A group of defendants from northern Wisconsin is suing over what they're calling a lack of adequate staff and funding in the state Public Defender's Office, arguing the rights of indigent defendants in Wisconsin to competent attorneys and speedy trials have been violated.

Tagged with: State Public Defender's Office

The state’s criminal defense bar is calling out a Milwaukee trial court judge for his behavior at a hearing last week.

Tagged with: David Borowski Puck Tsai State Public Defender's Office

A Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge on Friday had a defense attorney handcuffed and chained during a hearing on Friday for contempt of court.

Tagged with: David Borowski Puck Tsai State Public Defender's Office

The Wisconsin Supreme Court won’t increase pay for court-appointed attorneys until January 2020.

Tagged with: pay State Public Defender's Office Wisconsin Supreme Court

The Wisconsin Supreme Court’s final public hearing of the term will look at something that has long been a matter of concern: the low rate of compensation private attorneys receive when they are appointed to defend indigent criminal defendants.

Tagged with: pay State Public Defender's Office Wisconsin Supreme Court

A budget-writing committee has given its endorsement to providing raises to the state’s judges, prosecutors and public defenders.

Tagged with: Pat Roggensack pay State Public Defender's Office

Amanda Riek enjoys rooting for the underdog.

Tagged with: Amanda Riek State Public Defender's Office

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.

Tagged with: Randy Kraft State Public Defender's Office

Faun Moses is driven to help those who need it.

Tagged with: State Public Defender's Office

After working for the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s office for more than 20 years, DeeDee Watson hears the same two questions time and time again: How is she able to defend her indigent criminal clients, and how can she do it for so long?

Tagged with: State Public Defender's Office

Maura McMahon wants to know every client’s story. Throughout the past 12 years in the State Public Defender’s Waukesha office, she has advocated for women, children and the mentally ill, but the often-troubling details of those cases have done little to dim her bright outlook.

Tagged with: Maura McMahon State Public Defender's Office

A consolidated case before the Wisconsin Supreme Court could affect how preliminary hearings are conducted in state.

Tagged with: State Public Defender's Office Wisconsin Supreme Court

An Assembly bill that gives individuals who call 911 to report a heroin overdose immunity from prosecution for certain crimes unanimously passed out of committee Thursday.

Tagged with: Evan Goyke Fred Kessler heroin J.B. Van Hollen John Nygren State Public Defender's Office

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

Tagged with: Public Defender State Public Defender's Office

It’s a rare breed of lawyer that can successfully handle cases at trial and on appeal, but not specialize in either.

Tagged with: Amelia Bizzaro appeal Quarles & Brady State Public Defender's Office Wisconsin Court of Appeals Wisconsin Department of Justice

John Daniels Jr., of Quarles & Brady LLP, Milwaukee, and his wife, Irma, were named 2012 Parents of the Year by COA Youth and Family Centers.

Tagged with: DeWitt Ross & Stevens Foley & Lardner John Daniels Kelli Thompson Marney Hoefer Quarles & Brady Stafford Rosenbaum State Public Defender's Office Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek

Every few months, Katie Holtz gets a phone update from a teen she represented during a rough time in his life.

Tagged with: State Public Defender's Office

Wisconsin spent nearly $90 million in 2008 on defense attorneys for poor people, according to a new study from the American Bar Association.

Tagged with: American Bar Association State Public Defender's Office

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 ...

Tagged with: collective bargaining Scott Walker SPD State Public Defender's Office unions

The criminal justice system isn’t perfect, but attorney Robin E. Dorman is trying to get it a little closer.

Tagged with: State Public Defender's Office

As someone who depends on appointments from the State Public Defender's Office to sustain her practice, Dianne M. Erickson is not looking forward to February.

Tagged with: State Public Defender's Office