teaching Archives - Shirley S. Abrahamson

teaching

Douglas Endreson (1980-1981)

Justice Abrahamson addressing a crowd of elementary school children

One Sunday, I came back after an early dinner and got right to work, expecting Justice Abrahamson to come in shortly after I did. Time got away from me, Justice Abrahamson did not come in, and around 11 p.m. I went up the back stairs to the State Law Library to get a couple books. Opened the door, and there was Justice Abrahamson, with a full cart of reporters, and a table full of more, going through cases. Outworking her, just for an evening, was not in the cards.

My clerkship year with Chief Justice Abrahamson was fascinating and challenging. It was fascinating because the Wisconsin Supreme Court has discretion over which appeals to hear. Every case the Court takes involves issues of first impression, with many important doctrinal and policy choices for the court to make. It was challenging because the workload was intense. We had around 90 cases that term, and I was the only law clerk in the Chief’s chambers. We had a lot of help from interns, though. Working for Chief Justice Abrahamson taught me the meaning of hard work. She typically worked from 9 a.m. […]

Here are some memories of the Chief from the 1999-2000 term. She was the hardest working boss I have ever had. She used to set a lovely dinner, with fine china, for her fellow Justices in the Chambers, especially Justice Bradley. She enjoyed Italian food, especially focaccia bread with olive oil and mozzarella. She was the model of judicial independence and integrity. She was wonderful in teaching schoolchildren about the role and functions of the judiciary.

Douglas Endreson (1980-1981)

Megan McDermott (2000-01)

Arlo Chase (1999-00)