The Wisconsin legislature is considering two proposals that would change the way the chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court is selected.
Assembly Joint Resolution 67 and Senate Joint Resolution 57 direct the justices on the high court to elect their chief justice for a two-year term. The proposal limits justices to three consecutive two-year terms. Continue reading “Legislature Mulls Change to Chief Justice Selection”
The State Bar of Wisconsin is advocating for a change in how members of the Wisconsin Supreme Court are elected. While current law allows members of the high court to run for an unlimited number of 10 year terms, the governing board of the Bar recently decided it would prefer justices only serve one term of 16 years.
Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson delivered the annual State of the Judiciary Address at the Wisconsin Judicial Conference on November 6. Her remarks, titled “Back to the Future,” focused on effort to improve the judiciary by applying cutting-edge innovation to evidence-based lessons learned in the past. Abrahamson focused specifically on judicial selection and recusal, touched on the financial challenges the courts face, and detailed new criminal and family initiatives. Continue reading “Abrahamson Delivers State of the Judiciary Address”
The Wisconsin business community supports AB 19/SB 13, providing transparency in personal injury trusts. The Wisconsin Civil Justice Council respectfully requests that the Senate schedule and pass the bill.
This bill does NOT negatively affect veterans: To the contrary, by protecting limited funds available to trusts and the limited resources of solvent Wisconsin businesses, AB 19/SB 13 will help ensure that veterans and other legitimate victims receive fair compensation in the future. Continue reading “Wisconsin Businesses Support AB 19/SB 13, Personal Injury Trusts”
The Wisconsin Civil Justice Council has gained national recognition for its role in passing sweeping legal reforms in 2011 and its continued commitment to combating lawsuit abuse.
Members of WCJC and WMC traveled to the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform’s 14th Annual Legal Reform Summit in Washington, D.C. to accept the award. Continue reading “Wisconsin Civil Justice Council Receives Outstanding Organization Award”
The Summer 2013 edition of The Third Branch, a quarterly publication of the Director of State Courts Office, is now available. The newsletter includes a court-centric perspective on the legislature’s fall floor period.
On Tuesday, Oct. 8, the Wisconsin Senate passed AB 27, Transparency in Private Attorney Contracting (TIPAC), on a bipartisan vote, 23-10 (five Democrats joined all 18 Republicans). The U.S. Chamber applauds AB 27 as “Nation’s Strongest Outside Counsel Sunshine Law,” while the American Tort Reform Association proclaimed to its national audience that the “New Law Will Help Make Wisconsin More Attractive to Employers.” Continue reading “Wisconsin Reforms Draw National Attention”
On Tuesday, Oct. 8, the Wisconsin Senate passed Assembly Bill 27, which provides transparency when the State of Wisconsin hires private plaintiff attorneys’ on a contingency fee basis. The bill passed on a bipartisan basis, 23-10, and will be sent to Gov. Scott Walker for his signature. Continue reading “WCJC Applauds Wisconsin Senate for Passing Pro-Business, Transparency Legislation”
The Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee has scheduled an executive session on Wednesday, October 9 to vote on AB 19/SB 13, Personal Injury Trust Claims Transparency. The purpose of this bill is to prevent double-dipping by plaintiffs’ attorneys through greater transparency during the litigation process in cases where the plaintiff also has a claim with a bankruptcy trust fund. SB 13/AB 19 is a top priority for WCJC and the Wisconsin business community, as evidenced by the groups supporting the bill. AB 19 passed the Assembly earlier this year.
For more information about AB 19/SB 13, please see WCJC’s legislation webpage, which includes a white paper explaining the purpose of the bill, along with a Wall Street Journal editorial discussing a similar bill that passed in Ohio last year.
Hamilton Consulting’s Andrew Cook has been tapped to give a legislative update at the State Bar of Wisconsin’s 36th Annual Torts Update in Milwaukee and Madison on September 12 and 13. Continue reading “Cook to Provide Legislative Update at State Bar Seminar”