Dan Gartzke, a local family law attorney who practices with the BoardmanClark law firm in its Madison and Belleville offices, recently completed his term as the president of the State Bar of Wisconsin on June 30. There was a formal “passing of the gavel” to Stephen Sawyer of Stevens Point, the incoming president, at the State Bar’s annual conference held in La Crosse in June. Gartzke was elected in 2024 to serve as President from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.

The State Bar of Wisconsin is a private association with over 25,000 members and is the mandatory professional association, created by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, for all attorneys who hold a Wisconsin law license. The State Bar aids the courts in improving the administration of justice, provides continuing legal education, supports the education of law students, and educates the public about the legal system. The State Bar also provides public services, including attorney referrals, public education, and reduced-fee legal assistance for low-income state residents.

Gartzke has lived in the New Glarus community since 1988. He has been practicing law since 1986 and for a period was a partner in a Monroe-based law firm, anchoring its New Glarus office with his wife, Tracey Schwalbe, who is also an attorney. Gartzke is only the second Green County lawyer to serve as State Bar President, the first being Rodney Kittelsen, who held the position 50 years ago in 1976.

“Serving in this position has been a wonderful capstone for my career,” Gartzke said. “I was able to take on a number of projects, including in particular an essay project in honor of the America’s 250th anniversary. We solicited essays from the entire 25,000 State Bar membership on the meaning of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. The collection gathered over 50 entries, and the majority were published in the June 2026 edition of the State Bar’s publication, The Wisconsin Lawyer.

“This project had tremendous meaning for me in light of the highly polarized political environment we find ourselves in today. The purpose was to encourage Wisconsin lawyers to express their views, whatever they are, civilly and publicly, and encourage respectful debate,” Gartzke continued. “I’m pleased to report the project was a tremendous success.”

Gartzke now moves into the Past President position and will remain an active part of the Bar’s leadership, serving on various committees and attending the regularly scheduled Board of Governors meeting until July 2027.

Gartzke and his wife, Tracey Schwalbe, live in rural New Glarus, where they raised their three children (Julia, Mara and David). Schwalbe recently retired from practicing law as an attorney for the State of Wisconsin and enjoys focusing her time on their small flock of registered Gotland sheep https://www.gotlandwoolworks.com/ and prairie restoration projects. She is currently the Past President of the Legal Association for Women. Gartzke continues an active family law practice with BoardmanClark, a 75-member law firm with roots going back to the 1880s.