Lawyers not named Kratz. Wish I had known about this earlier . . .
On Thursday, Sept. 30, 1,286 Wisconsin residents are filing a petition with the Wisconsin Supreme Court, asking the court to issue a rule that would require a judge to appoint counsel for a poor person where a case is complicated and involves fundamental rights, and when a poor person is not able represent himself or herself. The petition will be filed at the Wisconsin Supreme Court clerk’s office in Madison following a press conference on the East steps of the Capitol at noon (facing King Street). Speakers will include:
• E. Michael McCann, former Milwaukee County District Attorney
• Hon. James Gramling, former Chief Judge of the Milwaukee Municipal Court
• John F. Ebbott, Executive Director of Legal Action of Wisconsin
• Tom Cannon, Executive Director of the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee
• Rev. John Jacobs, pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church in Milwaukee.
The petition can be viewed at http://www.wisgideon.com/petition.html.
A press release with more information is attached.
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“Poor People Desperately Need Lawyers”
On September 30, 1,286 Wisconsinites Will Petition the Wisconsin Supreme Court For a Rule Expanding the Right to Counsel in Civil Cases
MILWAUKEE, Sept. 27, 2010 – If you can’t afford a lawyer, chances are you won’t get justice.
Each year, tens of thousands of low-income Wisconsin residents are hauled into court, or must turn to the courts as their only remedy, to litigate over such fundamental things as their children, their homes and their incomes.
Without a lawyer to help them navigate the complicated legal process, most of these people don’t have a fair chance to be heard, let alone to prevail. They need a lawyer in the courtroom, just as they need a doctor in the operating room.
What’s more, their inexperience with the legal system causes huge problems for the courts themselves: difficulties for judges, repeat court appearances and delays. These problems add to court expenses and increase the workload of the courts.
On Thursday, Sept. 30, 1,286 Wisconsin residents are filing a petition with the Wisconsin Supreme Court, asking the court to issue a rule that would require a judge to appoint counsel for a poor person where a case is complicated and involves fundamental rights, and when a poor person is not able represent himself or herself.
The petition will be filed at the Wisconsin Supreme Court clerk’s office in Madison following a press conference on the East steps of the Capitol at noon (facing King Street). Speakers will include:
• E. Michael McCann, former Milwaukee County District Attorney
• Hon. James Gramling, former Chief Judge of the Milwaukee Municipal Court
• John F. Ebbott, Executive Director of Legal Action of Wisconsin
• Tom Cannon, Executive Director of the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee
• Rev. John Jacobs, pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church in Milwaukee.
The petition can be viewed at http://www.wisgideon.com/petition.html.
“Poor people desperately need lawyers,” said John Ebbott, executive director of Legal Action of Wisconsin and a member of the Wisconsin Right to Counsel Task Force.
While there are numerous efforts in Wisconsin to provide some help to poor people, such as clinics where people are helped to fill out legal forms, “we’re kidding ourselves if we think that’s enough,” Ebbott said. ”The first time a question comes up in a courtroom that requires knowledge of the law, the person without a lawyer is in trouble. Why have a legal system if it only works for those with money?”
“It’s time for action,” Ebbott said. “We’ve described the problem long enough – now we need to fix it.”
Appointed lawyers in civil cases can be paid for from existing funds, particularly the Court Support Services Surcharge, according to Ebbott. In 2007-08, this surcharge generated $51.7 million. Only $24.8 million went back to the courts; $22.3 million funded other state activities. Thus nearly half of this surcharge is not being used for its original purpose: to support the courts.
This money could clearly be used to fund appointed lawyers, Ebbott said. “This will also improve court efficiency, and thus save much money in court resources.”
