Board takes action on Wis. Trust Account Foundation.

Byline: Jack Zemlicka

Proposed revisions to the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation (WisTAF) assessment rules took another step toward inclusion into a petition to the Supreme Court. Four of six proposed changes to aspects of Supreme Court Rule 13.045 were voted down by the State Bar of Wisconsin Board of Governors (BOG) at the March 9 meeting. The revisions regarding alternatives and modifications to the mandatory $50 annual WisTAF assessment were initially discussed at the December 2006 meeting. Although opposition was strong for the majority of the proposed changes, two regarding donation of funds to a group other than WisTAF and inclusion of judges in the $50 assessment were supported by the board. "We're getting down to those precious few, just two little items," said Past-President D. Michael Guerin, who appointed the task force to research changes to in May 2006. Two Points Supported After significant discussion and a re-vote, the BOG supported a proposal, which will allow attorneys in Wisconsin to donate money to a specific law-related civil legal service entity other than WisTAF. The proposed change initially lacked the necessary 60 percent approval as several members questioned how the State Bar would enforce the alternative donations and which legal organizations would qualify. President-elect Thomas J. Basting Sr. who presented the recommendations to the board in the absence of task force Chairman James C. Boll, believed that the process would largely rely on the honor system. "There may be random checks, but if a lawyer checks a box, I think it would be believed that it's an honest response," said Basting, who voted in opposition of the proposal. "I don't think anybody wants to run the risk of getting caught lying." Executive Director George C. Brown noted that the State Bar does not have the financial resources to consistently monitor outside donations. Language was also eliminated in the proposal which cited a specific organization -- The Wisconsin Equal Justice Fund. Board members said mentioning the organization created confusion as to whether that was the only alternative legal services outlet that could be donated to other than WisTAF. A motion to reconsider led to a re-vote and 29 of the 40 board members, including President Steven A. Levine, supported the proposal. "I think members should be able to decide where their money goes, but people have wondered whether that will lessen the pool of money for WisTAF," said...