Information about the Marinette Office of the Wisconsin State Public Defender:

The Marinette Office of the Wisconsin State Public Defender is one of many local trial division offices scattered throughout the state. It handles public defender representation in Marinette and Oconto Counties. The office can be found at:

903 Pierce Ave.

Marinette, WI 54143-1709

 

715-732-1638 - - FAX: 715-732-0132

 

This is a temporary quarters. The previous office in Dunlap Square went through a fire in the Summer of 1997 and the public defender will be moving into new offices in Peshtigo (fall of 1998?). To tell you how to get to the public defender's office we have two sets of directions: one for people who know Marinette, the other for those who are less familiar with Marinette.

Instructions on how to find the public defender's office for those who know Marinette fairly well:

The office is in the Lormar Building with Job Service and Probation and Parole. The building is right next to the tracks on Pierce and is across the street from the Marinette County Employees' Credit Union. It is at the intersection of Pierce and Newberry (a "T" intersection) directly facing Newberry. The building has two entrances, one marked as wheelchair accessible and having the number "903" over the door. That is the door closest to the railroad tracks and the one you want to enter. Go straight back, there is a paper sign on the door indicating "Public Defender."

Instructions on how to find the public defender's office for those unfamiliar with Marinette:

From Green Bay:

• Marinette is on the Menominee River which is a border with the State of Michigan. It is about an hour north of Green Bay on U.S. Highway 41. (Plan on longer if driving at night or in inclement weather.)
• As you drive in on Highway 41 you will pass a McDonald's on your right at an intersection controlled by a traffic signal. Continue on 41 North. At this point Hwy. 41 is called Marinette Avenue.
• When you reach a multi-street intersection controlled by a light you want to continue on 41 which becomes Hall Avenue. This is the easiest course to take at the intersection and involves a bend in the road to the right. Go past one more traffic signal to the intersection of Hall Ave. and Stephenson Street. This intersection is also controlled by a traffic signal. You have just passed the courthouse across the street (Hall Ave.) on your left.
• Turn right onto Stephenson. On the corner you are turning is the Marinette Municipal Building and the Police Station. Go about three blocks down Stephenson until you see a blue hospital sign directing you to turn (angle) right.
• Turn there onto Pierce Ave. Go about half a block across the railroad tracks and park. The office building is on your right. Newberry Street is intersecting at that point from the left (a "T" intersection).Go in the door with the 903 over it and go straight back.

From the west . . . (Wausau, Eau Claire, Superior, Amberg, Crivitz, Iron Mountain, Niagra, Wausaukee, etc.)

• Coming into Marinette from the West or Northwest, you will be coming in on either State Highway 64 or State Highway 180. If on Highway 180, turn left when it reaches Marinette and intersects with Highway 64.
• Highway 180 will head into downtown Marinette. You will be on Hall Street at some point going this way.
• When you reach a multi-street intersection controlled by a light (the first light you come to in Marinette) you want to continue straight onto 41 which becomes Hall Avenue at that point. (This is the easiest course to take at the intersection.) Go past one more traffic signal to the intersection of Hall Ave. and Stephenson Street. This intersection is also controlled by a traffic signal. You have just passed the courthouse across the street (Hall Ave.) on your left.
• Turn right onto Stephenson. On the corner you are turning is the Marinette Municipal Building and the Police Station. Go about three blocks down Stephenson until you see a blue hospital sign directing you to turn (angle) right.
• Turn there onto Pierce Ave. Go about half a block across the railroad tracks and park. The office building is on your right. Newberry Street is intersecting at that point from the left (a "T" intersection).Go in the door with the 903 over it and go straight back.

This is a small office which serves both Marinette and Oconto Counties. The office has one very efficient and friendly part-time secretary (over-worked) and two very-full-time lawyers. There are many times during regular office hours when there is no one in the office. It is wise to call ahead to make sure that someone will be there when you are coming. Appointments are appreciated when possible. Although we try to see walk-ins, those coming in without an appointment may not be able to speak to anyone about a case at that time.

The Wisconsin Public Defenders Office provides legal representation for indigent (broke) people in criminal matters and some other matters as directed by the legislature. The Wisconsin Public Defenders Office does not provide legal represenation for people in Michigan courts nor in Wisconsin municipal courts .The guidelines that they use to determine who is broke enough to qualify were written in 1988 and have not been updated since.

There often are times when a person does not qualify for a Public Defender representation but cannot afford to hire an attorney. If such a person wants an attorney it is important for them to ask the judge for help. Judges can and do appoint attorneys in private practice to represent people in such cases. Those lawyers work at a substantial discount from what they regularly charge and are paid by the County. The person getting such a lawyer is required to pay the County back according to a payment schedule set up at the time the lawyer is appointed.

This page courtesy of the Menominee River Defenders Association.

 last updated 01-21-98