Kosobucki surprised by release as BBE director

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After three years as director of the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s Board of Bar Examiners, attorney John E. Kosobucki was removed from the position at the discretion of the court.

Kosobucki said he was surprised by the action, but suggested that a contributing factor in his departure may have been the ongoing problems with the online Continuing Legal Education (CLE) reporting system.

The voluntary program launched last November and Kosobucki said he initially handled “40 to 50” calls a week from attorneys who had problems reporting credits.

But Kosobucki said the vast majority of complaints were “minor” having to do with misreading instructions, operator errors or forgotten user names.

“In my opinion, the problems were not that big of a deal and like any new software, there were some bugs,” Kosobucki said. “I don’t want it to sound like sour grapes, but I think it was one the contributing factors in my exit.”

However, BBE Chairman James A. Morrison denied the notion that problems with the program factored into Kosobucki’s removal.

“Mr. Kosobucki tried hard to be a good executive director, and his departure had nothing to do with his effort or his integrity,” Morrison said in an interview.

Morrison acknowledged that the online CLE system did not go as well as hoped, and was launched before it was ready. However, he said he doesn’t blame Kosobucki for that, and that is not the reason he is no longer with BBE.

Morrison added that it was not his decision to remove Kosobucki. Instead, the BBE director serves at the pleasure of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and it was their decision, he said.

Kosobucki indicated that roughly two-thirds of attorneys licensed in the state report CLE credits using the online system and the online CLE program was one of several that have been developed by the BBE to allow attorneys to utilize Web-based resources.

Months after becoming director, Kosobucki helped make applications to take the bar examination available online.

“I felt like I had done a lot of good at the BBE,” Kosobucki said.

He indicated that he may seek employment in the federal court system, or possibly in the private sector.

“I’m looking at all my options right now,” he said.

Margaret Brady of the Office of the Director of State Courts said there are no plans yet to recruit a replacement to head the BBE.