At least 135 attorneys with criminal convictions continue to practice law in Wisconsin, including some who were able to keep licenses while serving time and others who got them back before their probation ended.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Sunday that some lawyers practicing now in the state have felony or misdemeanor convictions for fraud, theft, battery and repeat drunken driving. One child-sex offender got probation for his crime but never lost his license, while a politician convicted in a check-kiting scheme was reprimanded but kept his license.

The newspaper reviewed the licenses of nearly 24,000 Wisconsin lawyers against state and federal court records, and found that lawyers convicted of crimes are then subjected to a slow-moving disciplinary process that operates largely behind closed doors.

Another 70 lawyers were charged with crimes but were able to get the charges reduced or convictions avoided by completing a deferred prosecution plan. All 70 got the green light to practice law again.

The review showed Wisconsin's standards to be comparatively lenient for dealing with lawyers who break the law. Many other states immediately suspend the licenses of lawyers if they are convicted of serious crimes, but Wisconsin in some cases has allowed convicted criminals to keep their law licenses even while behind bars.

That followed a letter from the ousted leader's U.S. lawyer, Ira Kurzban, telling officials at Haiti's foreign affairs and interior ministries that he understood they had agreed to issue Aristide a diplomatic passport.

"I kindly request that his diplomatic passport be issued immediately and that plans for his return commence immediately," he said. The letter was forwarded to reporters.

But Interior Minister Paul-Antoine Bien-Aime said in an official letter, sent later Monday, that no passport had been requested. "It appears that to date, neither ministry had received a request for issuance or renewal of passports from the former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide," he wrote.

Aristide is a former priest and liberation theologist who rose to become Haiti's first democratically elected president. He was overthrown in a coup, restored to power, then ousted again in 2004. His return was forced by the threat of a U.S. military invasion; debate has raged for years over what role the U.S. played in his departures.

The Law Firm of Nathaniel D. Johnson L.L.C. represents both private and public sector employees across the United States. The law firm’s representations range from negotiating severance and settlement agreements to litigation on behalf of employees in a variety of forums that include the following:

- Appellate actions.
- Group and class actions.
--State and federal court jurisdictions.
- Administrative actions (e.g., U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board, U.S. EEOC).

Experience

Civil Rights Attorney for the Michigan House of Representative Judiciary Committee.

• Drafted statewide civil rights and anti-discrimination legislation.
• Advised State of Michigan elected officials on the political and policy implications of proposed legislation.
• Served as a liaison to special interests and community groups inviting their participation in the formation of public policy.

Bar Admissions

• Maryland
• U.S. District Court District of Maryland
• U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia
• U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit

Education

• Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Lansing, Michigan J.D.
• Wayne State University Law School, Detroit, Michigan LL.M. (pending)
• Bowie State University, Bowie, Maryland B.S.

Former Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle announced Monday that he accepted a position in an international law firm with close ties to his old administration and campaigns.

Doyle, a Democrat, said he will specialize in health care and energy policy issues for Foley & Lardner LLP, which has nearly 1,000 attorneys spread across 21 offices around the world.

"It's a great opportunity for me," Doyle said.

A former state attorney general who holds a law degree from Harvard, Doyle served two terms as Wisconsin's governor. But his approval ratings fell as the recession wore on and he chose not to seek re-election this past November. Republican Scott Walker went on to defeat Democrat Tom Barrett for the job.

Doyle has an extensive background in health care and energy issues. During his stint as governor, he expanded health care coverage to 98 percent of state residents, including all children.

The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from opponents of same-sex marriage who want to overturn the District of Columbia's gay marriage law.

The court did not comment Tuesday in turning away a challenge from a Maryland pastor and others who are trying to get a measure on the ballot to allow Washingtonians to vote on a measure that defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

Bishop Harry Jackson led a lawsuit against the district's Board of Elections and Ethics after it refused to put that initiative on the ballot. The board ruled that the ballot question would in effect authorize discrimination.

Last year, Washington began issuing marriage licenses for same-sex couples and in 2009, it began recognizing gay marriages performed elsewhere.