Northeastern bar anticipates new federal bench.

• Date: 22 May 2002
• Author: Anderson, Tony

Byline: Tony Anderson

With the swearing in of U.S. Eastern District Court of Wisconsin Judge William C. Griesbach last week, Green Bay moves one step closer to having an active federal court.

Griesbach, 48, is working to get the Green Bay Division up and running by fall. The court will have a temporary home until funding is secured to design and build a federal courthouse.

Members of the bar in Brown County and throughout the Eastern District are preparing for the new bench, which will service the northeastern part of the state. The bench's creation is expected to have many positive effects throughout the area.

Convenience Factor

Addressing federal issues in that part of the state will become more convenient. Northeastern lawyers are expected to expand the amount of federal law that they practice. And the region will be more appealing to businesses that will no longer need to travel to Milwaukee to deal with federal legal matters.

"This whole community is very happy about this development and the creation of this court here," Griesbach said. "They want to work with the federal government to make sure this is a success."

Griesbach and Eastern District officials have been working with Green Bay and federal officials to find space for both temporary and permanent court needs.

Brown County Bar Association President Marc A. Hammer voiced the excitement he has heard from the legal community there.

"I think it opens the opportunity for legal matters to...