Ranney goes 'On the Issues' to discuss new book on history of Wisconsin's legal system

January 25, 2018

MILWAUKEE — Joseph Ranney, an attorney and author, will be the featured guest in an upcoming "On the Issues with Mike Gousha," Wednesday, Jan. 31, at 12:15 p.m. in the Lubar Center at Marquette University Law School's Eckstein Hall.

In his new book, "Wisconsin and the Shaping of American Law," Ranney writes that while scholars and the news media devote much of their attention to federal laws and courts, the state legal systems are at the core of most aspects of our daily lives. Using Wisconsin's colorful and influential history to help tell the story, Ranney looks at how state laws have evolved and shaped American history. From the origins of Wisconsin's legal system, to the Progressive Era, to recent battles over school vouchers, voting and abortion, Ranney details how Wisconsin has played a national leadership role on many important legal issues.

Ranney is the Adrian P. Schoone Visiting Fellow in Wisconsin Law and Legal Institutions at Marquette University Law School. He is the author of several books and a partner with the firm DeWitt Ross & Stevens in Madison, Wis.

Gousha, an award-winning broadcast journalist, is the Law School's distinguished fellow in law and public policy. His "On the Issues" series of conversations with newsmakers supports Marquette Law School's commitment to serve as a modern-day public square for the city of Milwaukee, the state of Wisconsin and beyond.

Through public programming such as the Marquette Law School Poll, debates featuring candidates in significant political races, Gousha's "On the Issues" conversations with newsmakers, public lectures by leading scholars and conferences on significant issues of public importance, the Law School serves as the region's leading venue for serious civil discourse about law and public policy matters.

The event is open to members of the general public at no cost; registration is required and is available online. Members of the media who are interested in attending should contact Chris Jenkins in the Office of Marketing and Communication.