State struggling to find enough attorneys (UPDATE)
Wisconsin's low compensation rate for private attorneys has contributed to the shortage of lawyers willing to represent people who can't afford a private attorney, according to state officials.
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.
Budget requests likely to include increases for judicial salaries, private rate for public-defender appointments
Among the proposals likely to be up for inclusion in the state's next budget are pay increases for judges, government lawyers and private attorneys who serve as public defender.
Prosecutors, defense attorneys clash over interrogation techniques
If nothing else, the Netflix series “Making a Murderer” has put a spotlight on an unsettling practice that Julius Kim and other defense lawyers see all the time: The admission into evidence of statements gathered in coercive interrogations.
Lawmakers quibble over Milwaukee police video evidence snafu
An informational hearing Wednesday on the recent crash of the Milwaukee Police Department’s video recording system yielded few answers.
SPD’s budget request includes private attorney rate hike
The State Public Defender's 2015-17 biennial budget request includes a proposal to increase to up to $60 per hour the rate paid to private attorneys who take on case work for the office.
Victim testimony rule getting a second look
An administrative rule regarding victim testimony during probation revocation hearings has been on the books for more than 20 years, but has never been used.
Recent grads encouraged to look beyond Milwaukee, Madison for work
Karl Huber practiced law out of his house in Ladysmith for the first year after graduating from Marquette University Law School.
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.
Lawmakers introduce SPD pay progression bill
Legislators introduced a bill Wednesday to establish a pay progression system for assistant State Public Defenders.
New SPD attorneys relieved by budget appropriation
While interning with the Wisconsin State Public Defender last summer, University of Wisconsin Law School student Pete Middleton decided to apply for one of 30 new staff attorney jobs the agency sought to fill.
Attorneys argue for higher pay
The Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office’s difficulty finding capable lawyers hit home for John Birdsall in 2005 when he was the sixth attorney to defend a child pornography case.
Legal News
- Wisconsin state Senate’s chief clerk, former Legislative Council attorney, resigns following undisclosed allegation
- Watchdog files open meetings lawsuit against secret panel studying Wisconsin justice’s impeachment
- McCarthy allies press GOP holdouts
- States expand Medicaid dental coverage
- Airbnb cracks down on bogus listings
- Hackers breach 2 Vegas casinos
- Solo vs. big law: Does size really matter?
- Wisconsin Court System’s director of public information officer retires abruptly
- New lawsuit launched over secret Vos impeachment investigation
- Federal judge rules for students with disabilities in age-cutoff case
- Wisconsin DNR board appointees tell Republican lawmakers they don’t support wolf population limit
- The most prevalent forms of cyber crime (CHART)
WLJ People
- Evers appoints McElroy as Price County district attorney
- Evers appoints Ann Peacock to Dane County Circuit Court
- Michael Best appoints Sarah Alt to new role as chief process and AI officer
- Attorney Peter Baziano joins Murphy Desmond in its Business and Real Estate practice groups
- GRGB partner Karnes honored at Run for Justice
- DeWitt’s Miotke reappointed to SPD’s Board
- Hupy and Abraham wins award for ‘Behind the Handlebars’ video series
- Evers appoints trio to Milwaukee County Circuit Court
- Kubiak joins Amundsen Davis’ Business Litigation Service Group
- GRGB partners Jason Luczak, Nicole Masnica honored with Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers award
- Teuta Jonuzi, Joshua Hargrove promoted to equity partners at Tracey Wood & Associates
- Reinhart’s Taggatz joins International Association of Defense Counsel