Author: Jeff Brown

Recent Posts

Community foundation support for medical-legal partnership in Wausau

The Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin has awarded Wisconsin Judicare a grant that will allow Judicare and Bridge Community Health Clinic (BCHC) to improve and continue their medical/legal partnership in Wausau. The Community Foundation, based in Wausau, is a nonprofit community corporation, created by and for the people of north central Wisconsin. It seeks, manages, and awards charitable gifts with one goal in mind: to enrich life for present

Making a difference for homeowners in foreclosure

By Sarah Orr The Foreclosure Assistance Clinic (FAC) is a weekly, free, drop-in legal clinic where UW Law School Consumer Law Clinic students and volunteer lawyers provide limited-scope assistance to homeowners in foreclosure. The students and lawyers from a variety of practice areas have donated over 700 hours to the FAC and helped over 300 homeowners since mid-2010. While the worst of the foreclosure “crisis” may have abated, homeowners still

Support builds for judicial code amendment

In early 2013, the Wisconsin Access to Justice Commission convened a working group to examine possible changes to the Wisconsin Code of Judicial Conduct that would provide additional guidance to judges to help address one of the challenges raised by the growth in self-represented litigants. On September 13, 2013, the Commission filed Petition 13-14 with the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The court has now scheduled a hearing on the petition for

New leadership at Disability Rights Wisconsin

By Rita Lord On September 30, 2013, Daniel Idzikowski became the new executive director at Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW). A graduate of Marquette Law School, he has spent his career working for social justice organizations, including the Appalachian Research and Defense Fund (APPALRED), Legal Services of Northeastern Wisconsin, the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, Legal Action of Wisconsin and Catholic Charities. He also served as Assistant Dean for Public Service

Inns of Court pro bono project

by Kent A. Tess-Mattner As part of its mission “foster excellence in professionalism, ethics, civility, and legal skills,” the Leander J. Foley, Jr. Matrimonial Chapter of the American Inns of Court in Milwaukee is helping to staff the Milwaukee Justice Center (MJC) at the courthouse as its service project for the 2013-14 academic year. The MJC is a collaborative project between the Milwaukee Bar Association, Milwaukee County and Marquette University

Mobile legal clinic is on a roll

Marquette Law School and the Milwaukee Bar Association have partnered to launch the Milwaukee Justice Center Mobile Legal Clinic, a specially outfitted bus designed to help provide free, brief legal advice to individuals who find themselves outside of the areas currently served by legal volunteer efforts in metropolitan Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel recently included the Mobile Legal clinic on its list of Big Ideas 2013. The Mobile Legal Clinic was

On the state of equal justice in Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Access to Justice Commission has released its report with key findings and recommendations on how to improve access to justice for unrepresented, low-income Wisconsin residents. The report draws on testimony from over 137 witnesses who provided testimony at a series of regional public hearings in Green Bay, Eau Claire, Milwaukee, Madison, La Crosse and Wausau. More funding for civil legal services, increased support for pro bono efforts, and

Commission welcomes new member: Dan Hoff

The Access to Justice Commission is pleased to welcome its newest member, Appleton attorney Dan Hoff. From Senator Mike Ellis’ press release announcing Hoff’s appointment: “Dan Hoff is a well-respected attorney with an excellent reputation,” said Ellis. “I am confident that he will bring a Fox Valley perspective to the Commission.” Hoff received his law degree in 1998, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School. He has been owner of

Limited scope representation: an issue of access

By Judge John P. Anderson, Bayfield County Circuit Court & Attorney Mary K. Wolverton, Chairpersons of Limited Scope Representation Subcommittee of PPAC Courts and attorneys continue to search for tools and procedures that will address the challenges with an ever increasing self-represented population in the judicial system. Limited scope representation is one such tool that can improve access to justice for some Wisconsin residents who may not wish to retain

Judicare launches Northern Wisconsin Legal Advice Project

by Beth Richlen On July 1, 2013, Wisconsin Judicare and the Tenth Judicial District Pro Se Committee launched a new online legal advice website called Northern Wisconsin Legal Advice Project (www.NWLAP.org). The website is intended to provide brief legal advice to low-income residents of the 10th Judicial District, which includes Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Polk, Rusk, Sawyer, St. Croix and Washburn counties. The website is funded by