Contact: Lisa Roys

State Bar of Wisconsin

(608) 250–6128

lroys@wisbar.org

The State Bar of Wisconsin issued the following statement in response to the Joint Committee on Finance adopting criminal justice funding initiatives for the 2019-2020 budget:

The State Bar applauds the inclusion of provisions in this budget that provide an increase in the rate paid to private attorneys who take public defender cases to $70 per hour—a rate that has remained stagnant at $40 per hour since 1995. The rate increase will begin to address the shortage of attorneys willing to take these important criminal defense cases. We look forward to continuing to work with our members, state lawmakers, the court and all stakeholders to preserve and improve equitable access to justice in Wisconsin.

– Christopher E. Rogers, President

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