Attorney Thomas Gonzalez was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of Wisconsin on June 23, 1998, State Bar No. 1025484. Gonzalez practices in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

On July 2, 2022, around 10:30 p.m., Interstate 41 was closed down to one lane due to a serious accident involving a semi rollover and two other separate crashes at the scene. On July 3, 2022, a Fond du Lac County: Sheriff's Deputy, assisting at the scene, heard a crash and looked up to see that a white BMW sedan, driven by Gonzalez, had struck the back of a fire truck and was blocking the entire lane of travel on Interstate 41. In speaking with Gonzalez, the deputy detected the odor of alcohol from Gonzalez's breath and asked Gonzalez how much he had to consume that night. Gonzalez replied, "obviously too much." The deputy observed that Gonzalez's eyes were bloodshot and glossy and his speech was slurred. A chemical blood test result later showed Gonzalez had a BAC of· .205%.

On July 5, 2022, a criminal complaint was filed, charging Gonzalez with a sole count of Second-Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety, a Class G felony. State of Wisconsin v. Thomas Gonzalez, Fond du Lac County Case No. 2022CF464.

There was a dispute as to the speed of Gonzalez's vehicle at the time of the accident. A Sheriff's Deputy estimated the BMW was traveling at a high rate of speed when it passed him. Gonzalez hired an expert accident reconstruction engineer who opined that after the BMW was braking at the accident scene, its speed reduced from approximately 54 to 46 mph as it passed the police squad car, and was traveling 30 to 32 mph at the time of impact. Gonzalez's expert also opined that the fire truck was parked with its left side approximately 2 feet into the left lane and that if the fire truck had been parked completely out of the left lane, the accident would have been avoided. However, other vehicles were able to safely pass the fire truck by moving further left and partially onto the unpaved portion of the median.

After receiving the expert report and going back to further review squad car video more closely, the State moved to amend Count 1 from felony Second-Oegree Recklessly Endangering Safety to a misdemeanor count of Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehiele, and added count 2 Obstruct Emergency/Rescue Personnel and Count 3 Hit and Run, which are both misdemeanors.

On August 13, 2024, Gonzalez was found guilty and convicted of Count 1, Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle in violation of Wis. Stat. § 941.01(1); Count 2, Obstruct Emergency/Rescue Personnel in violation of Wis. Stat.§ 941.37; and Count 3, Hit and Run in violation of Wis. Stat.§ 346.67(1). As to Counts 1 and 2, the court sentenced Gonzalez to probation for 18 months on each count and 9 months jail on each count imposed and stayed, consecutive to one another. As to Count 3, the court ordered a $300 fine plus court costs. Gonzalez was also found guilty of a non-criminal offense of Operating w/ PAC >=0.15 (1st ) in violation of Wis. Stat. §346.63(1){b). County of Fond du Lac v. Thomas Gonzalez, Fond du Lac County Case No. 2022TR4898.

A few weeks after the accident, Gonzalez voluntarily underwent an alcohol assessment. Based on that assessment, he began outpatient counseling for alcohol issues, which is ongoing.

By engaging in conduct leading to misdemeanor convictions in State of Wisconsin vs. Thomas Gonzalez, Fond du Lac County Case No. 2022CF464 of Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Obstruction of Emergency/Rescue Personnel, and Hit and Run, Gonzalez violated SCR 20:8.4(b), which states, "It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to ... commit a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer in other respects."

Gonzalez has no prior discipline.

In accordance with SCR 22.09(3), Attorney Gonzalez is hereby publicly reprimanded.