STATE PUBLIC DEFENDER
977.04 Board; restrictions.
977.05 State public defender.
977.06 Indigency determinations; redeterminations; verification; collection.
977.07 Determination of indigency.
977.075 Payment for legal representation.
977.077 Deposit of payments received.
977.08 Appointment of counsel.
977.085 Quarterly report procedure.
977.09 Confidentiality of files.
Ch. 977 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See definitions in s.
967.02.
Ch. 977 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also
PD, Wis. adm. code.
977.01
977.01
Definitions. In this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise:
977.01(1)
(1) "Board" means the public defender board.
977.01 History
History: 1977 c. 29;
2003 a. 33 ss.
1913,
2776,
2777.
977.02
977.02
Board; duties. The board shall:
977.02(1)
(1) Appoint the state public defender and establish the state public defender's salary under
s. 20.923.
977.02(2)
(2) Submit the budget of the state public defender to the governor after such budget is submitted to the board by the state public defender and approved by the board.
977.02(2m)
(2m) Promulgate rules regarding eligibility for legal services under this chapter, including legal services for children who are entitled to be represented by counsel without a determination of indigency, as provided in
s. 48.23 (4).
977.02(3)
(3) Promulgate rules regarding the determination of indigency of persons entitled to be represented by counsel, other than children who are entitled to be represented by counsel under
s. 48.23 or
938.23, including the time period in which the determination must be made and the criteria to be used to determine indigency and partial indigency.
977.02(4)
(4) Promulgate rules regarding the determination of payments required of persons found to be indigent in part.
977.02(4m)
(4m) Promulgate rules for payments to the state public defender under
s. 977.075.
977.02(5)
(5) Promulgate rules establishing procedures to assure that representation of indigent clients by the private bar at the initial stages of cases assigned under this chapter is at the same level as the representation provided by the state public defender.
977.02(6)
(6) Promulgate rules to accommodate the handling of certain potential conflict of interest cases by the office of the state public defender. The rules shall not provide for the automatic referral of all potential conflict of interest cases to private counsel.
977.02(7)
(7) Review decisions of the state public defender regarding bill payments, as provided under
s. 977.08 (4). The board may affirm, modify or reject the decision of the state public defender.
977.02(7m)
(7m) Establish agreements with the state bar association, local bar associations, law firms and private counsel designed to encourage a certain amount of legal representation under this chapter without compensation as a service to the state.
977.02(7r)(a)(a) Promulgate rules to allow the reduction of payment rates for cases assigned by the state public defender under
s. 977.08 (4m) for any of the following:
977.02(7r)(a)1.
1. A reduction of not more than $2 per hour for time spent in court.
977.02(7r)(a)2.
2. A reduction of not more than $2 per hour for time spent out of court, excluding travel.
977.02(7r)(b)
(b) Any reduction under
par. (a) applies to cases assigned on or after the effective date of the applicable rule promulgated under
par. (a).
977.02(8)
(8) Perform all other duties necessary and incidental to the performance of any duty enumerated in this chapter.
977.02 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also
PD, Wis. adm. code.
977.03(1)(1) The board may remove the state public defender pursuant to the procedure under
s. 977.05 (2). The board may enter into contracts with federal governmental agencies and local public defender organizations for the provision of legal services under this chapter.
977.03(2)
(2) The board may promulgate rules to establish exceptions to limiting the amount that may be reimbursed for investigative or expert services under
s. 977.05 (4r).
977.03(3)
(3) The state public defender may establish procedures by rule under which the state public defender may appoint attorneys without regard to
s. 977.08 (3) (c) and
(d) based on the state public defender's evaluation of the attorneys' performance.
977.03 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also
PD, Wis. adm. code.
977.04
977.04
Board; restrictions. The board shall not make any decision regarding the handling of any case nor interfere with the state public defender or any member of his or her staff in carrying out professional duties.
977.04 History
History: 1977 c. 29.
977.05
977.05
State public defender. 977.05(1)
(1)
Appointment. The board shall appoint a state public defender, who shall be a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin. The state public defender shall serve for a period of 5 years and shall continue until a successor is appointed, except that at the conclusion of the 5-year term of the state public defender in office as of July 1, 1980, the state public defender shall be appointed to serve at the pleasure of the board. He or she shall devote full time to the performance of duties as state public defender.
977.05(2)
(2) Removal. During a 5-year term commencing prior to July 1, 1980, the state public defender may be discharged only for cause by the board after a public hearing. If the state public defender is serving at the pleasure of the board, he or she is subject to removal under
s. 17.07.
977.05(3)
(3) Salary. The salary of the state public defender shall not be decreased while he or she serves in that position.
977.05(4)
(4) Duties. The state public defender shall:
977.05(4)(a)
(a) Supervise the operation, activities, policies and procedures of the office of the state public defender.
977.05(4)(am)
(am) Establish a case management system for use by the trial and appellate staff attorneys of the office of the state public defender. The system shall require the attorneys to record time spent on each case and to classify or describe the type of work done.
977.05(4)(b)
(b) Be the chief legal officer of the office of the state public defender and make all final decisions regarding the disposition of any case handled by the office.
977.05(4)(c)
(c) Prepare and submit to the board for its approval the biennial budget of the office of the state public defender.
977.05(4)(cm)
(cm) Appoint one deputy, the number of division administrators specified in
s. 230.08 (2) (e) 8m. and all staff attorneys in the unclassified service and appoint all other employees in the classified service.
977.05(4)(d)
(d) Prepare and submit to the board for its approval such personnel and employment policies as the board shall require.
977.05(4)(e)
(e) Prepare and submit to the board and such other persons as may be appropriate an annual report of the activities of the office in such form as the board shall direct.
977.05(4)(f)
(f) Determine when and where it is necessary to establish offices for the state public defender and arrange for the rental of such space consistent with the policy and procedure of the department of administration.
977.05(4)(g)
(g) In accordance with the standards under
pars. (h) and
(j), accept referrals from judges, courts or appropriate state agencies for the determination of indigency of persons who claim or appear to be indigent. If a referral is accepted and if the person is determined to be indigent in full or in part, the state public defender shall appoint counsel in accordance with contracts and policies of the board, and inform the referring judge, court or agency of the name and address of the specific attorney who has been assigned to the case.
977.05(4)(gm)
(gm) In accordance with the standards under
pars. (h) and
(i), accept referrals from judges and courts for the provision of legal services without a determination of indigency of children who are entitled to be represented by counsel under
s. 48.23 or
938.23, appoint counsel in accordance with contracts and policies of the board and inform the referring judge or court of the name and address of the specific attorney who has been assigned to the case.
977.05(4)(h)
(h) Accept requests for legal services from children who are entitled to be represented by counsel under
s. 48.23 or
938.23 and from indigent persons who are entitled to be represented by counsel under
s. 967.06 or who are otherwise so entitled under the constitution or laws of the United States or this state and provide such persons with legal services when, in the discretion of the state public defender, such provision of legal services is appropriate.
977.05(4)(i)2.
2. Cases involving persons charged with a felony not specified under
subd. 1.
977.05(4)(i)3.
3. Cases involving persons charged with a misdemeanor that is punishable by imprisonment but is not specified under
subd. 1.
977.05(4)(i)4.
4. Cases involving persons subject to emergency detention or involuntary civil commitment under
ch. 51.
977.05(4)(i)5.
5. Cases involving children who are entitled to counsel or are provided counsel at the discretion of the court under
s. 48.23 or
938.23.
977.05(4)(i)7.
7. Cases involving paternity determinations, as specified under
s. 767.52, in which the state is the petitioner under
s. 767.45 (1) (g) or in which the action is commenced on behalf of the child by an attorney appointed under
s. 767.045 (1) (c).
977.05(4)(j)
(j) Subject to
sub. (6) (e) and
(f), at the request of any person determined by the state public defender to be indigent or upon referral of any court, prosecute a writ of error, appeal, action or proceeding for habeas corpus or other postconviction or post-commitment remedy on behalf of the person before any court, if the state public defender determines the case should be pursued. The state public defender must pursue the case of any indigent person entitled to counsel under
s. 971.17 (7) (b) 1. or
980.03 (2) (a).
977.05(4)(jm)
(jm) At the request of an inmate determined by the state public defender to be indigent or upon referral of a court under
s. 302.113 (9g) (j), represent the inmate in proceedings for modification of a bifurcated sentence under
s. 302.113 (9g) before a program review committee and the sentencing court, if the state public defender determines the case should be pursued.
977.05(4)(k)
(k) Represent members of the staff of the office of the state public defender who are named as defendants in lawsuits arising from their duties within the office. The attorney general may also, if appropriate, represent such staff members in such litigation. In cases where a member could be represented by either the public defender or the attorney general, the public defender shall determine who shall represent the member.
977.05(4)(L)
(L) Commence actions in the name of the state public defender or any client or group of clients to seek declaratory judgment on any matter of concern to persons being represented by the office.
977.05(4)(m)
(m) Perform all other duties necessary or incidental to the performance of any duty enumerated in this chapter.
977.05(4r)(a)(a) The state public defender may not provide reimbursement for investigative or expert services provided in a case assigned to a staff attorney or to private counsel under
s. 977.08 unless the staff attorney or private counsel has received authorization from the state public defender to retain an investigator or expert.
977.05(4r)(b)
(b) An authorization under
par. (a) shall state a maximum amount that may be reimbursed, and the state public defender may not pay more than that amount except as allowed under the rules promulgated under
s. 977.03 (2).
977.05(5)
(5) Powers. The state public defender may:
977.05(5)(a)
(a) Delegate the legal representation of any person to any member of the State Bar of Wisconsin certified under
s. 977.08.
977.05(5)(b)
(b) Designate persons as representatives of the state public defender for the purpose of making indigency determinations and appointing counsel, if applicable.
977.05(5)(c)
(c) Negotiate contracts with the United States or any executive, legislative or judicial branch thereof to provide legal services to persons appearing before the federal district courts located in this state or who are incarcerated in federal custody in this state and to take whatever legal action such representation requires, including appeal or the commencement of any appropriate original actions.
977.05(5)(d)
(d) Negotiate contracts with local public defender organizations as directed by the board.
977.05(5)(e)
(e) Sponsor conferences and training for attorneys and may charge tuition for attendance at the conferences and training. All moneys received shall be deposited in
s. 20.550 (1) (i).
977.05(6)(a)(a) The state public defender may not provide legal services or assign counsel for cases involving a person subject to contempt of court proceedings involving the alleged failure of the person to pay a forfeiture to a county or municipality.
