Nov

5

Myron Gordon, R.I.P.

Posted by: Richard M. Esenberg | November 5, 2009 | 1 Comment

I only really knew Myron Gordon as a judge on senior status and tried only one case before him. It was a challenge by the NAACP to the method of electing judges in Milwaukee County. The plaintiffs alleged that county-wide elections of judges denied black voters the opportunity to elect candidates of their own choice [...]

Jul

20

Seventh Circuit Criminal Case of the Week: “A Total Breakdown of Justice”

Posted by: Michael M. O'Hear | July 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment

In January 2003, Milwaukee police officers found two guns in the home of the estranged wife of Rashid Salahuddin.  Salahuddin himself was arrested shortly afterwards.  Now, more than six years later, after many rounds of legal proceedings in state and federal court, Salahuddin still awaits final resolution of criminal charges stemming from the discovery of [...]

Jun

13

Seventh Circuit Case of the Week: The Jude Saga Continues

Posted by: Michael M. O'Hear | June 13, 2009 | Leave a Comment

For a resident of Milwaukee, there can be no question about the marquee Seventh Circuit case last week: the court decided the appeals of three of the defendants convicted in the notorious Frank Jude beating.  In United States v. Bartlett, the court (per Chief Judge Easterbrook) affirmed the convictions of all three defendants and the sentences of two.  [...]

May

17

Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association Presents Awards to Michael O’Hear and Tom Shriner

Posted by: Jessica E. Slavin | May 17, 2009 | Leave a Comment

 Warm congratulations to our colleague, Professor Michael M. O’Hear, who recently received the Judge Robert W. Warren Public Service Award, at a ceremony during the Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association’s annual meeting. It was a pleasure for a number of us to attend and see Michael receive well-deserved recognition for his service. As Nathan [...]

Mar

23

U.S. Attorney Candidates Advance

Posted by: Michael M. O'Hear | March 23, 2009 | Leave a Comment

The Federal Nominating Commission for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, which I chair, has forwarded four names to Senators Kohl and Feingold for further consideration as the next United States Attorney.  The four candidates include three current federal prosecutors, Richard Frohling, Mel Johnson, and James Santelle, as well as Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Maxine [...]

Mar

3

Applicants Named for Eastern and Western District Positions

Posted by: Michael M. O'Hear | March 3, 2009 | Leave a Comment

As Dean Kearney observed in an earlier post, I am chairing the Federal Nominating Commission that is reviewing applications for the United States Attorney post in the Eastern District of Wisconsin.  Dean Ken Davis of Wisconsin is chairing a counterpart commission that is reviewing applications for a federal judgeship in the Western District.  Both sets [...]

Feb

14

Federal Nominating Commission: Now Accepting Applications

Posted by: Michael M. O'Hear | February 14, 2009 | Leave a Comment

As Dean Kearney noted in an earlier post, I am serving as chair of the Federal Nominating Commission for the United States Attorney position in the Eastern District of Wisconsin.  The Commission completed its first item of business this past week by approving the questionnaire to be used by applicants.  The forms and instructions are [...]

Jan

30

O’Hear to Chair the Federal Nominating Commission

Posted by: Joseph D. Kearney | January 30, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Since 1979, Wisconsin’s senators have used some form of what they term a “Federal Nominating Commission” to recommend individuals for vacant federal judgeships and U.S. Attorney’s positions. (One can see the current charter from the senators here.) Whether this approach is good public policy is a worthy question, but not my topic here.
Rather, I wish [...]

Dec

3

Biskupic Stepping Down

Posted by: Michael M. O'Hear | December 3, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Our graduate and adjunct faculty member Steven Biskupic announced yesterday that he is stepping down from his post as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, effective January 9.  Steve made us proud over his six years of distinguished service in this important position, winning convictions in many high-profile public corruption cases.  It is customary for [...]

Oct

19

Doing Doors in Kewaskum

Posted by: Richard M. Esenberg | October 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Last Tuesday, a consent judgment was entered in the Eastern District of Wisconsin resolving a free speech claim brought by a self-described “traveling evangelist.” The plaintiff Michael Foht was told by the Kewaskum Police that he could distribute religious literature only to people who said that they wanted it. This meant that he could not [...]

Oct

1

Of Speeches and Sermons

Posted by: Richard M. Esenberg | October 1, 2008 | 1 Comment

Last week saw another round in the ongoing legal battle between the University of Wisconsin and the Madison campus’ Roman Catholic Foundation. In Roman Catholic Foundation v. Regents, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 72980 (W.D. Wis., September 24, 2008), the court addressed the University’s refusal to allow segregated fees (that portion of a student’s tuition reserved [...]