Douglas A. Pessefall was admitted to the practice of law in Wisconsin on April 23, 2002, State Bar No. 1034109.

Over the course of approximately one year, from March 2021 to April 2022, Pessefall committed three Operating While Intoxicated offenses, resulting in three convictions. In September 2022, Pessefall also committed the offenses of operating after revocation and misdemeanor bail jumping, resulting in convictions.

The first OWI incident occurred at a hotel in Madison, WI on March 13, 2021. At approximately 3:00 AM, a hotel security guard observed Pessefall having difficulty walking through the parking lot. Pessefall then got in his car and attempted to exit the parking lot of the hotel, but was prevented from doing so by the security guard who then called police. The police arrested Pessefall and informed him his operating privileges would be suspended. Police noted Pessefall was argumentative and noncompliant with their instructions throughout his arrest and booking. A breath test performed 90 minutes after police were called measured Pessefall's blood alcohol as .14. Police issued Pessefall citations for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated - 1st offense, and operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration - 1st offense. This incident resulted in Pessefall's conviction of OWI 3rd offense on August 15, 2023.

On September 13, 2021, an employee of a bar in Greenfield, WI flagged down a squad car to inform police that a patron driving away from the bar was highly intoxicated. The employee in his statement to police noted he had urged Pessefall not to drive and had offered to call a ride­share service for him. The officer stopped the vehicle after determining the vehicle registration was expired and the registered owner had a suspended license. The officer identified Pessefall as the driver. The officer smelled a strong odor of intoxicants and conducted field sobriety tests. Pessefall failed the tests and was arrested. A breath test performed two hours after the arrest measured Pessefall' s blood alcohol as .18. Police issued Pessefall citations for OWI - 1st offense, and operating with PAC - 1st offense. This incident resulted in Pessefall' s conviction of OWI 1st on February 23, 2022. Pessefall's driver license was revoked as a penalty for this offense.

The third incident occurred April 8, 2022 in Whitefish Bay, WI. Police responded to a report of a family argument. The caller, the ex-husband of Pessefall's girlfriend, reported that his ex-wife and Pessefall were arguing in a car parked in the driveway of the husband's home. Upon their arrival police spoke with Pessefall who acknowledged driving his girlfriend to the location from Wauwatosa, WI at her request after they had argued. While speaking with Pessefall, police observed signs of intoxication and performed sobriety tests. Pessefall failed the tests, including a preliminary breath test which measured Pessefall's blood alcohol as .16. Police arrested Pessefall and issued him citations for OWI - 2nd offense, operating with PAC - 2nd offense, and operating after revocation. This incident resulted in Pessefall's conviction of OWI 2nd on February 1, 2023.

In addition to his three OWI convictions, Pessefall was convicted of operating after revocation and misdemeanor bail jumping on March 31, 2023. Pessefall' s conduct underlying these convictions occurred September 2, 2022, in Elm Grove, WI. Pessefall proceeded through a red light after becoming impatient for it to change to green. A police officer witnessed the incident and pulled over Pessefall' s vehicle. The officer learned that Pessefall' s driving privileges were revoked November 23, 2021 and again on February 23, 2022 and that Pessefall had two pending circuit court cases against him with driving restrictions imposed as a condition of bail. Pessefall acknowledged to the officer that he knew his license was revoked.

By engaging in conduct resulting in convictions for Operating While Intoxicated 2nd and 3rd, Operating After Revocation, and Bail Jumping, Attorney Pessefall in each instance engaged in criminal conduct that reflects adversely on his fitness as a lawyer and thereby violated SCR 20:8.4(b).

Attorney Pessefall has no prior discipline. In further mitigation of the sanction, OLR considered the voluntary treatment Attorney Pessefall undertook to address the underlying causes of his offenses.

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