under penalty of perjury:
(1) That I seek to appear pro hac vice in order to represent ______________________________________ in the above-captioned matter;
(2) That I am admitted to practice law in the highest court(s) of the state(s) or country(ies) of ______________________________;
(3) That there are no disciplinary complaints filed against me for violation of the rules of those courts (if so, please explain) ;
(4) That I am not suspended or disbarred from practice for disciplinary reasons or reason of medical incapacity in any jurisdiction (if yes, please explain) _________________________;
(5) That I am associated with Attorney _______________________, State Bar No. _________________________, an active member of the State Bar of Wisconsin (name the member of the State Bar of Wisconsin and provide his/her Member Number);
(6) That I do
not practice or hold out to practice law in the State of
(7) That I acknowledge the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Wisconsin over my professional conduct, and I agree to abide by the rules of the relevant division of the Circuit Court of the State of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Court of Appeals and the Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys, if I am admitted pro hac vice;
(8) That I have complied fully with SCR Rule 10.03 (4); and
(9) That I am applying for admission pro hac vice for the following reasons: .
I have applied for admission pro hac vice in the courts of
the State of
I attach hereto evidence of my payment or prior payment of the pro hac vice fee to the Office of Lawyer Regulation.
Signature: ______________________________________
Print Name:
Date:
Address:
Telephone Number:
APPENDIX B
STATE OF
SUPREME COURT
In-House Counsel Registration
I, ________________________________, request to be registered as in-house counsel for ___________________________, a corporation, association, or other nongovernmental entity with an office in Wisconsin pursuant to Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules 20:5.5(d)(1) and SCR 10.03(4).
I declare under penalty of perjury that:
(1) I am employed as a lawyer by the above-named corporation/entity and that my employment conforms to the requirements of SCR 10.03 (4) (f).
(2) The above corporation, association or non-governmental entity
is in good standing with the state of
(3) I am admitted to practice law in the following jurisdictions, ________________________________, without any restriction on my eligibility to practice law. I understand my obligation to notify this court immediately of any change respecting the status of my license to practice law in any jurisdiction in which I am licensed to practice law.
(4) I acknowledge that I am subject to the Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules, including the Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys.
(5) I understand that, as a registered in-house counsel, I am
permitted to practice law in
I attach hereto the documents required by SCR 10.03 (4) (f).
I attach hereto evidence of my payment of the annual in-house counsel registration fee to the Board of Bar Examiners.
_________________________________________________
Signature
_________________________________________________
Print Name
______________________________
Date
Address and Telephone Number
Amended March 24, 1981; April 20, 1982; June 13, 1982;
June 10, 1983; October 14, 1983; June 15, 1984; August 26, 1988; January 4,
1990; June 19, 1991; September 13, 1991; June 17, 1992; April 2, 1993, April
19, 1993, June 16, 1993, October 21, 1993, June 22, 1994; January 23, 1996;
September 20, 1997; January 25, 2000; April 14, 2000; March 7, 2001; April 10,
2001; January 23, 2002; January 28, 2002;
March 24, 2005; November 14, 2007; February 12, 2008; January 1, 2009.