A recent public reprimand reported in the Wisconsin Lawyer

The OLR and Mary A. Harper, Beaver Dam, entered into an agreement for imposition of a public reprimand, pursuant to SCR 22.09(1). A supreme court-appointed referee approved the agreement and issued the public reprimand on April 14, 2016, in accordance with SCR 22.09(3).

On Oct. 7, 2014, a woman made a 911 call regarding a vehicle that she had been following that had gone into a field and almost rolled over. The woman gave the 911 dispatcher the address where the vehicle ultimately arrived in the town of Beaver Dam. Dodge County sheriff’s deputies went to the address and met with the driver, later identified as Harper. After performing field sobriety tests, Harper provided a preliminary breath test (PBT) with a result of 0.133. A deputy then arrested Harper for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

On Oct. 20, 2014, a Juneau Police Department officer was dispatched to the Dodge County Courthouse. A court security officer informed the police officer that Harper may have been under the influence of an intoxicant. Harper had open felony conditions of her bond resulting from her Oct. 7, 2014 arrest. The police officer was advised that Harper was a lawyer and was in court representing a client. The police officer made contact with Harper in the court lobby. After conducting field sobriety tests, the police officer asked Harper to submit to a PBT. Harper submitted to a PBT and the result was 0.179. The police officer arrested Harper for OWI and bail jumping.

On Dec. 3, 2015, after pleading no contest, Harper was convicted of misdemeanor OWI (third). Harper’s sentence included three years’ probation, 14 days in jail with work release, driver’s license revocation for two years, and a fine. The same day and also after pleading no contest, Harper was convicted of misdemeanor OWI (fourth). Harper’s sentence included three years’ probation, 60 days in jail with work release, driver’s license revocation for two years, and a fine. Harper also was found guilty of bail jumping – felony and entered into a plea diversion agreement for deferred judgment.

By engaging in conduct leading to a criminal conviction of OWI (third), a criminal conviction of OWI (fourth), and a guilty finding of bail jumping – felony resulting in a deferred judgment, Harper in each instance violated SCR 20:8.4(b).

As described above, Harper arrived at the Dodge County Courthouse on Oct. 20, 2014, in a state of intoxication. At 1 p.m. on that day, Harper appeared with a client at a sentencing hearing.

By appearing in court to represent a client at a sentencing hearing while she was impaired as a result of alcohol consumption, Harper violated SCR 20:1.1.

Harper had no prior discipline.