MADISON — Monroe resident Jane E. Bucher of Russell Law Offices, S.C., Brodhead, is the next president-elect of the State Bar of Wisconsin. Bucher will serve a one-year term as president-elect starting July 1, 2023, before succeeding Dean Dietrich of Wausau on July 1, 2024, as State Bar president.

The State Bar is an association of 25,000+ lawyer members that aids the courts in improving the administration of justice, provides continuing legal education for its members to help them maintain their expertise, and assists Wisconsin lawyers in carrying out community service initiatives to educate the public about the legal system and the value of lawyers.

As president-elect and president, Bucher says she will focus on attorney civility and wellness, promote access to justice for unrepresented and marginalized individuals, continue the State Bar’s important work on criminal justice reform, maintain a commitment to innovation, and focus on increasing diversity among attorneys.

“The State Bar will be most effective when its membership accurately reflects the diversity of our state,” she said. “Our work to rid the justice system of inappropriate biases will never be complete. As attorneys, we are stewards of justice. Such a calling is ever changing, and we should strive to continuously improve the State Bar for the benefit of future generations of lawyers.”

Bucher served as an Assistant State Public Defender from 2011 to 2021 and has handled more than 2,400 cases. As a public defender, she represented children, juveniles, and adults who could not otherwise afford an attorney in both criminal and civil cases. She was appointed by the Wisconsin Supreme Court to the Office of Lawyer Regulation District 12 Committee (2015 to present) and has served on the State Bar Board of Governors.

Bucher lives in Monroe with her husband, Ruedi. The couple have two sons, Quinn and Xavier.