Backlash could continue Monday over a
Milwaukee County judge's decision to briefly jail an assistant public
defender Friday over a perceived lack of respect and decorum.
News
of the incident spread quickly among the criminal defense bar via
social media on the weekend and prompted a strong response from the
State Public Defender's office spokesman, Randy Kraft.
"The
fact that our attorney was taken into custody, handcuffed, and
belly-chained for doing his job is unacceptable," Kraft said in an
emailed statement.
"The impact on our attorney and
his client is of utmost concern to this agency. The message this action
sends to our attorneys, whose jobs are to be zealous advocates for the
rights of their clients, undercuts a basic tenet of our justice system."
Reached
over the weekend, Circuit Judge David Borowski declined to discuss the
still-pending case but suggested a transcript of the exchange that led
to the lawyer's detention would be available Monday.
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