Stephen Sawyer of Stevens Point, the State Bar’s 71st president sworn in at the La Crosse Center, encouraged a profession of “virtue, kindness, and humility” that focuses on helping clients at their most vulnerable time.
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State Bar of Wisconsin Blogs
Latest from State Bar of Wisconsin
New Fiscal Year, New Leaders: State Bar Board Looks to Fiscal Year 2027
The last State Bar Board of Governors (Board) meeting for Fiscal Year 2026 saw the 53-member Board preparing for Fiscal Year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027) through appointments, elections, and an update from Director of State Courts Judge Audrey Skwierawski.
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Wisconsin Addresses PFAS Contamination and Creates Exemptions
In April 2026, Governor Evers signed into law two significant bills addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The Wisconsin Legislature, alongside the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), has worked on PFAS-legislation for the past decade, and on the newly enacted
2025 Wis. Act 200 and
2025 Wis. Act 201 since March 2025. Acts 200 and 201 create exemptions under the state Spills Law, establish new PFAS grant programs and funding allocations, and expand the DNR’s responsibilities related to
Continue Reading Wisconsin Addresses PFAS Contamination and Creates Exemptions
Wisconsin Court of Appeals: Intent Didn’t Prevent Election Fraud
June 5, 2026 – A City of Milwaukee election official wanted to show it’s easy to fraudulently obtain absentee military ballots.
In succeeding, she committed election fraud, the District I Wisconsin Court of Appeals affirmed in State v. Zapata, No. 2025AP425-CR (May 12, 2026).
“We conclude that Wis. Stat. § 12.13(3)(i) prohibits making false statements for the purpose of actually or constructively obtaining an absentee ballot, and [Kimberly D.] Zapata constructively obtained the ballots she requested,” wrote
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Wisconsin Supreme Court: No Colloquy to Stipulate to Involuntary Commitment
All justices agreed that due process doesn’t require a colloquy for a stipulation to an involuntary commitment and medication order, but applying that principle leaves critical questions unanswered.
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NRLD Seeks Chapter Leaders
Nonresident Wisconsin lawyers in Minnesota gathered for an outing in Minneapolis on May 12. The NRLD seeks leaders to help organize events for chapters around the U.S.
With almost 30 percent of its members residing and practicing outside the State of Wisconsin, the State Bar created the Nonresident Lawyers Division (NRLD) as a mechanism to keep its members connected and involved, and their ties to Wisconsin active and based on real professional links.
The NRLD ensures the State Bar’s
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Beyond Cybersecurity: The Business and Legal Risks of CMMC 2.0
The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification 2.0 (CMMC 2.0) is a Department of Defense (DoD) initiated standard meant to assess defense contractor compliance with existing information safeguarding requirements for federal contract information (FCI), as defined in section 4.1901 of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), and controlled unclassified information (CUI), as outlined in Title 32 CFR 2002.4(h). The Rule requires all entities who store information classified as FCI or CUI to comply with cybersecurity standards set in CMMC 2.0. The Issue
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The Accelerated Law School Hiring Cycle Hurts Our Profession
I want to begin by sharing my experience navigating the law school hiring cycle. During 1L, I was fortunate to be accepted into the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Diversity Clerkship Program. I applied and interviewed in January 2024, was accepted into the program in February, interviewed with employers shortly afterward, and ultimately secured a placement in March. In 2024, that was incredibly fast. I withdrew applications from several employers who would not even begin reviewing applications until late March.
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Navigating Workplace Injury Obligations for Employers and Employees in Wisconsin
When a workplace injury occurs, the legal response often begins with worker’s compensation. But for both employers and employees, that is rarely the end of the story. As medical restrictions continue or evolve, the same set of facts can implicate worker’s compensation law, the ADA and Wisconsin Fair Employment Act (WFEA), and federal and state leave statutes at the same time. Understanding this overlap matters because the legal risks and the practical expectations look very different depending on which
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Commutations in Wisconsin: A Rare Opportunity for Relief
Earlier this month, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed two executive orders: Executive Order #287, creating an advisory board to review applications for commutations, and Executive Order #288, creating a specific process for commutation requests from people who were sentenced to life imprisonment while they were juveniles.
The Wisconsin Constitution grants the governor the power to issue commutations and pardons, but unlike the pardon power, which Gov. Evers has exercised since creating a Pardon Advisory Board in 2019,
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Why Website Accessibility Should Be on Every Lawyer’s Radar
Many lawyers are not aware of website accessibility. Oftentimes a lawyer’s exposure to the issue of website accessibility is communications from a client receiving a letter stating that their website is not accessible or dealing with a potential lawsuit.
Unfortunately, due to the frequency of dealing with these letters and the often quick settlements, these letters have attracted a reputation as being filed by lawyers interested in nuisance settlements. However, that is frequently not the case, and a particular
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Wisconsin Supreme Court: 12-Year-Old Boy was in Custody During School Police Questioning
To safeguard the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, Miranda prevents prosecutors from introducing statements made by suspects under custodial interrogation unless law enforcement informs the suspect of certain now-familiar rights. [1] Specifically, a person under custodial interrogation “must be warned that he has a right to remain silent, that any statement he does make may be used as evidence against him, and that he has a right to the presence of an attorney, either retained or appointed.” [2] The
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Divorce by Affidavit: What Wisconsin Family Lawyers Need to Know
May 11, 2026Divorce by Affidavit: What Wisconsin Family Lawyers Need to KnowDivorce by affidavit offers a more flexible path for uncontested divorce cases in Wisconsin, particularly for clients facing scheduling, mobility, distance, child care, or emotional barriers to appearing in court. Tiara Oates outlines the requirements, benefits, and possible drawbacks of using this new process.By
Tiara Oates
As of Oct. 31, 2025, divorce by affidavit (2025 Wisconsin Act 40) can be used to finalize uncontested divorce
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Wisconsin Supreme Court: Asbestos Created Safe-Place Statute Liability
April 28, 2026 – The asbestos dust that a steamfitter breathed, causing mesothelioma, resulted in safe-place statute liability for Pabst Brewing Co., a 5-2 majority of the Wisconsin Supreme Court decided recently in
Estate of Carol Lorbiecki v. Pabst Brewing Co., 2026 WI 12.
“As the owner of the brewery, Pabst owed a non-delegable duty under the safe-place statute to frequenters on the premises, a category that includes employees of independent contractors like Lorbiecki,” Justice Rebecca Frank
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Newly Admitted Wisconsin Lawyers Bring Diverse Paths and Fresh Perspectives
A new class of attorneys has joined Wisconsin’s legal community, bringing with them diverse experiences and motivations. From first-generation college graduates to career changers, each reflects a unique path to the profession. Welcome!
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State Bar President-elect Post Goes to Lisa Lawless
Lisa M. Lawless is the next president-elect of the State Bar of Wisconsin. Here are the results for the State Bar officer and Board of Governors’ elections for 2026-27.
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