(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA, Wis. — In Hollywood, public defenders rarely get the credit they deserve. In the 1998 thriller Wild Things, Bill Murray’s character, Kenneth Bowden, cracks a cynical joke to his jailed client: “It’s really a bad news, good news situation. You were denied bail, but you got a real attorney, instead of a public defender.” Six years earlier, My Cousin Vinny (1992) portrayed a stammering, ineffective public defender so out of his depth that his own client fired him mid-trial, pointing instead to Joe Pesci’s streetwise Vinny Gambini as the lawyer he wanted.
Movies like these have long perpetuated a false narrative — that public defenders are unprepared, overworked, and disinterested. But in Kenosha County, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Here, the men and women of the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office are among the most respected and effective attorneys in the courthouse.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Dedicated, Respected, and Relentless
Local criminal defense attorney and legal author Michael Cicchini told Kenosha County Eye, “I’ve seen their work firsthand, sometimes even in co-defendant or co-counsel situations. These are really smart, hardworking lawyers who fight for their clients and the Constitution. Krystine Watson is one of those lawyers, and on top of that, she manages the office and hires the other attorneys. I don’t know how she finds such great people to hire, and I really enjoy working side by side with all of them in the trenches of criminal defense.”
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Attorney Patrick Cafferty, another veteran Kenosha defense lawyer, offered similar praise. “The Kenosha Public Defender’s Office is full of excellent, hard-working attorneys,” he said. “Krystine Watson provides skilled leadership and top-notch training. As a group, they routinely exercise great judgment.”
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
District Attorney Xavier Solis, who stands across from them in court nearly every day, also had high praise. “I have great respect for the Public Defender’s Office,” Solis told Kenosha County Eye. “We may stand on opposite sides in court, but both offices serve the same purpose — upholding the law and ensuring justice is done. Attorneys Kristyne Watson and Francesco Balistrieri, who are the local attorney managers, lead a capable team of professionals who take their responsibilities seriously. Our justice system works best when both sides do their jobs with integrity.”
The Team Behind the Work
Kenosha’s Public Defender’s Office is staffed by a group of experienced and passionate attorneys who balance heavy caseloads with genuine care for their clients. Many of them handle the toughest cases — from homicides and sexual assaults to complex drug and fraud cases — often while mentoring younger lawyers and working late hours to prepare for trial.
Middle Row: Zebulon (Zeb) Patekand, Timothy Spurlin, Elizabeth (Libby) Ellsworth-Kasch, and Daniel Slapczynski
Bottom Row: Joseph “Joe” Corcoran, Lorenzo Rodriguez, and Chad Schamali
(All Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Local Attorney Managers:
- Francesco Balistrieri
- Kristyne Watson
Assistant State Public Defenders:
- Elizabeth Ellsworth-Kasch
- Hunter Fite
- Alyssah Foster
- Michelle Gardner
- Seth Johnson
- Zebulon Patek
- Lorenzo Rodriguez
- Benjamin Schwarz
- Chad Shamali
- Daniel Slapczynski
- Timothy Spurlin
- Zachary Caley
- Joseph Corcoran
Client Services Specialist:
- Kelly Schauer
Investigators:
- Eladio Valdez
- Shannon Nash
These names might not appear in Hollywood scripts, but in the Kenosha County Courthouse, they represent dedication, expertise, and compassion. From conducting painstaking investigations to standing up in court and making powerful constitutional arguments, this team exemplifies what public defense is supposed to be: the equalizer for those who can’t afford private counsel but still deserve justice.
Real Justice, Not a Movie Script
Public defenders often carry the heaviest workloads in the justice system, yet they are among the most mission-driven professionals in law. They see people at their lowest moments and fight to make sure the system treats them fairly. In Kenosha, these attorneys don’t play supporting roles — they are essential players in ensuring justice is done every day.
The next time a movie mocks a public defender as a punchline, remember this: In Kenosha County, these lawyers are anything but. They’re talented, ethical, and unrelenting in their pursuit of justice.
It’s not My Cousin Vinny — it’s real life, and it’s what justice looks like when everyone does their job with integrity, Kenosha Style.
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17 Responses
Apparently, Judges are a Hollywood stereotype also. Not much Law&Order in Kenosha.
Looks like Libby (fitting name) is offering “refreshers?” Some type of after hours tutoring perhaps? It’s unclear as she since removed her activist Twitter page.
https://i.ibb.co/Y4FWDqmP/IMG-7520.jpg
I was a juror on a case where Kristyne Watson was the defense attorney. Didn’t see much action from her because she correctly called no witnesses, it was a total BS case and she simply let the prosecution hang themselves. Jury decided in about an hour. She was confident, never looked worried, and made the right call.
Maybe she didn’t look worried because, unlike her attorneys, she doesn’t care much about her clients. She didn’t present evidence or call witnesses because she usually doesn’t bother. She played roulette with her client’s freedom—and her client got lucky.
Nice to see articles like this.
The SPD has great attorneys. Many of them go far beyond what they are paid for, driven by a belief in something as simple as justice. Their creed is simple: J U S TI C E. One of them, their undisputed best asset, resigned from a great position at one of the top law firms in the state to return to the humble paycheck of the SPD. Most of them are highly motivated and efficient. I believe we have the best SPD office in the state. Great Team
Long before I’d criticize the public defenders, I would gently ask people to look at our recently Departed attorney and his woke idiot assistants who literally fled like cockroaches when the lights of Solis were turned on.
Do you mean Graveley? If so, I’m with you. A bunch of traitors delayed the court proceedings. All the delays and oversights are courtesy of each and every one of them. If their goal was to mess up our court system, they succeeded. Now try explaining that to the king, who doesn’t seem able to understand it.
What a fluff piece! Of course the guy who has a hard on crime viewpoint is going to love inept defense attorneys. I bet you there’s something else going on behind this article.
True conservatives value strong defense attorneys. They’re the ones who safeguard every citizen’s constitutional rights against government overreach. Supporting the right to a fair defense isn’t “liberal” — it’s the foundation of American conservatism and the rule of law. And believe it or not, some defendants really are innocent.
They are not inept. Not in Kenosha. You’ll be better represented by most members of the SPD team than by hiring an expensive attorney in town. Not to mention people like Frank Parise who will never take a case to trial and will just convince you to take a deal. The SPD team is SOLID.
Another fluffer