Dane County Assembly Candidate Misrepresented Status as Attorney

James Anderson as described in State Bar of Wisconsin;
an inactive status means Anderson may not practice law
in Wisconsin (State Bar of Wisconsin)

"No individual other than an enrolled active member of the state bar may practice law in this state or in any manner purported to be authorized or qualified to practice law."
- Wisconsin Supreme Court rule, SCR CHAPTER 10 REGULATION OF THE STATE BAR ... SCR 10.03  Membership

Updated - Jimmy Anderson cannot practice law in Wisconsin. But the state assembly candidate points to his status as an "attorney" and a "lawyer" as qualifications for elected public office.

Jimmy Anderson misrepresented his professional status as an attorney, show statements Anderson made in a candidate questionnaire, and a video forum.

One of three candidates for an open seat in Dane County's 47th assembly district election, (Fall 2016 Wisconsin Partisan Primary), Anderson said in part, "As the only lawyer in the field, I have a unique understanding of our legal system. I’m extremely confident in my ability to guide good policy from idea to law," in a candidate questionnaire on the online League of Women Voters of Dane County, Inc., conducted by email and published July 13.

In a different question-and-answer candidate video by the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, a video of Jimmy Anderson shows Anderson explaining his qualifications for state assembly and why he is running. The exchange is moderated by Jim Cain, and was conducted on July 22, co-produced by the League of Women Voters of Dane County, Inc. and the City of Madison.

Jim Cain asks, "What is your professional, educational and civic background, that qualifies you for the state assembly and why are you running?" Anderson says in part, "I believe I am the only attorney that's currently running for the position in this district."

Anderson's status as an inactive attorney indicated at the State Bar of Wisconsin's website is confirmed by an August 1, 2016 email to Mal Contends from the State Bar of Wisconsin that reads in part, "Atty. James P. Anderson was admitted to the State Bar of Wisconsin on 1/31/2013. He maintained an Active license until voluntarily changing his status to Inactive on 5/23/2014."

An inactive status means Anderson is unlicensed to practice law in Wisconsin, according to Wisconsin Supreme Court rules governing the practice of law in Wisconsin.

Reads Wisconsin Supreme Court rule, SCR CHAPTER 10 REGULATION OF THE STATE BAR ... SCR 10.03  Membership (3)  Classes of membership: "(a) The members of the state bar are divided into 4 classes: active members, judicial members, inactive members and emeritus members.  ... The class of inactive members includes those persons who are eligible for active membership but are not engaged in the practice of law in this state and have filed with the secretary of the association written notice requesting enrollment in the class of inactive members.

b)Any inactive member in good standing and any judicial member who is no longer serving in a judicial office may change his or her classification to that of an active member by filing with the secretary a written request for transfer to the class of active members and by paying the dues required of active members.  No inactive member who has not actively practiced law in this state or in another state during the last 10 years may be transferred to active membership until the transfer is approved by the supreme court except a judicial member who is no longer serving in a judicial office shall be classified as an active member upon his or her written request.

(c) No judicial or inactive member may practice law in this state or hold office or vote in any election conducted by the state bar.  No person engaged in the practice of law in this state in his or her own behalf or as an assistant or employee of an active member of the state bar, or occupying a position, the duties of which require the giving of legal advice or service in this state, may be enrolled as an inactive member.

(4)  (a)  No individual other than an enrolled active member of the state bar may practice law in this state or in any manner purported to be authorized or qualified to practice law. ...