To Gideon via Griffin: The Experience in Wisconsin

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Advocates in Wisconsin believe that a provision in their state constitution confers the right to counsel in civil cases. After an unsuccessful petition for the state supreme court to take original jurisdiction of this claim advocates prepared a packet of documents that pro se litigants can use to request appointment of counsel and have filed appeals on behalf of several indigent clients. In pursuing these appeals, advocates rely on Griffin v. Illinois, 351 U.S. 12 (1956), in addition to the Wisconsin Constitution.

By John F. Ebbott From July-August 2006