Bertz, Knudson seek State Bar presidency

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Attorneys Tom Bertz, of Stevens Point, and Ken Knudson, of Superior, have accepted nominations to run for 2008 State Bar of Wisconsin president-elect.

Bertz is a partner with Anderson, O’Brien, Bertz, Skrenes & Golla, practicing in the areas of litigation, personal injury, insurance defense, worker’s compensation and products liability. Knudson, of Knudson, Gee & Torvinen S.C., practices in the areas of primarily plaintiffs’ civil trial work, school/special education law and employment law.

Both candidates were selected by the State Bar Nominating Committee, chaired by Earl Munson of The Boardman Law Firm in Madison. The bar’s Nominating Committee annually alternates, geographically, the areas from which it searches for candidates for president-elect: Milwaukee, Madison and then out state.

“It’s a great honor to be nominated as a candidate for president-elect of the State Bar of Wisconsin,” said Bertz. “The Wisconsin Bar is rightfully recognized as one of the outstanding bars in the country.

“I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve on the Board of Governors, the Executive Committee for the Board of Governors and as Board Liaison to numerous bar sections. That experience, I believe, eminently qualifies me to serve as its President.

With the help of my fellow lawyers of the bar, I look forward to continuing the bar’s great tradition of service to its members, the judiciary and the public.”

As for Knudson, he told Wisconsin Law Journal, “Mostly because of my long-term involvement with the bar’s Mock Trial program, I’ve gotten to know so many lawyers around the state who do so much good for their clients and in contributing to their communities. The bar has been working to improve lawyers’ image, and they’ve been doing a good job of that. As bar president-elect and eventually president, I’d do whatever I can to see that that continues.

“I think the bar should remain active in providing CLE and assistance to all lawyers. I want the bar to continue to expand both its Web CLE and live programs, so we can continue to provide high-quality legal services… And I want to ensure that the bar continues, through its work with the legislature and the public, to protect access to the legal system for all citizens.”

Bertz, a Marquette University Law School 1962 graduate, spent a year clerking for Wisconsin Supreme Court former Chief Justice Timothy Brown, before returning to Milwaukee to work with MULS Professor James Ghiardi to form the Defense Research Institute. He has been practicing with his current firm since 1973. He is married with two children and four grandchildren.

Knudson is a 1976 graduate of William Mitchell Law School, who has practiced with his current firm for 31 years. Immediately after moving to Superior, he and a local high school teacher initiated a mock trial program, which the bar later used as a model for its highly successful program, and for which Knudson has volunteered for his entire career.

He is married with two sons and a granddaughter.

Both candidates have lengthy histories of involvement with the State Bar, and recent experience with bar governance. Bertz is currently serving his second term on the Board of Governors and is a member of the Executive Committee, while Knudson completed his second term on the Board of Governors in 2006. He served on the Executive Committee from 2005 to 2006.

Other Races

Nominees for bar secretary are Mark Pennow of Denissen, Kranzush, Mahoney & Ewald in Green Bay, and Pamela Veith of Pamela J. Veith Attorney at Law in Eau Claire.

Candidates for the Wisconsin Judicial Council are Beth Ermatinger Hanan of Gass Weber Mullins LLC and Kevin J. Lyons of Davis & Kuelthau s.c., both of Milwaukee.

The president-elect serves a one-year term before becoming president for one year. The secretary serves two years, and the Judicial Council representative serves three years.
Election ballots will be mailed in April. Those elected will take office July 1, 2007.