Erik R. Guenther

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Attorney Erik R. Guenther was not sure he wanted to spend seven months in Afghanistan.

But he applied and was hired as the Defense Mentor in the Justice Sector Support Program, a position which allowed him to train judges, prosecutors, police officers and defense lawyers on general trial strategies and cross-examination techniques.

“In my cover letter I said, I think this would be an amazing experience, but I don’t know if

I’m qualified and I don’t know if I’d want to go,” said Guenther, 32.

He left for Afghanistan in September 2007 and returned to Wisconsin in March 2008, to resume his criminal defense practice at Hurley Burish & Stanton SC in Madison.

Guenther is also the youngest president in the history of the Wisconsin chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

Q&A

What is your motto?

“In matters of principle, stand like a rock.” — Thomas Jefferson

What famous person you would most like to have a drink with?

Jay-Z

How many countries have you visited? Which ones?

Ten, so far. U.A.E., Egypt, Afghanistan, British Virgin Islands, Haiti, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Mexico and Canada

What’s your favorite sports team?

Wisconsin Badgers

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

When I want to change something about myself, I do

What was your favorite toy as a child?

It is a close call between a basketball and the Millennium Falcon

What is the first concert you went to?

Chubby Checker at Summerfest

Nintendo Wii or Playstation 3?

I have both, but they don’t get much use in the summer

Do you have any tattoos?

No

What is your favorite Web site and why?

Facebook. I like it for event invites, chatting and e-mail.

I have also received referrals from the Web site