Wisconsin Justice Initiative
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Court Watch
Bail Jumping Charges Soar in Some Counties
Jul 20th, 2018 by Gretchen Schuldt
Iowa, Chippewa and Eau Claire counties the worst, but Milwaukee has many, too.
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Court Watch
The Plague of Bail Jumping Charges
Jul 12th, 2018 by Gretchen Schuldt
134% increase in such charges in state since 2000 may force innocent people to plead guilty.
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Court Watch
State ‘Cocaine Mom’ Law Reinstated
Jun 25th, 2018 by Margo Kirchner
Federal court overrules state court decision voiding law allowing jailing of drug-using mothers.
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Court Watch
Judge Overrules Traffic Stop Arrest
Jun 18th, 2018 by Gretchen Schuldt
Milwaukee police officers had no grounds for interrogating driver, appeals judge rules.
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County Board Okays Pot Referendum
May 25th, 2018 by Gretchen Schuldt
Hope is that advisory referendum will push state legislators to act.
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Court Watch
Offense At Age Nine a Felony?
May 23rd, 2018 by Gretchen Schuldt
State high court approves adult felony charge though offender then said to be eight or nine.
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Court Watch
Just 13% of City’s Pot Cases Involve Whites
![Marijuana plant. Photo by Jennifer Martin (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.](https://urbanmilwaukee.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Marijuana_Plant_03-185x122.jpg)
May 15th, 2018 by Gretchen Schuldt
Blacks and Hispanics make up 57% of city population but 86% of pot cases in 2017.
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Court Watch
36 Judges Call for Defense Lawyer Pay Hikes
![Milwaukee County Courthouse. Photo by The original uploader was Sulfur at English Wikipedia [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://urbanmilwaukee.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/1024px-Milwaukee_County_Courthouse-185x122.jpg)
May 13th, 2018 by Gretchen Schuldt
Circuit judges from 18 counties cite difficulties finding lawyers for indigent defendants.
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Court Watch
State Incarcerations Surpass National Average
May 9th, 2018 by Gretchen Schuldt
Wisconsin now imprisons a higher percent of people than national average and neighboring states.
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Court Watch
Public Defenders Group Backs Higher Lawyer Fees
May 3rd, 2018 by Gretchen Schuldt
List of attorneys in state willing to defend indigent clients declines 16% in last five years.
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Court Watch
Attorney Fees Challenge Ashland County
![Ashland County Courthouse. Photo by Billertl [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons](https://urbanmilwaukee.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/1024px-Ashland_County_Courthouse1-185x122.jpg)
Apr 23rd, 2018 by Gretchen Schuldt
Most lawyers won’t work for $40 per hour, some came from La Crosse, 250 miles away.
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Court Watch
State Bar Backs Pay Hike for Appointed Lawyers
![Gavel. Image by StockMonkeys.com (Flickr: 3D Judges Gavel) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.](https://urbanmilwaukee.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/1024px-3D_Judges_Gavel-185x122.jpg)
Apr 19th, 2018 by Gretchen Schuldt
Hourly fee for court appointed lawyers so low they can lose money on cases.
