Wisconsin Lawyer Faces Suspension Over Protest Incident
Stephanie Rapkin, an attorney involved in a controversial incident during a 2020 protest, has been dealt a significant professional setback. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has decided to suspend her law license, citing her behavior as a severe misjudgment that undermines her ability to practice law.
An official order released on Thursday detailed the circumstances leading to this decision. According to the document, the Wisconsin Office of Lawyer Regulation filed a complaint against Rapkin for spitting on a Black teenager participating in a Shorewood, Wisconsin protest, occurring just a month after George Floyd’s death. This act led to Rapkin’s misdemeanor conviction for disorderly conduct in April 2023.
The court emphasized the gravity of Rapkin’s actions, stating, “The incident is an embarrassment to the bar,” and affirmed that a suspension was warranted. In addition to her conduct at the protest, Rapkin faces accusations of mismanaging an estate, during which she allegedly imposed approximately $19,000 in unwarranted fees while allowing the estate to go unattended for two years.
The court’s unsigned order highlighted Rapkin’s non-cooperation in the investigation, noting that she only replied to a court-appointed referee’s inquiries with an email declaring her retirement and non-renewal of Wisconsin Bar Association dues, effectively challenging the court’s jurisdiction over her.
“Thus, I believe you have no jurisdiction over me,” Rapkin stated in her email response.
In line with the referee’s suggestion, the justices have sanctioned a one-year suspension of Rapkin’s law license and mandated her to pay $3,164.77 to cover the disciplinary proceeding expenses.
Separately, Rapkin pursued legal action against the villages of Shorewood and Whitefish Bay, following her 2020 arrest, claiming her Fourth Amendment rights were violated when police entered her home without a warrant. In 2024, an insurance company representing the villages settled the lawsuit, granting Rapkin a $760,000 settlement.
