State Bar referendum on hold

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Wisconsin Law Journal File Photo

It has been more than 15 years since the State Bar was briefly a voluntary organization, but current President Steven A. Levine has crusaded to re-open the issue for debate.

Levine planned to generate discussion on a proposed referendum to abolish the bar’s mandatory membership at the Board of Governors meeting on Sept. 29, but a recent meeting with members of the Executive Com-mittee resulted in the conclusion that more research needs to be done on the subject.

“It was recommended that I appoint a committee to investigate financial impact and peripheral effects a voluntary bar may have,” said Levine who also expressed his disappointment in the delay. “To be honest, I’m not sure if it’s a matter of severe opposition to this proposal, but I’ll dot the i’s and cross the t’s.”

Executive Board member Gwendolyn G. Connolly insisted that the purpose of the committee is to provide bar members, non-members and the courts with as much information as possible.

“I think we have a responsibility to provide people with detailed information so they can develop an informed decision,” said Connolly. “In this case, I definitely think more research needs to be done.”

Connolly specifically noted analysis of cost differentials, speculation on the number of bar members who would leave and studies on lost revenue, benefits and services to the court would be committee goals.

Fellow board member William J. Domina agreed with the decision to delay the referendum. He cited Levine as “smart to pull back the proposal for the time being.”

Domina, who is also chairman of the Finance Committee, believes that exploring financial ramifications of a potentially voluntary bar is essential in developing the bar’s future.

Community outreach programs, mock trial programs and CLE conferences were just a few of the initiatives that currently involve bar funds and personnel, according to Domina.

“From a financial perspective we need to find out if the bar’s interests can continue to function the same under a voluntary system, and if not what concessions will need to be made,” said Domina. “The only way to determine that is with factual information.”

Levine does not need board approval to assemble the committee and said he hoped to develop a detailed outline of goals by the Sept. 29 Board of Gov-ernors meeting in Madison.

“I guess this is something I wish I’d thought of a long time ago, but in doing this research, if the bar is going to become voluntary, I’d like to explore the best way to go about it,” said Levine.