Court Opinion

ID: 9655990
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 19:29:44.583284+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:13:25.479654
License: Public Domain

STEINMETZ, J.
(concurring). I agree with the result and reasoning of the majority opinion.
The attorney appointed in this case to represent the defendant was a recently hired attorney on the staff of the public defender. The attorney, in fairness to him, *520told his superiors that he was not well versed in the criminal law. He had practiced law for over three years; however, he had never handled an entire felony case. This case became his responsibility on the first day he actually assumed the duties as a public defender. He acknowledged that he was probably incompetent to handle a case of this magnitude. He stated that he attempted to get experienced, private counsel appointed, but his superiors encouraged him to undertake the defense. The administrators of the public defender’s program provided him with the assistance of a more experienced attorney; but he had only limited opportunity to consult with that attorney until just before the time of the trial. This assignment was in a potential first degree or second degree murder case with possible defenses of self-defense or manslaughter applying the fairly newly recognized theory of a battered spouse or mental disease or defect.
Before the creation of the state public defender’s program, assignments of defense attorneys were made by the trial judge assigned to conduct the trial. There may have been some deficiencies in the old system, including allegations of patronage; however, the assignments, in at least the serious felony cases, were of experienced and capable private attorneys. The representation given to felony defendants was consistently high. Since the responsibility for these assignments rests with the public defender’s office, persons in that agency responsible for defense attorney assignments must exercise their duties with the same care that was the custom and practice of the trial judges.
The public defender’s office has established its own rules regarding the appointment of staff attorneys or private attorneys for serious felonies. The relevant portions of those rules, sec. SPD 1.04, Wis. Adm. Code, in effect since September 1, 1981, are:
*521“(3) An attorney shall be certified for felony cases involving a felony offense bearing a maximum penalty of 20 or more years imprisonment if:
“ (a) The attorney has requested certification;
“ (b) The attorney is admitted to the state bar of Wisconsin ;
“(c) The attorney has completed the continuing legal education requirements as provided in sub. (7) ; and
“(d) Either:
“1. Has served 2 years as a prosecutor;
“2. Has served 2 years as a public defender; or
“3. Has been trial counsel alone or with other trial counsel and handled a significant portion of the trial in 5 cases, civil or criminal, that has been tried to a jury to final resolution.
“(5) Attorneys employed by the state public defender shall meet the same criteria as certified private attorneys.
“(7) Continuing legal education. Any attorney certified under these rules shall complete seven hours of continuing legal education each calendar year in courses approved by the executive board of the criminal law section of the state bar of Wisconsin.”
If the public defender’s office had in effect its present rules at the time of this assignment, the deficiencies in this representation would not have occurred. If a truly qualified staff attorney had not been available for assignment to this difficult and serious case, then the defendant deserved a truly qualified, experienced private attorney to be appointed to represent her. If that had been done here, regardless of the existing rules of qualification, the interests of justice would have been better served. Moreover, from an economic standpoint, the state would have been better off with one well-prepared and presented defense than with two trials.
I am authorized to state that JUSTICES WILLIAM G. CALLOW and LOUIS J. CECI join in this concurring opinion.