Justices to decide on discipline for gun-toting Portage attorney

The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Friday is expected to decide whether a Portage attorney’s license should be suspended.

The Office of Lawyer Regulation charged Steven Sarbacker with five counts of misconduct last year, including that he pointed a gun at a man and punched him, leading to three criminal misdemeanor charges. The Office of Lawyer Regulation also alleged that he failed to turn over money owed to a client from the garnishment of a third party’s wages and failed to draw up a required fee agreement and have a client sign it.

The Office of Lawyer Regulation, represented by Assistant Litigation Counsel Sheryl St. Ores., had asked that Sarbacker’s license be suspended for 60 days. Sarbacker reached a stipulation with the OLR in March, agreeing to the misconduct charges but not the license suspension the OLR was asking for. Sarbacker, who is representing himself, contended that his behavior instead warranted a public reprimand.

The referee in the case, James Boll, disagreed with Sarbacker in a report filed in May, finding that the 60-day license suspension was appropriate. He also found that Sarbacker should pay the full cost of the proceeding. Sarbacker, who is representing himself, did not appeal Boll’s report.