CLOSED CAPTIONING.
>> WISCONSIN IS FACING A
SHORTAGE IN THE COURTROOM AS
STATE OFFICES ARE HAVING A
DIFFICULT TIME RECRUITING
LAWYERS FOR BOTH THE PROSECUTION
AND DEFENSE.
"HERE AND NOW" REPORTER NATHAN
DENZIN HAS THE STORY.
>> IT'S REALLY A PROBLEM THAT
HAS REACHED A CONSTITUTIONAL
CRIES FROM BOTH PERSPECTIVES.
>> STATE OFFICIALS ARE WARNING
OF POTENTIAL MISS CARRIAGES MISCARRIAGES OF
JUSTICE AS WISCONSIN FACES A
SHORTAGE OF BOTH PUBLIC
DEFENDERS AND PROSECUTORS.
>> IF YOU GO TO SOME OF THESE
COUNTIES LIKE WAUSHARA COUNTY OR
SHAWANO, IT'S ANYWHERE FROM 50%
OF THEIR PROSECUTION STAFF THAT
ARE VACANT.
IN ONE COUNTY RIGHT NOW, IT'S
100% PROSECUTION STAFF VACANCY.
>> KURT KLOMBERG IS THE DISTRICT
ATTORNEY FOR DODGE COUNTY, WHERE
HE SAYS STAFF SHORTAGES HAVE
BEEN EXACERBATED BY A LACK OF
QUALITY CANDIDATES.
BUT FOR THE MOST PART, IT HAS TO
BE ONLY IN EXTREME SITUATIONS.
>> AS STATE LEGISLATURE IS SET
TO MEET AND DECIDE WISCONSIN'S
NEXT BUDGET, FUNDING FOR THE
JUSTICE SYSTEM WILL BE AT THE
TOP OF ATTORNEYS' MINDS.
>> THERE'S AN EXPRESSION THAT
OFTEN GETS USED, THAT JUSTICE
DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED.
AND THAT APPLIES, FRANKLY, TO
EVERYONE WHO'S INVOLVED WITH
THIS TYPE OF CIRCUMSTANCE.
>> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M
NATHAN DENZIN.
>> SINCE WE FIRST SPOKE WITH
KURT KLOMBERG, HE RESIGNED AS
THE DODGE COUNTY DISTRICT
ATTORNEY.
KLOMBERG SENT AN EMAIL TO
COLLEAGUES ANNOUNCING HE WAS
STEPPING DOWN AS OF JANUARY 13TH
AND HEART BROKEN OVER THE
COLLAPSE OF THE DODGE COUNTY
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.
AFTER RETIREMENT, RESIGNATIONS
AND NO NEW FULL TIME ATTORNEYS
ACCEPTING POSITIONS.
>> THAT LEFT ME ALONE TO DO THE
WORK OF SIX ATTORNEYS AFTER
FEBRUARY 1ST, AND MY FAMILY HAS
MADE MANY, MANY SACRIFICES FOR
ME TO DO THIS WORK.
I WAS LEAVING BEFORE MY CHILDREN
WOULD BARELY GET UP IN THE
MORNING.
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> A NEW LEADER FOR WISCONSIN
REPUBLICANS TALKS ABOUT WHERE
THE PARTY GOES FROM HERE.
A SCARCITY OF PUBLIC DEFENDERS
AND DISTRICT ATTORNEYS IS
LEADING TO A CONSTITUTIONAL
CRISIS.
AND THE RESURRECTION OF A PLAN
TO EXPAND I-94 SEES A BACKLASH.
GOOD EVENING.
I'M ZAC SCHULTZ, FILLING IN FOR
FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW."
NEWLY ELECTED REPUBLICAN PARTY
CHAIR BRIAN SCHIMMING JOINS US.
WE HEAR FROM THE CANDIDATES
VYING FOR STATE SUPREME COURT.
NATHAN DENZIN REPORTS ON THE
RECORD SHORTAGE OF STATE
ATTORNEYS.
AND A MILWAUKEE GROUP EXPLAINS
THEIR OPPOSITION TO A HIGHWAY
EXPANSION.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
JANUARY 13TH.
FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF
WISCONSIN RECENTLY CHANGED
LEADERSHIP AGAIN, WITH THEIR
FOURTH CHAIRMAN IN THE LAST FOUR
YEARS.
THE NEWEST CHAIRMAN IS NOT NEW
TO THE PARTY.
BRIAN SCHIMMING HAS BEEN HEAVILY
INVOLVED IN G.O.P. POLITICS IN
WISCONSIN FOR A LONG TIME.
AND JOINS US NOW.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANKS FOR INVITING ME.
>>
>> THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS BEEN
A POWERHOUSE.
HAS THE TURNOVER AFFECTED
ELECTION OUTCOMES?
>> OH, I DON'T THINK SO.
WE DON'T SEE ANY SENSE OF THAT.
WE JUST RE-ELECTED RON JOHNSON
AFTER THEY DROPPED $150 MILLION
OF THEIR MONEY ON HIM, AND
CAPTURED A FEW NEW DEMOCRAT
SEATS IN THE ASSEMBLY, PICKED UP
A SUE MER SUPERMAJORITY IN THE SENATE,
ELECTED A NEW REPUBLICAN FOR
CONGRESS SO I'D SAY BASED ON THE
DOLLAR THAT WE'RE DOING PRETTY
WELL FOR OURSELVES.
AND SOME DISAPPOINTMENTS THIS
YEAR BUT I'LL BE CERTAINLY
SPENDING SOME TIME RAISING MONEY
AS WELL, OF COURSE WITH THE
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION
COMING TO MILWAUKEE, WHICH WE'RE
VERY EXCITED ABOUT, IT WILL BE
GREAT TO HAVE THAT MUCH FOCUS ON
WISCONSIN.
>> YOU WERE IN WASHINGTON LAST
WEEK, SPEAKING OF OUR NEW
CONGRESSPERSON.
KEVIN MCCARTHY HAD TO GIVE UP A
LOT OF POWER TO GET THE GAVEL.
WILL IT AFFECT HIS FUNCTION?
>> I WAS THERE THREE DAYS LAST
WEEK.
MY SENSE OF IT WAS NO, I THINK
THEY GOT SOME CONCESSIONS IN
KIND OF THE BACK AND FORTH OF
THE LEADERSHIP ELECTIONS THERE.
BUT LOOK, THE PLAY BOOK FOR THAT
WAS SET BY THE DEMOCRATS.
NANCY PELOSI THE LAST TWO TIMES
HAD TO STRUGGLE TO GET THE VOTES
TO GET ELECTED SPEAKER.
MADE A NUMBER OF CONCESSIONS TO
THE A.O.C. WING OF THE PARTY,
AND IT SHOWED.
AND IT FINALLY GOT TO THE POINT
WHERE SHE LEFT.
SO I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THAT,
AND ANY ACTIONS THAT THEY'VE
TAKEN SINCE KEVIN MCCARTHY WAS
SELECTED SPEAKER, THERE'S UNITY.
A LOT OF IT.
>> IN WISCONSIN, THE GOVERNOR
AND REPUBLICANS IN THE
LEGISLATURE ARE TRYING TO MEET
AND BUILD UP TRUST THAT'S BEEN
LACKING.
WHAT DOES COMPROMISE LOOK LIKE
IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, ESPECIALLY
FROM A REPUBLICAN BASE POINT OF
VIEW?
>> WITH THE LEGISLATURE
OVERWHELMINGLY REPUBLICAN,
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IN DEMOCRAT
HANDS, I WORKED THERE A NUMBER
OF YEARS AS CHIEF OF STAFF TO
THE SPEAKER AND OTHER POSITIONS
THERE.
THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO COME
AWAYS.
I THINK REPUBLICANS ARE WILLING
TO COMPROMISE WITH THE GOVERNOR
ON SOME ISSUES, NOT ON PRINCIPLE
BUT ON SOME BIG LEGISLATIVE
ITEMS, I THINK THEY'RE WILLING
TO COMPROMISE BUT IT'S GOING TO
TAKE THE GOVERNOR COMING IN TOO.
THE GOVERNOR JUST FLATLY REFUSED
TO MEET WITH THE LEGISLATIVE
REPUBLICANS SEVERAL TIMES, MOST
OF THE TIME, DURING THE LAST
FOUR YEARS.
I HOPE THE GOVERNOR NOW REALIZES
THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE HERE TO
STAY IN THE LEGISLATURE.
THEY CAN GET SOME THINGS DONE.
I HOPE THEY DO.
>> WE JUST SAW REPUBLICANS
INTRODUCE A NEW FLAT TAX
PROPOSAL BUT THEY DID IT AS A
STANDALONE BILL, WHICH OBVIOUSLY
IF IT'S PASSED, IT CAN BE VETOED
BY THE GOVERNOR.
DOES THAT MEAN IT'S MORE OF A
STATEMENT OF VALUES TO PUT IT
THAT WAY OR DO YOU THINK IT WILL
STILL GO INTO THE BUDGET AS A
FLAT TAX?
>> I THINK SOME TYPE OF TAX
REFORM WILL PROBABLY END UP
GOING INTO THE BUDGET.
THAT WILL BE DEPENDENT ON THE
GOVERNOR.
THE FLAT TAX IS ONE PROPOSAL,
THERE WILL BE OTHERS I'M SURE
BOTH IN THE SENATE AND THE
ASSEMBLY.
SO THERE WILL BE DIFFERENT IDEAS
OUT THERE.
I TRUST OUR LEGISLATORS TO GET
THAT RIGHT.
BUT IT WILL TAKE THE GOVERNOR
SAYING LOOK, I'M WILLING TO LOOK
AT WHAT IS HISTORICALLY A HIGH
TAX STATE AND FIGURE OUT WAYS TO
MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE FOR
EVERYONE WATCHING THIS PROGRAM
AND THE 6 MILLION PEOPLE IN THIS
STATE.
SO I HOPE THE GOVERNOR COMES TO
THE TABLE AND WORKS PRODUCTIVELY
ON IT.
>> SO IF THE BUDGET IS PASSED,
IS THAT A WIN, KEEPING THE
GOVERNOR FROM VETOING IT
ENTIRELY, IS THAT A WIN?
>> WELL, REMEMBER, THE LAST
BUDGET, THE REPUBLICANS PASSED
IT OVER MONTHS OF OBJECTIONS BY
THE GOVERNOR, THEN HE ENDED UP
SIGNING IT.
SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S IN THE
GOVERNOR'S MIND RIGHT NOW, BUT
WE'LL SEE.
I'VE BEEN THROUGH A NUMBER OF
BUDGETS AS YOU HAVE, WATCHING IT
AND PARTICIPATING UP IN THE
CAPITOL.
A LOT OF MONEY SLOSHING AROUND.
I KIND OF ALWAYS SAY TO
REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE,
IF THERE'S TOO MUCH MONEY IN
MADISON, GET IT OUT OF HERE.
AND SO I HOPE THAT'S THEIR
EMPHASIS, IS FIGURING OUT WAYS
TO GIVE MONEY BACK TO TAXPAYERS,
BECAUSE IT'S THEIR MONEY.
>> ROBERT SPINDELL, A REPUBLICAN
APPOINTEE TO THE WISCONSIN
ELECTIONS COMMISSION, RECENTLY
SENT AN EMAIL THAT'S GOTTEN SOME
ATTENTION.
URBAN MILWAUKEE QUOTES SPINDELL
AS WRITING, THIS GREAT AND
IMPORTANT DECREASE IN DEMOCRAT
VOTES IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE
WAS DUE TO A WELL THOUGHT OUT
MULTIFACETED PLAN.
DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING THAT'S
VOTER SUPPRESSION.
>> I TELL YOU WHAT THE
MULTIFACETED PLAN IS, AND THAT
IS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF
WISCONSIN AND THE REPUBLICAN
NATIONAL COMMITTEE OPENING
OFFICES ON THE NORTH SIDE AND
PREDOMINANTLY AFRICAN AMERICAN
NEIGHBORHOODS, AND ON THE SOUTH
SIDE, IN PROMINENTLY LATINO
NEIGHBORHOODS, STAFFING THEM
WITH PAID STAFF, WITH
VOLUNTEERS.
WE'VE BEEN AS ACTIVE IN
MILWAUKEE, AND I'VE BEEN ON THE
BOARD WITH BOB SPINDELL FOR A
LOT OF YEARS.
HE'S BEEN THE CHIEF PROPONENT OF
INCREASED ACTIVITY IN MILWAUKEE
IN THE MINORITY COMMUNITY, SO
PERHAPS THE STATEMENTS WEREN'T
AS ARTFULLY PUT AS THEY COULD
BE, BUT I DON'T DOUBT THAT HE
MEANS THAT -- WHAT WE ALL MEAN
AS THE PARTY AND I CERTAINLY
MEAN AS THE PARTY LEADER, AND
THAT IS THAT WE ARE ARE GOING TO
CONTINUE TO WORK THOSE
NEIGHBORHOODS AND OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS IN MILWAUKEE.
I HAVE AN OFFICE IN MILWAUKEE
FOR YEARS.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK
THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS AND FRANKLY
WE UPTICKED A LITTLE BIT,
REPUBLICANS DID GENERALLY IN
MILWAUKEE, AND THAT'S GOING TO
CONTINUE AND FRANKLY I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT MILWAUKEE AS THE
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION
COMES TO TOWN.
SO IN FACT, I'VE BEEN MEETING ON
THIS IN THE LAST COUPLE DAYS, I
WAS IN MILWAUKEE THE LAST COUPLE
OF DAYS, SO WE'RE GOING TO
CONTINUE OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS IN
MILWAUKEE, AND I'M NOT GOING TO
GET DISTRACTED BY THOSE KIND OF
STORIES.
>> THERE IS A VERY IMPORTANT
SUPREME COURT ELECTION COMING
UP, TWO LIBERALS, TWO
CONSERVATIVES RUNNING.
DO YOU ANTICIPATE THE PARTY
GETTING INVOLVED IN THE PRIMARY?
>> NO, I CAN'T IMAGINE A
SITUATION IN WHICH WE GET
INVOLVED IN THE PRIMARY IN THE
SUPREME COURT RACE.
OF COURSE THE PRIMARY COMING ON
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST.
I THINK OUR ROLE AS THE PARTY
AND MY ROLE AS THE PARTY
CHAIRMAN STATEWIDE IS TO MAKE
SURE, PAST THAT PRIMARY, THAT
ONE OF THE CONSERVATIVES THAT WE
HOPE WILL GET THROUGH, EVERY
MODERATE TO CONSERVATIVE VOTER
IN THIS STATE OUGHT TO KNOW
ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
THE CONSERVATIVES IN THIS RACE
AND THE LIBERALS IN THIS RACE,
AND THEY ARE, IN FACT, VERY,
VERY LIBERAL.
WE SAW THAT IN THE DEBATE, THAT
HAPPENED THIS PAST WEEK, WHERE
THEY WERE COMMENTING ON CASES
THAT HAD BEEN BEFORE THE COURT
OR MAY BE BEFORE THE COURT
AGAIN.
THAT IS -- NUMBER ONE, THAT'S
FLAT OUT INAPPROPRIATE FOR THEM
TO BE COMMENTING ON THOSE CASE,
THE LIBERALS.
SO THAT'S NUMBER ONE.
BUT NUMBER TWO, I WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT FOLKS ALL ACROSS THE
STATE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN THE TWO CANDIDATE AND
THAT'S A ROLE WE'LL HELP PLAY.
>> WE'VE GOT ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT
HERE.
IN PAST SUPREME COURT ELECTIONS,
IT'S RARE TO SEE TWO
CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATES GO HEAD
TO HEAD.
IS THERE A CONCERN THAT THEY MAY
UP EACH OTHER'S NEGATIVES BY
SOME OF THE SNIPING THAT'S GOING
BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THEM AND
THEIR OPPONENTS AND EVEN THEIR
SUPPORTERS?
>> RIGHT.
THERE'S PROBABLY AS MUCH CONCERN
ON THE LIBERAL SIDE BECAUSE
THEY'RE HAVING QUITE A SHOOTOUT
ON THEIR SIDE AS WELL, KIND OF A
MILWAUKEE-BASED CANDIDATE VERSUS
A MADISON-BASED CANNED TATE.
CANDIDATE.
SO I DON'T GET A LOT OF THAT
CONCERN OUT THERE YET.
THERE MAY BE AS WE'RE A NUMBER
OF WAYS OUT FROM THE PRIMARY
YET, BUT I SUSPECT THE LIBERALS
ARE STARTING TO CUT AT EACH
OTHER A LITTLE BIT AS WELL.
SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
BUT WE'LL BE UNIFIED AFTER
FEBRUARY 21ST, THAT, I CAN TELL
YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
BRIAN SCHIMMING, THANKS FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANKS FOR INVITING ME.
>> THE PRIMARY FOR THE WISCONSIN
SUPREME COURT ELECTION IS
FEBRUARY 21ST.
IN THE COMING WEEKS, PBS
WISCONSIN WILL BE SITTING DOWN
WITH THE CANDIDATES AND BRINGING
YOU IN DEPTH INTERVIEWS.
EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE
CANDIDATES APPEARED AT A FORUM
IN MADISON.
INTRODUCING THEMSELVES TO VOTERS
AND GIVING YOU A SENSE OF WHO
THEY WOULD BE AS A JUSTICE.
>> FOR TOO LONG, PARTISANSHIP
HAS SEPARATED US SO THAT WE'RE
NOT ABLE TO HAVE THE
REPRESENTATION THAT WISCONSIN
PEOPLE NEED.
AND AS JUDGE, SINCE 2016, I'VE
LEARNED THAT JUSTICE IS NOT JUST
WHAT YOU SAY, JUSTICE IS WHAT
YOU DO.
AND I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED A
JUSTICE THAT CAN REPRESENT WHAT
THAT MEANS FOR OUR STATE.
I'VE WORKED HARD AS A JUDGE TO
BE TOUGH, BUT FAIR.
I'VE WORKED HARD TO BE PROACTIVE
IN OUR COMMUNITY RATHER THAN
REACTIVE.
>> I GOT INTO THIS RACE TO BRING
CHANGE AND COMMON SENSE BACK TO
OUR SUPREME COURT.
I STARTED THINKING ABOUT IT LAST
SPRING.
I COULD NOT SIT BACK AND WATCH
EXTREME RIGHT WING PARTISANS
HIJACK OUR SUPREME COURT.
AND THAT IS WHY I GOT INTO THIS
RACE: CHANGE AND COMMON SENSE.
>> I'M RUNNING FOR THE SUPREME
COURT BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF THIS
GREAT STATE OF WISCONSIN NEED
AND DESERVE A JUSTICE WHO WILL
UPHOLD THE RULE OF LAW, PROTECT
OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, AND
NOT INJECT THEIR POLITICAL BIAS
BY LEGISLATING FROM THE BENCH.
I HAVE A DEPTH AND A BREADTH OF
EXPERIENCE, UNLIKE ANY OTHER
CANDIDATE, AND AN UNWAVERING
COMMITMENT TO A FAIR AND
IMPARTIAL JUDICIARY.
>> WHAT I'VE HEARD A FAIR AMOUNT
THIS AFTERNOON IS MY OPPONENTS
TALKING ABOUT THEIR VALUES AND
WHAT THEY THINK THAT THE LAW
OUGHT TO DO.
THAT IS THE STEP TOWARDS THE
COMBINATION OF THE POWER OF THE
JUDICIARY AND THE LEGISLATURE.
THAT IS A STEP WE CANNOT TAKE.
>> WISCONSIN IS FACING A
SHORTAGE IN THE COURTROOM AS
STATE OFFICES ARE HAVING A
DIFFICULT TIME RECRUITING
LAWYERS FOR BOTH THE PROSECUTION
AND DEFENSE.
"HERE AND NOW" REPORTER NATHAN
DENZIN HAS THE STORY.
>> CASH BAIL IN THE AMOUNT OF
$2,000.
>> IT'S REALLY A PROBLEM THAT
HAS REACHED A CONSTITUTIONAL
CRISIS FROM BOTH PERSPECTIVES.
>> STATE OFFICIALS ARE WARNING
OF POTENTIAL MISCARRIAGES OF
JUSTICE AS WISCONSIN FACES A
SHORTAGE OF BOTH PUBLIC
DEFENDERS AND PROSECUTORS.
>> IF YOU GO TO SOME OF THESE
COUNTIES LIKE WAUSHARA COUNTY OR
SHAWANO, IT'S ANYWHERE FROM 50%
OF THEIR PROSECUTION STAFF THAT
ARE VACANT, IN ONE COUNTY RIGHT
NOW, IT'S 100% PROSECUTION STAFF
VACANCY.
>> KURT KLOMBERG IS THE DISTRICT
ATTORNEY FOR DODGE COUNTY, WHERE
HE SAYS STAFF SHORTAGES HAVE
úBEEN EXACERBATED BY A LACK OF
QUALITY CANDIDATES.
>> WE'RE GETTING VERY MINIMAL
NUMBERS OF APPLICANTS.
>> ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
COURTROOM, STATE PUBLIC DEFENDER
KELLI THOMPSON SAYS HER OFFICE
ALSO HAS STAFFING ISSUES.
>> THE SIMPLE ANSWER IS WE NEED
MORE ATTORNEYS.
WE NEED MORE ATTORNEYS ON STAFF
AND WE NEED MORE ATTORNEYS IN
THE PRIVATE BAR FOR THOSE
CONFLICT AND OVERFLOW CASES.
SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A SHORTAGE
JUST IN RECRUITMENT.
>> BOTH PROSECUTORS AND
DEFENDERS SAY THE LARGEEST GAP
FALLS IN RURAL COUNTIES WHERE
OPEN POSITIONS ARE NOT
ATTRACTING ATTORNEYS.
>> WE CURRENTLY ARE A COUNTY
THAT HAS TWO COURTS, TWO JUDGES.
WE HAVE A SINGLE PROSECUTOR, THE
ELECTED DISTRICT ATTORNEY, AND
TWO VACANT FULL TIME PROSECUTORS
POSITIONS.
>> JUDGE DUTCHER PRESIDES OVER A
COURTROOM IN RURAL WAUSHARA
COUNTY THAT HAS SEEN ATTORNEY
SHORTAGES INCREASE STEADILY FOR
ABOUT 10 YEARS.
>> WE'RE SMALLER COUNTY, WE'RE
HAVING DIFFICULTY FINDING
ATTORNEYS TO TAKE CASES, AT
TIMES HAVING TO GO THREE OR FOUR
COUNTIES REMOVED TO FIND PUBLIC
DEFENDER APPOINTMENTS OR PUBLIC
DEFENDER AVAILABILITY FOR PEOPLE
WHO HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT
TO REPRESENTATION.
>> STATE-WIDE, A MURDER CASE
TOOK ABOUT 15 MONTHS TO BE
RESOLVED IN 2021.
IN RURAL DODGE COUNTY, IT TOOK
ABOUT TWO YEARS.
>> NOW WE'RE HAVING THESE DELAYS
THAT GO ON LONGER.
AND THAT REALLY HURTS VICTIMS.
IT ALSO HURTS DEFENDANTS.
>> SINCE 2003, OVERALL WAIT
TIMES BEFORE A DECISION IS
REACHED IN FELONY CASES HAS
INCREASED BY 85%.
AND WAIT TIMES FOR MISDEMEANOR
CASES HAVE INCREASED BY 110%.
>> THE STRAIN IS SIGNIFICANT.
THE HUMAN IMPACT, THE EMOTIONAL,
THE MENTAL HEALTH PART OF THIS
IS SIGNIFICANT.
I MEAN, TO GET THOSE CALLS FROM
YOUR CLIENT TO GO SEE YOUR
CLIENT AND TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE
STRUGGLING BECAUSE THEY DON'T
HAVE INFORMATION OR THEIR CASE
ISN'T MOVING FORWARD OR THEY
DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
>> THE MAIN CAUSE OF THE
SHORTAGE?
A SALARY THAT STARTS LOW AND
DOESN'T INCREASE VERY FAST.
MOST QUALIFIED ATTORNEYS DON'T
WANT STATE DEFENDER OR
PROSECUTOR JOBS BECAUSE THEY CAN
EARN MORE AT PRIVATE FIRMS.
>> PUBLIC DEFENDERS' PAY IS TOO
LOW, AND SO WE NEED TO BOOST
THAT UP BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY,
IT'S HARD TO KEEP THEM WHEN WE
CAN'T PAY THEM ENOUGH TO, YOU
KNOW, BUY A HOME, RAISE THEIR
FAMILY, PAY THEIR STUDENT LOANS.
>> STATE ATTORNEY JOBS START AT
ABOUT $55,000 PER YEAR, WHILE
PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS TYPICALLY
START NEAR $80,000 PER YEAR.
>> WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT SIMPLY
SAYING, I CAN MAKE $25,000 MORE
PER YEAR AS A STARTING SALARY TO
SIMPLY GO AND DO THAT AS OPPOSED
TO BECOMING A STATE PROSECUTOR,
THERE'S A BUSINESS DECISION
THERE.
>> ON TOP OF LOWER PAY,
PROSECUTORS AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS
OFTEN HAVE MASSIVE CASELOADS.
KLOMBERG SAYS IT ISN'T UNUSUAL
FOR A PROSECUTOR TO JUGGLE 200
TO 300 CASES AT A TIME.
>> YOU'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO CATCH
UP.
AND SO THAT ALSO MAKES THE JOB
LESS ATTRACTIVE.
>> WHILE HIRING HAS BEEN A
PROBLEM FOR BOTH OFFICES,
RETENTION HAS ALSO BECOME AN
ISSUE.
THIS CHART SHOWS THE NUMBER OF
YEARS PROSECUTORS HAVE SPENT
ACTUALLY PROSECUTING CASES.
MOST FALL BETWEEN 1 AND 8 YEARS
OF EXPERIENCE, WHILE A FAR
SMALLER NUMBER HAVE MORE THAN 10
YEARS EXPERIENCE.
>> WHEN I CAME THROUGH THE RANKS
AS A YOUNG PROSECUTOR, THERE
WERE LITERALLY DOZENS OF VERY
SEASONED, EXPERIENCED CAREER
PROSECUTORS.
I THINK YOU SEE LESS AND LESS
PEOPLE CHOOSING PROSECUTION AS A
CAREER.
>> A LACK OF EXPERIENCE CAN
CAUSE MISTAKES IN THE COURTROOM
THAT CAN'T BE FIXED.
>> THIS IS ALSO A JOB WHERE WE
REALLY DON'T GET A LOT OF SECOND
CHANCES.
IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE, IT'S
PRETTY MUCH FINAL.
>> IN ORDER TO MAKE STATE
ATTORNEY POSITIONS MORE
ATTRACTIVE TO POTENTIAL
CANDIDATES, BOTH THE STATE
PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE AND
MANY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S ARE
PETITIONING THE STATE GOVERNMENT
FOR A HIGHER STARTING SALARY.
>> THE STATE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
DID A STUDY RECENTLY, AND THE
WISCONSIN DA'S ASSOCIATION,
WHICH I'M THE PAST PRESIDENT OF,
IS PROMOTING A SALARY POINT IN
THE MID 70s.
>> KLOMBERG SAYS A $70,000
STARTING SALARY WOULD LIKELY
BOOST THE NUMBER OF PROSECUTORS
TO ACCEPTABLE LEVELS.
ON THE DEFENDER'S SIDE, THE
STATE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN ASKED
TO INCREASE PAY FOR PRIVATE BAR
ATTORNEYS FROM $70 PER HOUR TO
$125 PER HOUR FOR IN-COURT WORK
AND $100 PER HOUR FOR OUT OF
COURT WORK.
>> WE NEED TO EITHER BE AT THAT
OR ABOVE THAT SO THAT WE CAN
CONTINUE TO TAKE THAT BURDEN OFF
OF THE COUNTY.
>> WHILE INCREASED STARTING
SALARIES WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT IN
THE LONG TERM, KLOMBERG AND
THOMPSON SAY FEDERAL FUNDS
SHOULD BE USED TO TEMPORARILY
RAISE SALARIES.
>> THERE IS A LIMITED AMOUNT OF
FUNDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE RIGHT
NOW BECAUSE OF THE ARPA MONEY
THAT HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE,
BUT FOR THE MOST PART, IT HAS TO
BE ONLY IN EXTREME SITUATIONS.
>> AS THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS
SET TO MEET AND DECIDE
WISCONSIN'S NEXT BUDGET, FUNDING
FOR THE JUSTICE SYSTEM WILL BE
AT THE TOP OF ATTORNEYS' MINDS.
>> THERE'S AN EXPRESSION THAT
OFTEN GETS USED THAT JUST
DISDELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED,
AND THAT APPLIES FRANKLY TO
EVERYONE WHO'S INVOLVED WITH
THIS TYPE OF CIRCUMSTANCE.
>> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M
NATHAN DENZIN.
>> SINCE WE FIRST SPOKE WITH
KURT KLOMBERG, HE RESIGNED AS
THE DODGE COUNTY DISTRICT
ATTORNEY.
KLOMBERG SENT AN EMAIL TO
COLLEAGUES ANNOUNCING HE WAS
STEPPING DOWN AS OF JANUARY 13TH
AND HEART BROKEN OVER THE
COLLAPSE OF THE DODGE COUNTY
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.
AFTER RETIREMENTS, RESIGNATIONS
AND NO NEW FULL-TIME ATTORNEYS
ACCEPTING POSITIONS.
>> THAT LEFT ME ALONE TO DO THE
WORK OF SIX ATTORNEYS AFTER
FEBRUARY 1ST, AND MY FAMILY HAS
MADE MANY, MANY SACRIFICES FOR
ME TO DO THIS WORK WHEN WE WERE
FULLY SPHAFFED, I WAS LEAVING STAFFED, I WAS
LEAVING BEFORE MY CHILDREN WOULD
BARELY GET UP IN THE MORNING AND
I WAS COMING HOME AFTER THEY
WENT TO BED AND I SAW NO END IN
SIGHT.
I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT MY OWN
HEALTH.
AND ALSO THE FACT THAT I CAN'T
DO THAT AMOUNT OF WORK WITHOUT
COMMITTING SERIOUS MALPRACTICE,
AND I JUST FACED THE REALITY
THAT I HAD TO LOOK FOR OTHER
EMPLOYMENT.
I'M GOING TO STILL BE A
PROSECUTOR, AND I'M GOING TO AN
OFFICE THAT IS SMALLER, IS
WELL-STAFFED, AND I'M GOING TO
BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PRACTICE
LAW AND DO THIS WORK.
I JUST -- I JUST CAN'T DO IT
HERE.
>> GOVERNOR EVERS MADE ANOTHER
APPOINTMENT TO THE DNR BOARD
THIS WEEK, SELECTING PRESIDENT PAUL BUHR,
A DAIRY FARMER FROM VIROQUA.
EVERS' APPOINTEES WILL NOW
CONTROL THE BOARD 5-2 AND WITH
THE SEATS VACANT, THE APPOINTEES
CAN SERVE WHILE THEY AWAIT
SENATE CONFIRMATION.
THE NEXT BILLION-DOLLAR ROAD
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN
MILWAUKEE IS MOVING FORWARD.
BUT THERE'S STILL TIME FOR THE
PUBLIC TO PROVIDE INPUT TO THE
STATE AND OPPONENTS ARE HOPING
TO CHANGE THE PLAN.
THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION ANNOUNCED LAST
FALL THEIR PLAN TO EXPAND THE
INTERSTATE 94 CORRIDOR TO EIGHT
LANES.
THAT STRETCH RUNS FROM
WEST ALLIS PAST AMERICAN FAMILY
FIELD TOWARDS THE DOWNTOWN.
THE STATE HAS STUDIED EXPANSION
FOR THE LAST DECADE, BUT FORMER
GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER KILLED OFF
THE PROJECT IN 2016, THEN
GOVERNOR EVERS REVIVED IT.
THAT HAS ANGERED A COALITION OF
GROUPS WHO OPPOSE EXPANSION AND
WOULD PREFER TO SEE THE ROAD
STAY AT SIX LANES.
JOINING US NOW IS MEMBER OF ONE
OF THOSE OPPOSITION GROUPS,
REVEREND DR. RICHARD SHAW.
PRESIDENT OF MILWAUKEE INNER
CITY CONGREGATION'S ALLIED FOR
HOPE.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NOW WHAT IS THE MAIN
OPPOSITION THAT YOUR GROUP HAS
TO EXPANDING THAT STRETCH OF
ROAD TO EIGHT LANES?
>> THE -- I WOULD SAY THE
PRIMARY OPPOSITION WOULD BE
IGNORING THE PUBLIC TRANSIT
ISSUES THAT WE HAVE WHEREAS SOME
OF THAT FUNDING OR A GOOD BIT OF
IT WOULD BETTER BENEFIT OR
BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS OF
MILWAUKEE IN TERMS OF HELPING
THEM GET FROM NEIGHBORHOOD TO
NEIGHBORHOOD, PUTTING THOSE
FUNDS INTO THAT STRETCH FROM
27TH TO NATIONAL.
WE'RE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE
ENVIRONMENT.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT EXPANDING
TO EIGHT LANES, WHICH WILL
INCREASE EMISSIONS, IT WILL ALSO
INCREASE SALT AND CONTAMINATE
THE LAND, SO THERE ARE VARIOUS
THINGS BUT FOR THE MOST PART, IT
DOES NOT BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS
OF MILWAUKEE AS MUCH AS IT WOULD
THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE SUBURBAN
AREAS, WHO ARE -- WHO AIM TO GET
DOWNTOWN TO WORK AND FOR
ENTERTAINMENT.
SO THOSE FUNDS COULD JUST BE
BETTER SPENT.
>> NOW, MILWAUKEE'S MILWAUKEE'S INTERSTATE
SYSTEM IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN WHITE
FLIGHT FROM THE CITY TO THE
SUBURBS WITH THE ORIGINAL
HIGHWAYS OFTEN BULLDOZING BLACK
NEIGHBORHOODS.
DO YOU SEE THIS PROJECT AS A
CONTINUATION OF THAT HISTORY, OF
WHO IT SERVES?
>> YES, YES, DEFINITELY.
IT'S SERVING THOSE WHO LIVE IN
THE SUBURBS AS WELL AS THE
EXBURBS TO BE ABLE TO, AGAIN,
GET INTO MILWAUKEE AND TO, YOU
KNOW, ENJOY DOWNTOWN.
WHEN WE DISRUPT NEIGHBORHOODS
THAT ARE ALREADY POOR AND THOSE
THAT ARE ALREADY FACING
CHALLENGES, IT ACTUALLY MAKES IT
HARDER ON EVERYONE.
AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TRYING
TO PROVIDE MEANS FOR PEOPLE TO
GET TO WORK AND TO GET TO
DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS, AGAIN,
THOSE FUNDS COULD BE BETTER
INVESTED IN IMPROVING THE
TRANSIT SYSTEM IN MILWAUKEE, AND
SO YES, IT IS NOT DIRECTLY
IMPACTING IN A POSITIVE WAY OR A
POSITIVE IMPACT AT ALL FOR
PEOPLE OF COLOR LIVING IN
MILWAUKEE.
>> NOW THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION STUDIED A
PROPOSAL TO RE-DO THAT SECTION
OF INTERSTATE, BUT TO KEEP IT AT
SIX LANES AS YOUR COALITION HAD
ASKED FOR BUT DETERMINED IT
WOULD HAVE ABOUT THE SAME COST
AND NOT PROVIDE THE LONG TERM
UPGRADES FOR EFFICIENCY.
HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?
>> AGAIN, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT
COST.
IT'S ABOUT WHAT IT WILL DO TO
THE ENVIRONMENT AS WELL.
AND FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, STILL
TRYING TO KEEP THAT IN THERE IS
NOT ALLOWING ADEQUATE FUNDS TO
BENEFIT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN
MILWAUKEE AND IN THAT ROUTE.
>> NOW, THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION PLAN DOES ALLOW
FOR $25 MILLION TO GO TOWARDS
UPGRADED TRANSIT FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION PERIOD TO HELP
PEOPLE THAT ARE IMPACTED BY
THAT.
THAT'S OPPOSED TO A $1.2 BILLION
COST.
IF THERE WAS MORE MONEY IN THAT
PLAN FOR TRANSIT, WOULD THIS
BECOME MORE ACCEPTABLE?
>> YOU KNOW, A TEMPORARY
SOLUTION IS NOT GOING TO WORK.
YES, THOSE FUNDS WILL
TEMPORARILY HELP THE TRANSIT
SYSTEM, BUT IT'S NOT A PERMANENT
FIX.
AND WHAT GOOD IS TO INVEST THIS
MON HE'LL IN SOMETHINGMONEY IN SOMETHING THAT IS
TEMPORARY WHEN WE CAN DO
SOMETHING THAT CAN MAKE A
PERMANENT IMPACT ON THE
RESIDENTS OF MILWAUKEE,
ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO WILL BE
IMPACTED DIRECTLY BY THIS
CONSTRUCTION?
>> HOW DO YOU FEEL THAT IT WAS
GOVERNOR EVERS AND HIS
ADMINISTRATION THAT GAVE THIS
EXPANSION THE GREEN LIGHT WHEN
THE PROJECT WAS DEAD?
>> WELL, WHETHER IT WAS GOVERNOR
EVERS OR ANY PAST GOVERNOR, WE
HAVE TO ADVOCATE FOR THOSE WHO
ARE IMPACTED NEGATIVELY.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT SIDE OF
THE POLITICAL FENCE THAT THEY'RE
ON.
AND SO I WOULD HOPE THAT
GOVERNOR EVERS WOULD ACTUALLY
TAKE A STANCE ON THIS OR DO
MORE, SPEAK OUT ON IT AND
SUPPORT THIS EFFORT OF FIXED AT
SIX, BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS
DIRECTLY NEGATIVELY IMPACTS THE
RESIDENTS OF MILWAUKEE,
ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE ALONG
THAT ROUTE.
>> AND THE PROPOSAL THAT YOU
WOULD LIKE TO SEE, THE SO CALLED
FIX AT SIX, STILL UPGRADES THE
INTERSTATE SO IT'S NOT LEAVING
IT IN ITS CURRENT STATE, IT'S
JUST THE EXPANSION THAT'S THE
PRIMARY OPPOSITION HERE?
>> YES.
AND MY -- SUPPORTS THIS BECAUSE
JUST BRINGING THE HIGHWAYS UP TO
STANDARD, MAKING THE NECESSARY
REPAIRS WILL STILL BRING JOBS,
IT WILL STILL ALLOW PERSONS TO
TRAVEL.
I'VE LIVED IN ATLANTA, I'VE
LIVED IN CHICAGO.
AND I'VE EXPERIENCED THE EIGHT
LANES.
AND SO ALL OF THEM BECOME
PARKING LOTS.
SO EXPANDING TO EIGHT LANES WILL
NOT BENEFIT TRANSPORTATION TO
AND FRO, MILWAUKEE TO THE
SUBURBS.
BUT YES, WE BELIEVE THAT IT CAN
BE DONE WITH THE SIX LANES, JUST
INVEST THE MONEY, PUT IT INTO
THAT, CREATE OTHER THINGS THAT
CAN BENEFIT MILWAUKEE RESIDENTS.
>> JUST A COUPLE SECONDS LEFT.
WHAT DO YOU WANT THE PUBLIC TO
SAY DURING THIS OPEN COMMENT
PERIOD?
>> I WANT US TO SAY BUT ALSO
THINK, THINK ABOUT HUMANITY AND
PEOPLE.
I KNOW THAT IT LOOKS GOOD FROM
THE OUTSIDE, IT GIVES THE
IMPRESSION OF ADVANCEMENT FOR A
CITY, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY,
THE MARGINALIZED WHO ARE
SPEAKING BUT THEY'RE NOT BEING
HEARD, THOSE WHO ARE SAYING,
LISTEN, WE NEED TRANSPORTATION,
SAFE TRANSPORTATION WITHIN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS, AND SO THIS IS
WHAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO
SPEAK OUT ON.
NOT NECESSARILY YOUR CONVENIENCE
TO GET AGAIN FROM THE SUBURBS TO
DOWNTOWN, BUT CONSIDER HUMANITY
AND CONSIDER THE LEAST OF THESE.
>> ALL RIGHT, REVEREND
DR. RICHARD SHAW, THANKS FOR
YOUR TIME TODAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN
DORT.ORG AND CLICK ON THE NEWS
TAP.
THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
FREDERICA FREYBERG WILL BE BACK
NEXT WEEK.
I'M ZAC SCHULTZ.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
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