Milwaukee Judge Among the Legal Community Honored by the State Bar

On Thursday, the State Bar of Wisconsin honored the Wisconsin legal community, including judges, attorneys and various other legal professionals.

According to the State Bar, the attorneys were recognized for making Wisconsin’s legal system more accessible.

Judge Molly Gena received the Dan Tuchscherer Award for Outstanding Lawyer in Public Interest Law on Thursday. The award recognizes “a lifelong commitment to work in the public interest, a hard worker with a commitment to volunteerism beyond the responsibilities of employment, a selfless commitment to helping others and working to help the community at large, whether a customer at a time, or several. globally.”

In a statement to the Wisconsin Law Journal on Monday, Gena wrote, “It is an honor to receive this wonderful award for my career as a public interest attorney. I am excited to serve as a Milwaukee Municipal Court judge now and continue to serve my community. I truly believe that my public interest work has made me a more compassionate and patient judge. I am honored to receive this award on behalf of Dan Tuscherer because of his commitment to funding free legal services for low-income people. My job in the courtroom would be a lot easier if this state had more robust funding for civil legal aid.”

As previously reported by the Wisconsin Law Journal, the former Milwaukee non-profit attorney defeated Sen. Lena Taylor in the Milwaukee Municipal Court Branch 2 race on April 4, 2023.

In January, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers then appointed Taylor to be a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge.

Municipal Court judges serve four-year terms and handle non-criminal cases, including moving violations, parking citations and ordinance violations. Because Wisconsin is the only state in the entire country where a first-time drunk driving conviction is not a felony, Municipal Court judges also handle first-time drunk driving offenses.

Also, as previously reported by the Wisconsin Law Journal, Gena said she wants to become the next Branch 2 judge because “I want to serve the city of Milwaukee that I love.”

During a Milwaukee Bar Association campaign event, Gena said she will make it a priority to ensure public safety and hold people fully accountable, including for reckless driving.

At the time, Gena said she was an advocate for community service and court accessibility.

Gena said: “Access to justice is incredibly important, noting that some people don’t realize that the court can order community service. (As a defense attorney) we ask for that frequently. It is very efficient and reduces fines.”

“Punishing people with non-payment penalties only creates more problems for the city,” Gena said.

On Thursday, Judge James P. Daley received the 2024 Lifetime Jurist Award, which recognizes “a jurist who has served more than one (1) full term as a circuit judge, who exemplifies a fair and impartial jurist, has demonstrated high ideals and personal character and demonstrated outstanding long-term judicial service during his years as a sitting judge,” the State Bar noted.

Daley is a retired Rock County Circuit Court judge and was also a U.S. Marine, according to the Janesville Gazette Xtra.

Attorney Ann Marie Molitor also received recognition Thursday from the State Bar. Molitor received the Grant F. Langley Division of Government Attorneys Service Award.

That award is presented to an attorney who is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin Government Lawyers Division with at least five years of service as a government attorney, according to the state bar.

“The recipient has accomplishments in the legal profession, provides service not only to government and citizens, but also to other government lawyers, and is engaged in activities that increase public respect for government lawyers while promoting government legal work as a rewarding career choice. satisfactions. “, noted the State Bar.

Also Thursday, attorney Jesse B. Blocher received the Charles Dunn Wisconsin Lawyer Author Award. According to the State Bar, “Each year the Communications Committee, which serves as the editorial board of the Wisconsin Bar, recognizes excellence in writing in the publication. The Wisconsin Lawyer Author Award was named in honor of the first Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.”

Other prizes awarded on Thursday:

Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year and Pro Bono Organization of the Year – Attorney Philomena Kebec and Community Justice Inc.

Trailblazer Award for Diversity and Inclusion – Attorney Iris Christenson

Outstanding Students in Public Interest Law – Morgan Gulledge – Marquette Law School
Shruti Pandey – UW School of Law

Wisconsin Law Foundation Gordon Sinykin Award of Excellence – lawyer Cassel Villarreal

Non-Resident Lawyers Division Founders Award – Lawyer Viet-Hanh Winchell

Senior Counsel Division Leonard Loeb Award – Attorney Mary Lynne Donohue.