Lawmakers are considering a proposal that would subject anyone who beats up or threatens a public defender to the same penalties as someone who does the same to a judge.

Dana Smetana has built a reputation as an assistant public defender who does not just see opportunities to improve the criminal justice system.

Deja Vishny, Wisconsin State Public Defenders Office Law degree received from: University of Wisconsin Law School, 1980 Deja Vishny does not shy away from hard work. In her first year as a Racine public defender in 1980, Vishny tried about a dozen cases. “It was a small office, only seven attorneys,” she said. “But it was a real go-getter office, ...

Rose Oliveto requires no frills in working to improve the legal community and justice system. The organization she helps run, Southwestern Wisconsin Women Lawyers, is “not a group you’ll find in any book,” she said, but a basic networking and support group for female attorneys in a five-county area. They eschew splashy galas in favor of person-to-person connections.

Prosecutors are forced to ignore misdemeanor violations to pursue more serious crimes. Judges are delaying trials to cope with layoffs and strained staffing levels. And in some cases, those charged with violent crimes, even murder, are set free because caseloads are too heavy to ensure they receive a speedy trial.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Marshfield man accused of plotting an attack on abortion providers in Madison will not qualify for a public defender. Ralph W. Lang faces state and federal charges after he told investigators he planned to kill abortion providers at Planned Parenthood last month. The 63-year-old is charged in state court with attempted first-degree intentional homicide. At ...

Congratulations to Kelli Thompson on being named the state’s new public defender.

Kelli Thompson has been named as the next Wisconsin State Public Defender. The agency’s board chose Thompson, a 12-year SPD veteran, to succeed Nick Chiarkas, who retired earlier this year after 22 years as head of the agency. Thompson has served as the Deputy State Public Defender for the past seven years and as the Acting State Public Defender since ...

One of the longstanding barriers to giving private bar attorneys a raise for taking State Public Defender appointments has been cost.