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Pro Bono Opportunities for Attorneys

The Eastern District of Wisconsin has pro bono opportunities, primarily in prisoner civil rights cases. The court recruits attorneys for limited purposes, such as representing a civil pro se litigant in mediation, as well as for full representation. Wisconsin SCR 31.05(7) states that an attorney may claim one CLE credit for every five hours of pro bono work, up to six credits per reporting period. Below are the cases that the court is currently recruiting for. For more information on a case, please contact the court's pro se staff attorneys at ProSeStaffAttorneys@wied.uscourts.gov.

The court is currently looking for pro bono volunteers for the following cases:

Mediation Only

None currently. 

Discovery, Draft/Respond to Dispositive Motions, and Pursue Settlement

  • Hole v. Utter, 22-C-1415-WCG. The court is looking for a lawyer to assist a prisoner in conducting discovery, drafting and/or responding to dispositive motions, and possible trial/settlement in connection with an Eighth Amendment denial of medical care case.  The plaintiff recently underwent several surgeries and is unable to use his hand to complete litigation tasks.  Upon request, the court will consider permitting limited term appointments to complete discrete litigation tasks to make the case more manageable. (Recruiting since June 2023)

  • Eaton v. Doe, 22-cv-1459-PP. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent an incarcerated individual who alleges that the defendants forced him to submit to a blood draw and urine sample, and for collecting the samples without his consent or a court order. The lawyer would identify the Doe defendants, file an amended complaint, engage in discovery and respond to any dispositive motions. Please see Judge Pepper’s screening order for more information. (Recruiting since July 2023)

  • Traxler v. Moore, 22-cv-760-BHL. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent an incarcerated individual who alleges that the defendants were deliberately indifferent to his leg wound, which caused him significant pain and ultimately resulted in the amputation of his lower leg.  Discovery is closed, and the defendants have moved for summary judgment. The lawyer would respond to the defendants' motions. If plaintiff's claim(s) survive summary judgment, the lawyer may, but does not have to, represent the plaintiff at trial. Please see the briefs in support of defendants' summary judgment motions (State Defendants; Dr. Eric Nelson) for more information. (Recruiting since July 2023)

  • Johnson v. Waltz, 23-cv-1077-WED. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent an incarcerated individual who alleges that the defendant did not let him obtain medical care for his eye condition. The plaintiff has lost sight in one eye and has limited vision in his other eye. The lawyer would engage in discovery and respond to any dispositive motions. Please see Judge Pepper’s screening order and order recruiting counsel for more information. (Recruiting since February 2024)

  • Jennings v. Dombeck, 22-cv-1205-JPS. The court is looking for a lawyer to assist an incarcerated individual in conducting discovery, drafting and/or responding to dispositive motions, and possible trial/settlement discussions in connection with an Eighth Amendment denial of medical care case.  Plaintiff has serious vision issues, related to the claims in this case, and is currently scheduled to have a corneal transplant in the near future. Please see Judge Stadtmueller's screening order for more information. (Recruiting since April 2024)

Trial

  • Famous v. Jezwinski, 20-cv-510-JPS. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent an incarcerated individual who alleges that the defendants were deliberately indifferent to the plaintiff's risk of self-harm and/or suicide, were deliberately indifferent to his serious need for medical treatment, and were negligent for the same conduct. No motion for summary judgment was filed. The lawyer would represent the plaintiff at trial. Please see Judge Stadtmueller's screening order for more information. (Recruiting since September 2023)

  • Hewlett v. Hill, et al., 22-cv-1376-WCG. The plaintiff is proceeding on Eighth Amendment claims that the defendants ignored his threats of suicide, taunted him, and goaded him into harming himself. Plaintiff’s claims survived summary judgment.  The court is requesting a volunteer attorney for the limited purpose of assisting the pro se plaintiff present his case by responding to the defendant’s pretrial report and motions in limine prior to trial, and then at trial, conducting direct and cross-examination of witnesses, participating in a verdict and jury instruction conference, and giving an opening statement and closing argument.  Discovery is closed and will not be reopened absent compelling circumstances. The final pretrial conference (via telephone) is scheduled for September 26, 2024.  A two-day trial in Green Bay is scheduled for October 24, 2024. The plaintiff’s claim is straightforward and will largely turn on the credibility of the witnesses.  Out-of-pocket expenses, including travel, will be reimbursed by the court.  This limited recruitment offers an opportunity to improve counsel’s trial skills while at the same time providing an important service to the parties and the court.  (Recruiting since April 2024)

  • Gohre v. Boyack, et al., 22-cv-1403-WCG. The plaintiff is proceeding on claims that Milwaukee County police officers stopped, searched, and used force against him in violation of the Fourth Amendment.  Plaintiff’s claims survived summary judgment.  The court is requesting a volunteer attorney for the limited purpose of assisting the pro se plaintiff present his case by responding to the defendant’s pretrial report and motions in limine prior to trial, and then at trial, conducting direct and cross-examination of witnesses, participating in a verdict and jury instruction conference, and giving an opening statement and closing argument.  Discovery is closed and will not be reopened absent compelling circumstances. The final pretrial conference (via telephone) is scheduled for August 9, 2024.  A two-day trial in Milwaukee is scheduled for September 12, 2024. The plaintiff’s claim is straightforward and will largely turn on the credibility of the witnesses.  Out-of-pocket expenses will be reimbursed by the court.  This limited recruitment offers an opportunity to improve counsel’s trial skills while at the same time providing an important service to the parties and the court. (Recruiting since April 2024)

  • Young v. Jones, et al., 22-cv-130-WCG.  The plaintiff is proceeding on a Fourteenth Amendment claim that the defendants used excessive force by unnecessarily deploying two taser shots while he was handcuffed inside his cell at the Milwaukee County Jail on January 8, 2022.  Plaintiff’s claim survived summary judgment.  The court is requesting a volunteer attorney for the limited purpose of assisting the pro se plaintiff present his case by responding to the defendants’ pretrial report and motions in limine prior to trial, and then at trial, conducting direct and cross-examination of witnesses, participating in a verdict and jury instruction conference, and giving an opening statement and closing argument.  Discovery is closed and will not be reopened absent compelling circumstances. The final pretrial conference (via telephone) is scheduled for September 26, 2024.  A two-day trial in Green Bay is scheduled for October 30, 2024. The plaintiff’s claim is straightforward and will largely turn on the credibility of the witnesses.  Out-of-pocket expenses, including travel, will be reimbursed by the court.  This limited recruitment offers an opportunity to improve counsel’s trial skills while at the same time providing an important service to the parties and the court.  (Recruiting since April 2024)

  • Smiley v. Pach, et al., 22-cv-1158-WCG.  The plaintiff is proceeding on an Eighth Amendment claim that the defendants used excessive force during a cell-extraction at the Waupun Correctional Institution on June 21, 2022.  Plaintiff’s claim survived summary judgment.  The court is requesting a volunteer attorney for the limited purpose of assisting the pro se plaintiff present his case by responding to the defendants’ pretrial report and motions in limine prior to trial, and then at trial, conducting direct and cross-examination of witnesses, participating in a verdict and jury instruction conference, and giving an opening statement and closing argument.  Discovery is closed and will not be reopened absent compelling circumstances. The final pretrial conference (via telephone) is scheduled for July 19, 2024.  A two-day trial in Green Bay is scheduled for August 7, 2024. The plaintiff’s claim is straightforward and will largely turn on the credibility of the witnesses.  Out-of-pocket expenses, including travel, will be reimbursed by the court.  This limited recruitment offers an opportunity to improve counsel’s trial skills while at the same time providing an important service to the parties and the court.  (Recruiting since April 2024)

  • Stevens v. Ritchie, 22-cv-1451-WCG.  The plaintiff is proceeding on an Eighth Amendment claim that the defendant forced unwanted sexual contact at the Green Bay Correctional Institution between August 2018 and December 2018.  The parties did not file a motion for summary judgment.  The court is requesting a volunteer attorney for the limited purpose of assisting the pro se plaintiff present his case by responding to the defendant’s pretrial report and motions in limine prior to trial, and then at trial, conducting direct and cross-examination of witnesses, participating in a verdict and jury instruction conference, and giving an opening statement and closing argument.  Discovery is closed and will not be reopened absent compelling circumstances. The final pretrial conference (in person) is scheduled for August 16, 2024.  A two-day trial in Green Bay is scheduled for September 10, 2024. The plaintiff’s claim is straightforward and will largely turn on the credibility of the witnesses.  Out-of-pocket expenses, including travel, will be reimbursed by the court.  This limited recruitment offers an opportunity to improve counsel’s trial skills while at the same time providing an important service to the parties and the court.  (Recruiting since April 2024)