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.
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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.
Read More »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.
Read More »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.
Read More »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.
Read More »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.
Read More »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.
Read More »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.
Read More »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.
Read More »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.
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.
Read More »Lawmakers introduce SPD pay progression bill
Legislators introduced a bill Wednesday to establish a pay progression system for assistant State Public Defenders.
Read More »State Supreme Court sides with SPD on sanction issue
The Wisconsin Court of Appeals can’t brand an attorney a liar without giving the attorney a chance to challenge that label, according to a Wisconsin Supreme Court decision Tuesday.
Read More »State provides $10 million to cover added SPD positions
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.
Read More »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.
Read More »THE DARK SIDE: Thompson a solid pick for new public defender
Congratulations to Kelli Thompson on being named the state’s new public defender.
Read More »Budget proposal supports growing State Public Defenders office (UPDATE)
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. ...
Read More »Public Defenders Office dealing with collective bargaining fallout
The Wisconsin State Public Defenders Office doesn’t expect a mass exodus of attorneys and staff if legislation passes that would effectively eliminate collective bargaining rights for government employees. But SPD Chair Daniel M. Berkos acknowledged that some losses are likely as a result of the proposed changes that seek to increase employee contributions to pensions and health care costs. “There ...
Read More »Fee hikes an option for SPD
One of the longstanding barriers to giving private bar attorneys a raise for taking State Public Defender appointments has been cost.
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