Title: Office of Lawyer Regulation v. John F. Kerscher

State: wisconsin

Issuer: Wisconsin Supreme Court

Document:

2004 WI 11 
 
 
 
SUPREME COURT OF WISCONSIN 
 
 
 
 
 
CASE NO.: 
01-0217-D 
COMPLETE TITLE: 
 
 
In the Matter of Medical Incapacity Proceedings 
Against John F. Kerscher: 
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation,  
          Complainant, 
 
     v. 
 
John F. Kerscher,  
          Respondent. 
 
 
 
 
REINSTATEMENT OF KERSCHER 
 
 
OPINION FILED: 
February 24, 2004   
SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS: 
        
ORAL ARGUMENT: 
        
 
 
SOURCE OF APPEAL: 
 
 
COURT: 
        
 
COUNTY: 
        
 
JUDGE: 
        
 
 
 
JUSTICES: 
 
 
CONCURRED: 
        
 
DISSENTED: 
        
 
NOT PARTICIPATING:         
 
 
 
ATTORNEYS: 
 
      
 
 
2004 WI 11 
 
 
SUPREME COURT OF WISCONSIN 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTICE 
This order is subject to further 
editing and modification.  The 
final version will appear in the 
bound volume of the official 
reports.   
 
 
 
No.  01-0217-D  
 
 
In the Matter of Medical Incapacity  
Proceedings Against John F. Kerscher: 
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation,  
          Complainant, 
 
     v. 
 
John F. Kerscher,  
          Respondent. 
 
FILED 
 
FEB 24, 2004 
 
Cornelia G. Clark 
Clerk of Supreme Court 
Madison, WI 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Court entered the following AMENDED order on this date: 
 
On March 9, 2001, this court granted Attorney John F. 
Kerscher's request pursuant to SCR 22.34(11) that his license to 
practice law in this state be suspended indefinitely due to his 
medical incapacity—alcoholism.  He has now filed a petition for 
reinstatement of his license and asserts that his medical 
incapacity has been removed.  After a public hearing, the 
referee appointed in this matter, Attorney Lance S. Grady, 
concluded 
that 
based 
on 
the 
unchallenged 
and 
undisputed 
evidence, Kerscher's medical incapacity has been removed and his 
alcoholism is now under control and that he has maintained 
absolute sobriety for more than two years.  In a supplemental 
report, Referee Grady "strongly" recommends that Kerscher's 
petition for reinstatement be granted upon certain conditions.  
The OLR also supports reinstatement as does the Board of Bar 
Examiners 
upon 
Kerscher's 
compliance 
with 
current 
CLE 
requirements.  
 
No. 01-0217-D   
 
2 
Upon the referee's findings, report and recommendation 
which we now accept, and based on our review of the entire 
record,  
 
IT IS ORDERED that John F. Kerscher's license to practice 
law in this state be reinstated effective the date of this 
order, upon the conditions that for the next five years:  
A. 
John F. Kerscher must provide full medical and 
information 
release 
forms 
to 
the 
OLR 
as 
requested; 
B. 
John F. Kerscher must maintain absolute sobriety, 
with monitoring, at the full discretion of the 
OLR to include random breathalyzer and/urine 
checks through his probation agent, healthcare 
providers, or the OLR upon the OLR's request; 
C. 
John 
F. 
Kerscher 
must 
submit 
quarterly 
psychiatric reports to the OLR and demonstrate 
compliance 
with 
any 
medication 
regimen 
as 
prescribed by his healthcare provider; and 
D. 
John F. Kerscher must regularly meet with a 
monitor selected by the OLR whose responsibility 
will be to report to the OLR on Kerscher's 
continuing sobriety and his management of his law 
practice. 
 
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that John F. Kerscher must comply 
with the current CLE requirements as outlined by the Board of 
Bar Examiners' memorandum in support of his petition for 
reinstatement. 
 
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within six months of the date of 
this order John F. Kerscher must pay to the OLR the costs of 
these reinstatement proceedings in the amount of $6,930.94 as 
detailed in the OLR statement of costs.  If such costs are not 
paid within the time specified, and absent a showing to this 
court of his inability to pay the costs within that time, the 
license of John F. Kerscher to practice law in Wisconsin shall 
be suspended until further order of this court. 
 
 
Cornelia G. Clark 
Clerk of Supreme Court 
 
No. 01-0217-D   
 
2