The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin has pro bono opportunities available in a number of areas, including prisoner and non-prisoner civil rights cases, Title VII cases, and other discrimination cases.  The court also recruits attorneys for the limited purpose of representing civil pro se litigants in mediations, as well as other limited-scope representations. The court is currently looking for pro bono volunteers for the following cases:

Priority Cases: These cases have been inactive for a significant period of time because the court has been unable to recruit a lawyer willing to volunteer.

• Ashley v. Jones, 17-cv-1785-WCG. Section 1983 claim. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent a prisoner plaintiff who is alleging that a correctional officer at the Milwaukee County Jail failed to intervene in a fight between him and a cellmate in violation of his constitutional rights. The lawyer would assist with discovery and responses to dispositive motions.  If you want more information about this case, email Allison Cimpl-Wiemer at Allison_Cimpl-Wiemer@wied.uscourts.gov.
• Pennewell v. Parish, 17-cv-213-LA. Section 1983 claim. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent a blind prisoner plaintiff who seeks to bring Eighth Amendment claims against correctional officers and medical staff at the Dodge Correctional Institution and the John Burke Correctional Center that failed to treat and/or provide accommodations for his serious medical condition. The lawyer would amend the complaint, conduct discovery as needed, and draft/respond to dispositive motions. Please see the Seventh Circuit's order.  If you want more information about this case, email Brinda Bair at Brinda_Bair@wied.uscourts.gov.

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

• Hampton v. Foster, 19-cv-688-NJ. Section 1983 claim. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent a prisoner plaintiff who alleges that the defendants (1) were deliberately indifferent to his medical needs by denying him his prescription medication and (2) failed to protect him by placing him in a cell with a pen insert that he used to harm himself. The lawyer would represent the plaintiff by conducting discovery as needed and by responding to dispositive motions. Please contact Jennifer Dudzik at Jennifer_Dudzik@wied.uscourts.gov for more information about this case.
• Franklin v. Manlove, 18-cv-1730-PP-WED. Section 1983 claim. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent a prisoner plaintiff who alleges that defendants were deliberately indifferent to his medical needs by delaying treatment for back issues for over three years. The lawyer would represent the plaintiff by amending the complaint, conducting discovery as needed, and responding to dispositive motions.  Discovery and dispositive motion deadlines are stayed pending recruitment of a lawyer. If you would like more information about this case, email Allison Cimpl-Wiemer at Allison_Cimpl-Wiemer@wied.uscourts.gov.
• King v. Ankarlo, 17-cv-201-LA. Section 1983 claim. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent a prisoner who alleges the defendants violated his rights by failing to protect him from self-harm and by providing inadequate medical care. The court will re-open discovery if necessary. The attorney would represent the plaintiff in conducting discovery, responding to a motion for summary judgment, pursuing settlement, and at trial, if necessary. If you want more information about this case, please email Taylor Barnes-Gilbert at Taylor_BarnesGilbert@wied.uscourts.gov.

 Trial/Mediation:  

• Motley v. Roeker, 18-cv-033-PP. Section 1983 claim. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent a prisoner plaintiff who alleges that defendant correctional officers ignored his threat of self-harm and failed to get him medical help for his self-inflicted wound. The plaintiff’s claim survived summary judgment. The lawyer would represent the plaintiff at mediation or trial, depending on the agreements of the parties. If you want more information about this case, please email Allison Cimpl-Wiemer at Allison_Cimpl-Wiemer@wied.uscourts.gov
• Williams v. Van Buren, 18-cv-1663-LA. Section 1983 claim. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent a prisoner plaintiff who alleges that a psychologist at Waupun Correctional Institution was deliberately indifferent to his serious mental health needs when she failed to stop the plaintiff from injuring himself. The defendant did not seek summary judgment. Discovery is closed and will not be reopened. The lawyer would represent the plaintiff at trial or mediation, depending on the agreement of the parties. Please see the screening order. If you want more information about this case, email Brinda Bair at Brinda_Bair@wied.uscourts.gov.
• Rivers v. Johnson, 17-cv-1496-PP. Section 1983 claim. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent a prisoner plaintiff who alleges that a correctional officer at Waupun Correctional Institution was deliberately indifferent to his serious mental health needs when he failed to request mental-health assistance to stop the plaintiff from injuring himself. Summary judgment was granted for one corrections officer but denied against the other. The lawyer would represent the plaintiff at trial or mediation, depending on the agreement of the parties. Please see Judge Pepper's decision and order denying the defendant's motion for summary judgment. If you want more information about this case, email Brinda Bair at Brinda_Bair@wied.uscourts.gov.
• Daniels v. Pohl, 17-cv-1701-LA. Section 1983 claim. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent a prisoner who alleges that he experienced deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs when he threatened self-harm. Three of the four defendants in the case were entitled to summary judgment. However, one defendant remains because the record did not establish a lack of objective harm. The attorney would represent the plaintiff at mediation or trial, depending on the agreement of the parties. If you want more information about this case, please email Taylor Barnes-Gilbert at Taylor_BarnesGilbert@wied.uscourts.gov
• Williams v. Blasius, et al., 16-cv-614-LA. Section 1983 claim. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent a prisoner who alleges that a nurse practitioner and a doctor at Racine Correctional Institution delayed his treatment for a knee injury and failed to comply with other doctors’ orders regarding his treatment. Summary judgment was granted for all other defendants. The lawyer would represent the plaintiff at trial or mediation, depending on the agreement of the parties. If you want more information about this case, please email Ryan Melcher at Ryan_Melcher@tnwd.uscourts.gov.
• Viezbicke v. Kosmosky, et al., 18-cv-1272-LA. Section 1983 claim. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent a prisoner who alleges that two police officers used excessive force against him. The plaintiff's claim survived summary judgment. Please see Judge Adelman's Order. The lawyer would represent the plaintiff at trial or mediation, depending on the agreement of the parties. If you want more information about this case, please email Brinda Bair at Brinda_Bair@wied.uscourts.gov.
• Munoz v. Anderson, et al., 18-cv-495-PP. Section 1983 claim. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent a former pretrial detainee who alleges that two police officers used excessive force after arresting him. Neither party sought summary judgment. The lawyer would represent the plaintiff at trial.  If you would like more information about this case, please email Ryan Melcher at Ryan_Melcher@tnwd.uscourts.gov.