Commentary

Dec 6, 2016

Want to network? Hit the bars

As the former president of the Outagamie County Bar Association and the current vice president of the Brown County Bar Association, I was asked to share some of the experiences these leadership positions have brought me.

Dec 2, 2016

View from around the state: Let the public monitor big bank settlement

It's no secret some banks behaved badly during the past decade.

Dec 1, 2016

Protecting against the waiver of attorney-client privilege

In my column from earlier this month, I discussed lawyers’ obligations to ensure confidential information is not disclosed when e-discovery procedures are taking place.

Nov 30, 2016

BENCH BLOG: Appeals court finds tree service not entitled to recreational immunity

Is a tree-cutting service entitled to recreational immunity when cutting trees on a conference center’s property that has a public path? The Court of Appeals says “no,” relying on a Wisconsin Supreme Court case from earlier this year on recreational immunity.

Nov 22, 2016

ON THE DEFENSIVE: Should juries really be searching for the ‘truth?’

Jury instructions are a central part of any criminal trial.

Nov 22, 2016

BENCH BLOG: Immunity for aid when there’s a drug overdose

The Court of Appeals examined immunity from prosecution for a person who aids someone who appears to be suffering from a drug overdose. In the process, the opinion in State v. Williams offered a raw glimpse into the drug subculture.

Nov 16, 2016

Dealing with bias in jury selection

After decades of the national Chamber of Commerce, big business and insurance industry propaganda against tort litigation and plaintiffs’ trial attorneys, many jurors have been tainted to one extent or another with anti-tort bias.

Nov 14, 2016

LAWBIZ COACHES CORNER: Pro bono: Pro or con for recent grads?

Pro bono work is an indisputably positive activity — in theory. However, the specifics of a pro bono plan are not always so indisputable.

Nov 9, 2016

Far from a mic drop, MPS proposals should raise concerns

Last week, Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Darienne Driver proposed a number of reforms to Milwaukee’s schools. Some of these ideas are not without merit.

Nov 7, 2016

Protecting confidential information in e-discovery

For many years, courts and commentators have acknowledged that the attorney-client privilege is the most important privilege in our legal system.

Oct 31, 2016

CRITIC’S CORNER: Wisconsin courts as ‘superlegislatures’

Wisconsin courts have a long history of acting as a “superlegislature” and ignoring — and even contradicting — the Legislature’s words when doing so benefits the state.

Oct 26, 2016

BENCH BLOG: No restitution for mother of child-porn victim

In a case that lies at the intersection of child-pornography law and restitution law, the Court of Appeals concluded that the mother of a victim of child pornography could not obtain restitution from an offender.