Former State Senator Reinstated

An attorney who had been convicted of misconduct in office while serving in the state senate was ordered reinstated to the practice of law by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The conviction was described as follows by the court:

The criminal charges alleged that betweenDecember 2000 and April 2002, Attorney Burke, while serving in public office asa senator, intentionally supervised and oversaw extensive work of stateemployees performing acts to further his campaign for attorney general, usingresources of the State of Wisconsin over which Attorney Burke had authority to control in his public office. Id.On October 5, 2005, pursuant to a pleaagreement with the State, Attorney Burke entered a guilty plea to one count ofmisconduct in public office, a Class E felony, and one count of obstructing anofficer, a Class A misdemeanor.

The court found that extensive character evidence supported the referee’s favorable recommendation as to present fitness` to practice. (Mike Frisch)