Lawmakers to consider pay raises for prosecutors, public defenders in state budget

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Lawmakers on the Joint Finance Committee will consider pay raises for state prosecutors and public defenders as criminal justice advocates have warned a shortage of attorneys is causing a major crisis in our legal system.

On Tuesday, the GOP-controlled Joint Finance Committee will review Gov. Tony Evers biennial budget request to invest an additional $24.4 million for the State Prosecutors Office along with $42.6 million for the State Public Defenders Office in effort to increase hourly wages.

Evers proposed raising the hourly wage for public attorneys from $27.70 to $35. His plan also includes a $1.6 million in fiscal year 2024-2025 for a pay progression system for assistant district attorneys to "increase retention of experienced attorneys."

Adam Plotkin, the legislative liaison at the State Public Defenders Office, has been lobbying with a coalition of criminal justice advocates for higher wages as they continue to experience turnover.

"They're looking for these other opportunities," Plotkin said. "We're losing people to county corporation offices, city attorneys, private law firms and they're going out of state."

A key part of the problem is low wages, Plotkin said. That's caused a shortage of public defenders who are paid significantly less than private attorneys and among their peers nationwide, according to a report by the Wisconsin Policy Forum.

Newly hired assistant public defenders and assistant district attorneys in Wisconsin currently make a starting wage of $56,659 per year, or $27.24 an hour. That represents an increase of about 15% since 2012, a time period in which inflation has risen more than twice as much, the report states.

The report says, "While recent state budgets have increased staffing levels and pay for both district attorneys and public defenders in Wisconsin, their salaries still lag those of attorneys in the private sector and turnover and workloads for the positions have increased over time."

Fond du Lac District Attorney Eric Toney, who serves as president of the Wisconsin District Attorney's Association and District, said he's remaining optimistic lawmakers have heard the challenges their industry is facing with hiring and retaining staff.

"Some of our prosecutors are staying that otherwise would have left or were planning on leaving, but are holding on because they are hopeful, we are going to see some positive action taken with a meaningful investment in prosecutors," Toney said.

Lawmakers on the committee could approve, reject, or make changes to Evers' budget request.

They will also consider adding more staffing positions to fill vacancies and manage caseloads.