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

• Durley v. Ahlborg, 21-cv-883-PP. The court seeks an attorney to represent an incarcerated individual during mediation. The parties previously were unable to reach an agreement but expressed interest in additional settlement discussions. The attorney would have the option to remain on the case for trial if mediation is unsuccessful but will not be required to do so. The plaintiff is proceeding on an Eighth Amendment claim that a nurse at Waupun Correctional Institution disregarded the plaintiff’s statement that he was having trouble breathing and left his cell without even visually assessing him. All other defendants were dismissed at summary judgment. The court prefers that recruited counsel has experience litigating civil rights cases under 42 U.S.C. §1983. Please see Judge Pepper's summary judgment order for more information. (Recruiting since March 2025)

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

• Flowers v. Jeanpierre, 24-cv-726-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 alleges that Defendants delayed proper medical treatment for his serious knee injury. Please see Judge Stadtmueller's screening order for more information. (Recruiting since October 2024)

• Bowen v. Walker, et al., 23-cv-64-PP. The court is seeking a lawyer to represent a pro se plaintiff who alleges that correctional officers at the Milwaukee County Jail violated his constitutional rights when they washed an inmate covered in feces in the room adjacent to the plaintiff’s cell, resulting in contaminated water running into the plaintiff’s cell. The plaintiff alleges that correctional officers ignored his requests for them to stop filling his cell with contaminated water and ignored his requests for his cell to be cleaned, causing the plaintiff to be locked in a contaminated cell for days. The court screened the plaintiff’s complaint and is allowing him to proceed with a §1983 conditions-of-confinement claim against two correctional officers. The lawyer who accepts the appointment would engage in discovery and respond to any dispositive motions. Please see Judge Pepper’s screening order and order granting the plaintiff’s motion for appointment of counsel for more information.

• Dragisich v. Lazaris et al, 20-cv-1465-SCD. The court is looking for a lawyer to take over for current pro bono counsel. Current pro bono counsel will assist with the transition. Plaintiff, an incarcerated individual, needs assistance with conducting discovery, responding to a a dispositive motion, and possible settlement discussions. Plaintiff is proceeding on an excessive force claim pursuant to the Fourteenth Amendment against two West Allis police officers. Please see the screening order for more information. (Recruiting since November 2024)

• Brown v. Daughtry, 24-cv-629-LA. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent a prisoner who alleges that defendants provided him ineffective treatment for the pain and other symptoms he experienced from having a bullet lodged in his head, in violation of his rights under the Eighth Amendment. The lawyer would identify the Doe defendant, engage in discovery, and respond to any dispositive motions. Please see Judge Adelman’s screening order for more information. (Recruiting since March 2025) 

Trial

• Sheppard v. Korus, 22-cv-902-BHL.  The plaintiff is proceeding on Eighth Amendment claims that Defendants, corrections officers at Fox Lake Correctional Institution, were deliberately indifferent to his threats to swallow pills and to his serious medical needs. The court is requesting a volunteer attorney to assist the plaintiff with presenting 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. The trial will be scheduled to suit the parties' schedules.  This 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 June 2024)

• Green v. Eikland, 24-cv-0033-BHL.  The plaintiff, who is incarcerated, is proceeding on Eighth Amendment claims that, after Defendants ignored his threats of self-harm, he severely cut himself. The court is requesting a volunteer attorney to assist the plaintiff with presenting his case by preparing a 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. The trial will be scheduled to suit the parties' schedules.  This 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 January 2025)