Life Lessons And Relationship Advice, Paying Wisconsin’s Public Defenders

Air Date:
Heard On The Morning Show
Milwaukee County Courthouse
Coburn Dukehart/Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

A proposal in Wisconsin moves the rate for public defenders from the lowest in the nation to $70 per hour. We talk about why Wisconsin’s public defender pay is so low and how it affects clients. Plus, relationship advice. We learn about all kinds of love this Valentine’s Day.

Featured in this Show

  • What A Relationship Columnist Can Tell Us About Ourselves

    While February 14 is generally associated with romantic love, we look at all of its varieties with a relationship columnist. She takes us through the questions readers ask her about most, and tells us what she thinks this says about the way people experience their family, their friends, and themselves.

  • How Low Compensation For Public Defenders Is Impacting Wisconsin

    Wisconsinā€™s rate of pay for private attorneys taking on public defense cases is the lowest in the nation at $40 per hour. Now, as part of a budget proposal package from a coalition of criminal justice agencies, the State Public Defenderā€™s office is requesting that the rate be increased to $70 per hour. We look at whatā€™s behind the stateā€™s low public defender pay rate, and how itā€™s impacting clients who canā€™t afford a lawyer. We also look at a new federal lawsuit stemming from the public defender shortage, and why the plaintiffs say their constitutional rights are being violated.

Episode Credits

  • Kate Archer Kent Host
  • Laura Pavin Producer
  • Chris Malina Producer
  • Elizabeth Bernstein Guest
  • Danielle Kaeding Guest