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.

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.

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.

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.

An informational hearing Wednesday on the recent crash of the Milwaukee Police Department’s video recording system yielded few answers.

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.

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.

Karl Huber practiced law out of his house in Ladysmith for the first year after graduating from Marquette University Law School.

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.

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

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.

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.

An update of outdated eligibility standards to qualify for a Wisconsin State Public Defender is one step closer to becoming a reality. Gov. Scott Walker’s 2011-13 budget proposal allocates about $10 million to support additional staff attorneys needed to accommodate the change. The money would cover salaries and benefits for 45 new positions, according to the State Public Defender’s office. ...