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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

  • 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, and the parties have informally discussed settlement. The lawyer would assist the plaintiff with mediating his claim, including preparing a mediation statement and participating in mediation with the plaintiff, who would likely appear via Zoom. If the mediation is unsuccessful, the lawyer would have the option (but not the obligation) to remain on the case for trial. This limited recruitment offers an opportunity to improve counsel’s skills while at the same time providing an important service to the parties and the court.  (Recruiting since April 2024). 

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

  • 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)

  • Moore v. Schmelzle et al, 23-cv-325-SCD. The court is looking for a lawyer to assist an incarcerated person who suffers from burns on 90% of his body and allegedly was subjected to unconstitutional conditions of confinement. The plaintiff also brings a related ADA/RA claim. The lawyer would conduct discovery, draft and/or respond to dispositive motions, and pursue mediation/settlement discussions. Please see the screening order for more information. (Recruiting since May 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.

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)

  • 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 jury 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)

  • 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.  Both parties are pro se and did not file a motion for summary judgment.  The court is requesting two volunteer attorneys, one for the plaintiff and one for the defendant, for the limited purpose of assisting in drafting pretrial reports 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 jury trial in Green Bay is scheduled for September 10, 2024. The claim are defenses are 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)

  • 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)

  • Webster v. Loehrke, 20-cv-880-PP. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent a formerly incarcerated individual who alleges that, due to symptoms from his multiple sclerosis, he fell, hit his head, lost consciousness, experienced severe pain in his legs and groin area and the defendants did not obtain medical care for him, in violation of his rights under the Eighth Amendment and Wisconsin state law. The lawyer would represent the plaintiff at trial. The court granted in part the defendants’ motion for summary judgment. Please see Judge Pepper’s summary judgment decision for more information. (Recruiting since June 2024)

Habeas

  • Moore v. Eplett, 24-cv-4-JPS. The Court is seeking a lawyer to represent an incarcerated, pro se petitioner who suffers from burns on 90% of his body and proceeds on a petition for a writ of of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. Section 2254 on a single ground of ineffective assistance of counsel. The lawyer who accepts the appointment would perform merits briefing on that single ground for relief. Please see Judge Stadtmueller's screening order and order granting motion for appointment of counsel for more information. (Recruiting since July 2024).