Wisconsin attorneys weigh in on the possibility of a conviction integrity unit, with differing opinions on its feasibility and effectiveness.
The concept of a conviction integrity unit (CIU) gained traction after being discussed at length among Wisconsin attorneys regarding the potential benefits it could bring to their judicial system. A CIU is a last resort for people who have already exhausted all other avenues, such as the appeals process.
Some attorneys expressed skepticism about implementing a CIU in Wisconsin due to financial constraints and concerns about hiring staff to review cases. Others like Madeline Kelly, a criminal defense attorney, believe that having a CIU would be beneficial, particularly when dealing with misdemeanor offenses where clients might be discouraged from defending themselves out of fear of the costs.
Franklin Gimbel, an attorney of 65 years, pointed out that prosecutors in Wisconsin often prioritize convictions over integrity. However, some attorneys see this as an issue that a well-implemented CIU could address.
Scott Wales, another attorney, thinks it's hard to have meaningful conversations about implementing a CIU without an existing model to draw from. Nevertheless, he believes that the concept of a CIU has merit and points out that retired judges could be a suitable alternative for leading such a unit.
It's worth noting that Wisconsin already has a system in place for reviewing convictions, albeit a limited one. The primary criticism of this current system is its infrequent application and failure to effectively address wrongful conviction cases. Many believe that the introduction of a CIU would improve upon this system, providing much-needed resources and support for those seeking to have their convictions reviewed.
For Wisconsin attorneys, the question remains whether or not having a CIU will be feasible in practice, despite initial reservations about its implementation.
The concept of a conviction integrity unit (CIU) gained traction after being discussed at length among Wisconsin attorneys regarding the potential benefits it could bring to their judicial system. A CIU is a last resort for people who have already exhausted all other avenues, such as the appeals process.
Some attorneys expressed skepticism about implementing a CIU in Wisconsin due to financial constraints and concerns about hiring staff to review cases. Others like Madeline Kelly, a criminal defense attorney, believe that having a CIU would be beneficial, particularly when dealing with misdemeanor offenses where clients might be discouraged from defending themselves out of fear of the costs.
Franklin Gimbel, an attorney of 65 years, pointed out that prosecutors in Wisconsin often prioritize convictions over integrity. However, some attorneys see this as an issue that a well-implemented CIU could address.
Scott Wales, another attorney, thinks it's hard to have meaningful conversations about implementing a CIU without an existing model to draw from. Nevertheless, he believes that the concept of a CIU has merit and points out that retired judges could be a suitable alternative for leading such a unit.
It's worth noting that Wisconsin already has a system in place for reviewing convictions, albeit a limited one. The primary criticism of this current system is its infrequent application and failure to effectively address wrongful conviction cases. Many believe that the introduction of a CIU would improve upon this system, providing much-needed resources and support for those seeking to have their convictions reviewed.
For Wisconsin attorneys, the question remains whether or not having a CIU will be feasible in practice, despite initial reservations about its implementation.
. IT WOULD BE AMAZING TO SEE RETIRED JUDGES LEAD SUCH A UNIT, THEY COULD BRING A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AND INSIGHT TO THE TABLE! MADeline KELLY MAKES A GREAT POINT ABOUT Misdemeanor OFFENSES WHERE PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO DEFEND THEMSELVES. I THINK IT'S TIME WE START HAVING HONEST CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND FIGURING OUT A WAY TO MAKE IT WORK BETTER FOR EVERYONE 
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. What do you guys think? Should we make it happen? 
it's about doing what's right & ensuring people aren't wrongly convicted. a CIU would help with that 
but at the same time, i can see where they're coming from financially 
. we need to find a way to make it work tho 
. it's crazy that some attorneys are worried about the cost, but like, isn't saving people from injustice worth more than a few dollars? 
. A conviction integrity unit would be a game-changer 
. I'm not surprised some attorneys are skeptical, though - it does come with a price tag 
. But honestly, what's the cost of fixing this broken system? Not worth it, if you ask me 
. I love that some attorneys think retired judges could lead such a unit - experience is key 
. We should be having more conversations about how to make this work, not just debating whether or not we can afford it 
It's crazy how some people are skeptical about it just because of finances 
And I love Madeline Kelly's idea of implementing one for misdemeanor offenses - it would literally give people a chance to defend themselves without breaking the bank 
leading it, just get it done already! 
... wait, no I am! 
I mean, it's gotta be expensive to hire staff and all that, but at the same time, people are being wrongly convicted left and right 
. And those who have already exhausted their appeals options need help 
. I don't know... maybe having a CIU would really make a difference, but how do we even make it work? And what about all those retired judges who could lead such a unit? Could that be the solution? 
. and yeah, having an existing model to draw from would be huge, lol what's the point of starting somethin new if we ain't even got a clue how it's gonna work in real life?