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SPD

Indigenous Peoples Day
Mar 8, 2023

Evers: Raises for corrections, prosecutors a must in budget

Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said Tuesday he would consider rejecting a Republican budget plan that doesn't significantly increase pay for corrections officers, prosecutors and public defenders.

May 9, 2022

Pandemic pushes public defender system to the brink

In Wisconsin, where starting pay for public defenders is $27 an hour, there's a shortage of 60 attorney positions statewide.

Feb 16, 2021

Senate passes bill to restore pay parity for public defenders

A bill to restore raises for state public defenders is moving forward in the Wisconsin Assembly.

May 28, 2019

WIN, WIN, WIN: Committee votes to increase private bar rate, pay for prosecutors, public defenders

The state’s powerful budget writing committee voted on Tuesday afternoon to increase pay for prosecutors and public defenders as well as increase compensation for private attorneys appointed to represent indigent criminal defendants.

Feb 18, 2019

GOP plan aims to address state public defender problems

Republicans in Wisconsin's state Assembly are supporting raising the pay for attorneys who represent poor defendants, as the state faces a class-action lawsuit over the issue.

May 24, 2018

Details coming in court’s decision on compensation for appointed attorneys

The Wisconsin Supreme Court recently denied in part a proposal to increase the compensation for certain appointed attorneys, but details on how the justices voted and why won’t be released until the court issues a final written order.

Apr 20, 2018

Public defender’s legal career comes full circle

Assistant State Public Defender Jon Padgham is the go-to man for the State Public Defender's Office when it can't find private attorneys who are willing to take on cases from throughout the northeast quadrant of the state.

Sep 16, 2016

SPD proposing tuition reimbursement for private bar

The Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office is asking for the establishment of a tuition-reimbursement program for private bar attorneys who take cases for the agency.

May 21, 2013

Committee scales back pay plan for newer state attorneys (UPDATE)

Wisconsin’s up-and-coming assistant attorneys general, public defenders and district attorneys won’t be able to make more than $57,688 a year under a new pay-progression plan adopted Tuesday by the state’s Joint Finance Commission.

Feb 19, 2013

ON THE DEFENSIVE: SPD to pay a price for short-term savings

Attorneys who are appointed to cases by the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office are paid $40 per hour.

May 9, 2012

Attorney fights for case appointments

A Milwaukee attorney wants a court to overturn his removal from the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s list of lawyers who take private bar case appointments.

Feb 16, 2012

Lawmakers introduce SPD pay progression bill

Legislators introduced a bill Wednesday to establish a pay progression system for assistant State Public Defenders.

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