Did you know that the Wisconsin Supreme Court appoints lawyer and non-lawyer members of the public to various boards, committees, and other entities that together allow the Judicial Branch of the State of Wisconsin Government to function? To assist the Supreme Court in this effort, there is an Appointment Selection Committee duly appointed to assist the Court; specifically to solicit, evaluate, and nominate persons for the Court’s consideration. The appointment letter to this committee continues “The Court asks that you encourage others to volunteer for court service…”

As one of three non-lawyer public members of the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s Appointment Selection Committee, I can candidly say “Help Wanted!” I was told that part of our charge was to list two candidates for each vacancy for the Justices to consider but, due to a lack of interested candidates, we have routinely listed just one. Part of the justification for this Committee is to prevent the appearance of the Supreme Court making appointments of only their friends and professional acquaintances. Their friends and professional acquaintances can certainly apply to be on these various boards and committees, but the Appointment Selection Committee acts as a filter. And, while we have many applicants, most or all of them specify up to five boards or committees that meets their professional or public service interests. Thus, there may not be interest in one or more options.

All twelve of the Appointment Selection Committee are appointed by a specific person, represent a specific legal group, or are there by virtue of their title (or represent a titled person). My appointment was from the Assembly Co-chair of the Legislative Council and is for three years. Early in my term I noticed that a great majority of the applicants were from Milwaukee, Dane, and Brown Counties and only a relatively few other counties were even represented in the selection pool. This has improved over the past few years, but geographical diversity is still needed. Appointments we make fill both the lawyer and the non-lawyer public positions on the various boards, committees, and other entities and are selected from volunteers. Volunteer applicants seem to range from the young to mid-career wanting to expand their professional horizons to the semi-retired or even retired wanting to “give back” to their cherished profession. Both, and all those in between, are encouraged to apply and are considered.

The Committees and Boards for which the Wisconsin Supreme Court seeks lawyer and non-lawyer applicants include:

Board of Administrative Oversight (within the Office of Lawyer Regulation): This board monitors the fairness, effectiveness and efficiency of the attorney regulation system.

Preliminary Review Committee (within the Office of Lawyer Regulation): This committee reviews investigations and determines whether there is cause for the Director of Lawyer Regulation to file a complaint against a lawyer.

Special Preliminary Review Panel (within the Office of Lawyer Regulation): This panel reviews investigations of grievances against participants in the lawyer regulation system.

Access to Justice Commission: This commission develops and encourages means of expanding access to the civil justice system for unrepresented low income Wisconsin residents.

Board of Bar Examiners: This board is responsible for administration of Wisconsin’s continuing legal education requirements for lawyers and writing and grading the bar exam (only lawyer members grade exams).

Judicial Commission: This commission reviews complaints against judges.

State Bar Board of Governors: This board manages the affairs of the State Bar, the organization that provides services for lawyers licensed to practice in the state and for the public.

The number, length, and location of the meetings of the various boards and committees vary but I believe the use of conference calls is maximized where possible.

Consider answering the Supreme Court’s “Help Wanted” sign! You can even help by telling a friend! More information may be found in the Wisconsin Blue Book 2025-2026 on pages 278 – 284. Additional information to include the application process may be found at www.wicourts.gov/courts/committees. Another option is call the Supreme Court at 608-266-1298. (John Christy may be reached at jhchristy@couleeconservatives.com.)