Retired Quarles & Brady partner James Friedman appointed OLR referee

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Retired Quarles & Brady partner James D. Friedman has been appointed as a referee for lawyer disciplinary matters.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court named him to a four-year term as referee starting Jan. 1, 2020. Friedman was among nine former judges and five attorneys appointed as referees throughout the state.

Under the state Supreme Court’s supervision, referees have the powers of a judge trying a civil action and may preside at public hearings to consider allegations of misconduct against lawyers.

Friedman previously served the Wisconsin Supreme Court and Office of Lawyer regulation for seven years as a member and vice chair of the Preliminary Review Committee. He’s been an active State Bar of Wisconsin member for decades, include as a director of the Senior Lawyers Division and member of the Board of Governors. He’s also a former member of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Judicial Selection of the State of Wisconsin for Ozaukee County.

Prior to retiring, Friedman represented banks in Wisconsin and dealt with federal and state bank regulators. He received his juris doctor from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1972.