Convicted in Illinois And Reinstated In Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has reinstated an attorney who consented to license revocation in the wake of a federal wire fraud aiding and abetting conviction

Attorney Hurtgen’s petition for consensual license revocation stated that he could not successfully defend against pending charges of professional misconduct relating to a conviction, entered following a guilty plea entered in the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, to one count of aiding and abetting wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343, 1346, and 2, in connection with a long-running federal investigation of corruption in the administration of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.

The favorable evidence

 The referee noted that letters supporting Attorney Hurtgen’s petition were filed by numerous persons, including former Wisconsin Governor James E. Doyle, that each writer spoke very highly of Attorney Hurtgen, and that several mentioned their belief that Attorney Hurtgen never acted inappropriately. The referee noted that Attorney Hurtgen currently serves as a managing partner of a private investment company and as an operating director of a Chicago-based investment and merchant bank. At this time, he does not intend to use his law license, if reinstated, to practice as an attorney but instead will use the license in his own business affairs.

Huffpost Chicago reported on the guilty plea. (Mike Frisch)