"Our attorneys are drowning."
That's a quote from the
Wisconsin State Public Defender
after the state Senate adjourned
without taking up a bill
to fund 52 new positions
including
18 additional attorneys.
What are the consequences
of not having enough people
to timely defend everyone
who needs it?
People wait in custody longer.
Right? Cases go longer
without having a lawyer.
So we have had clients
sitting in custody
prior to a preliminary hearing
which they're entitled
to have within 10 days
if they're in custody
20 days if they're
out of custody
and they're sitting there
without a lawyer
because there's no lawyer
to take their case.
You also have cases
in the system longer, right?
So cases that might have
resolved
six months to nine months
pre-pandemic
now we're waiting longer
to resolve or
longer to even get an attorney.
So there's a lot of delay
in both getting
a client or lawyer.
There's a lot of delay
in resolving a case
which could have an impact
on both the system
as well as the individuals who
you know
the complaining witnesses
in a case
the people that have gone
to the police for help.
It delays the case
for them also.