Jackson, Lonnie v. Kallas, Kevin et al

Filing 33

ORDER that the clerk's office enter Skye Parr and Catarina Colon of the lawfirm of Husch Blackwell LLP, as plaintiff's pro bono counsel of record and to set this case for a status conference before Magistrate Judge Stephen Crocker. Signed by District Judge Barbara B. Crabb on 11/13/2019. (rks),(ps)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF WISCONSIN
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - LONNIE JACKSON,
ORDER
Plaintiff,
17-cv-350-bbc
v.
DR. KEVIN KALLAS, JEFF ANDERS,
RYAN HOLMACHER, JAMES GREER,
MARY MUSE, CATHY A. JESS, ROBERT HABLE,
DR. GARY ANKARLO, HUGH JOHNSON,
CINDY O’DONNELL, MARK WIEGERBER,
CPS COREY SABISH and ROBERT HABLE,
Defendants.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Pro se plaintiff Lonnie Jackson is a transgender inmate at the Kettle Moraine
Correctional Institution who is proceeding on claims that defendants violated her
constitutional rights under the Eighth Amendment and the equal protection clause by failing
to provide her adequate treatment for gender dysphoria and by denying her requests to be
placed in a single cell or in a cell with other transgender inmates. On October 10, 2019, the
case was stayed pending the court’s recruitment of counsel for plaintiff. The court has now
recruited counsel Skye Parr and Catarina Colon of Husch Blackwell LLP, to represent
plaintiff pro bono for the remainder of this civil action.

The court will enter their

appearance as plaintiff’s pro bono counsel for the record.
Plaintiff should understand that her counsel took on this representation out of a sense
of professional responsibility. Now that plaintiff is represented by counsel, she too has a
responsibility. She must not send any future communications to the court, but must work

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directly and cooperatively with her attorneys, as well as those working at their direction, and
must permit them to exercise their professional judgment to determine which matters are
appropriate to bring to the court’s attention and in what form. Plaintiff does not have the
right to require counsel to raise frivolous arguments or to follow every directive she voices.
On the contrary, plaintiff should expect her counsel to tell her what she needs to hear, rather
than what she might prefer to hear, and understand that the rules of professional conduct
may bar counsel from taking certain actions or permitting plaintiff from doing so. If plaintiff
decides at some point that she does not wish to work with her lawyers, she is free to advise
the court of her decision and end their representation, but she should be aware that it is
highly unlikely that the court will recruit a second set of attorneys to represent her.
The next step is for the court to hold a status conference to reset the calendar in this
case. Counsel should consult with plaintiff in advance of the conference.

ORDER
IT IS ORDERED that the clerk’s office enter Skye Parr and Catarina Colon of the law
firm of Husch Blackwell LLP, as plaintiff’s pro bono counsel of record and to set this case
for a status conference before Magistrate Judge Stephen Crocker.
Entered this 13th day of November, 2019.

BY THE COURT:
/s/
_______________________
BARBARA B. CRABB
District Judge

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