The Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office is again asking the state Legislature and Gov. Scott Walker to increase the pay rate for private bar attorneys appointed to take cases for the agency.

Tagged with: Gov. Scott Walker Kelli Thompson legislature pay progression State Public Defender

Long stagnant, the compensation rate for private lawyers representing indigent criminal defendants will go before the Wisconsin Supreme Court for a possible increase in the court's next term.

Tagged with: Gideon v. Wainright John Birdsall State Public Defender Wisconsin Supreme Court

Sally Barrientes knew from a young age what she wanted to do.

Tagged with: Sally Barrientes State Public Defender

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.

Tagged with: Randy Kraft State Public Defender

A bill being pushed by Republican lawmakers is meant to prevent defense attorneys, in cases involving the termination of parental rights, from having to waste time sitting next to “empty chairs.”

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A Burlington attorney has been suspended by the state Supreme Court for six months for 20 ethics violations, including lying about being sick and missing a hearing for a criminal case.

Tagged with: Hannah Dugan State Public Defender Wisconsin Supreme Court

A set of bills introduced for the legislative session would nearly double the hourly amount private attorneys are paid for working on a case assigned by the State Public Defender.

Tagged with: Lena Taylor State Public Defender

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.

Tagged with: Kelli Thompson Randy Kraft SPD State Public Defender

Wausau attorney Michael Moran will begin his judicial career two weeks early to provide some relief for the other four judges in Marathon County.

Tagged with: Scott Walker State Public Defender

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.

Tagged with: budget Randy Kraft SPD State Public Defender

A state lawmaker said he was concerned Wisconsin wasn’t getting the best possible deal on a new lease for the State Public Defender’s office in Racine. The state has agreed to pay $950,000 over 10 years for a 5,298-square-foot office ...

Tagged with: Dale Schultz Fred Risser State Public Defender

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 ...

Tagged with: budget Randy Kraft Scott Walker SPD State Public Defender

It will be a happier New Year for many private bar attorneys who took State Public Defender appointments during the last fiscal year.

Tagged with: State Public Defender