Justices meet with state lawmakers (UPDATE)

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – All seven members of the Wisconsin Supreme Court have met with 20 Wisconsin state lawmakers as part of the biennial tradition at the beginning of each new legislative session.

Lawmakers and court members at Tuesday’s meeting talked about a variety of issues related to the judiciary, including Wisconsin’s unique position as the only state that allows law school graduates to practice without taking a bar exam.

Justices spoke supportively of that so-called diploma privilege, which dates back to 1870.

State Sen. Glenn Grothman asked what could be done to lower law student debt. He said the amount of debt students graduate with is scandalous. He suggested looking at alternative and less expensive ways to get licensed to practice law.