Documents
- 2022-08-23 -- Complaint
- 2022-12-16 -- Amended Complaint
- 2023-02-01 -- Memo in Support of Plaintiffs’ Motion for Class Certification
- 2023-09-21 -- Order Denying Defense Motion to Dimiss
- 2023-09-21 -- Order Denying Plaintiff's Motion for Class Certification
- 2025-01-10 -- Memo in Support of Renewed Motion for Class Certification
- 2026-01-13 -- Order Denying Plaintiff’s Renewed Motion for Class Certification
The suit alleges violations of the right to counsel and requests class certification on behalf of all individuals in the state waiting 14 days or more to have a lawyer assigned to their case. Relief sought includes:
- Declaring the delay in appointing counsel violates the United States and Wisconsin Constitutions.
- Enjoining the state from administering the current public defense system insofar as it deprives eligible individuals from timely receiving counsel.
- Directing the establishment of a constitutional public defense system.
- Directing the State Public Defender to move to dismiss the cases of those without counsel on the basis that their right to counsel is violated when counsel is not promptly provided.
Key Events
- 2022-Aug-23 -- Complaint
- 2022-Oct-10 -- Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss
- 2022-Dec-16 -- Amended Complaint
- 2023-Jan-30 -- Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Amended Complaint
- 2023-Feb-01 -- Motion for Class Certification
- 2023-Mar-17 -- Plaintiff's Opposition to Motion to Dismiss
- 2023-Mar-29 -- Defendant’s Reply - Motion to Dismiss Amended Complaint
- 2023-Mar-29 -- Defendant’s Brief in Opposition to Class Certification
- 2023-Apr-17 -- Plaintiff’s Reply in Support of Motion for Class Certification
- 2023-Jun-27 -- Plaintiff’s Motion for Particularized Discovery
- 2023-Jul-06 -- Defendant’s Motion Opposing Particularized Discovery
- 2023-Jul-12 -- Order for Additional Briefing on Impact of Budget
- 2023-Jul-31 -- Defendant’s Brief on Impact of the 2023-25 Budget
- 2023-Aug-15 -- Plaintiff’s Brief on the Impact of the 2023-25 Budget
- 2023-Aug-22 -- Defendant’s Reply Brief on Impact of Budget
- 2023-Sept-21 -- Order Denying Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss
- 2023-Sept-21 -- Order Denying Plaintiff’s Motion for Class Certification
- 2023-Oct-30 -- Defendant’s Answer and Defenses to Amended Complaint
- 2023-Oct-31 -- Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel Discovery
- 2023-Nov-29 -- Defendant’s Opposition to Motion to Compel Discovery
- 2023-Dec-13 -- Plaintiff’s Reply - Motion to Compel Discovery
- 2024-Mar-14 -- Order on Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel Discovery
- 2025-Jan-10 -- Plaintiff's Renewed Motion for Class Certification
- 2026-Jan-13 -- Order Denying Motion for Class Certification
- 2026-Jan-27 -- Plaintiff's Notice of Appeal filed
Media Coverage
- NACDL Press Release, Aug. 23, 2022
- Defendants to appeal judge's denial of class action status in lawyer shortage case, by Brian Kehrin, Fox News (Jan. 28, 2026)
- 'It corrupts our justice system': Lawsuit remains, as Wisconsin public defender shortage persists, by Meghan Carpenter, Spectrum 1 News (Jan. 23, 2025)
- Video: The Sixth: Public Defender Shortage by Andy Pierrotti, Investigate TV (Dec. 5, 2022)
- Shortage in public defense attorneys delay court proceedings for defendants by Daniel Gomez, WEAU News (Dec. 8, 2022)
- Podcast: Public Defenseless, The Class Action Law Suit Pushing for Major Changes to Wisconsin Public Defense w/John Birdsall and Hank Schultz (Oct. 2022)
- Defendants waiting too long for public defenders are entitled to dismissal of charges, suit says by Debra Cassens Weiss, ABA Journal (Aug. 25, 2022)
- Class action lawsuit calls out lack of state public defenders by Evan Casey, Wisconsin Public Radio (Aug. 24, 2022)
Other NACDL work in Wisconsin
State v. Nhia Lee
- WI Court of Appeals Opinion (Jan. 2021)
- NACDL Amicus Brief in Support of Nhia Lee (Aug. 2021)
- WI Supreme Court Order (May 2022)
-
Bail Manual
Wisconsin (Oct 2018) -
Public Comment
Supporting Assigned Counsel Rate Increase (May 2018)

