Jennifer L. Bias is the Deputy Director of the Trial Division and Affirmative Action Officer for the Office of the Wisconsin State Public Defender. Since beginning with the agency in 1987 as an assistant state public defender, she has served in a variety of leadership and litigation positions and was promoted to her current positions in June, 2000. Previously, she served as First Assistant State Public Defender in Racine County from 1995 to 2000 and Deputy First Assistant State Public Defender from 1993 to 1995. As an assistant state public defender, Ms. Bias handled a broad range of cases including felonies, misdemeanors, juvenile matters and commitments.
Since 1998 she has served on the Pardon Advisory Board under the appointments of former Governors Thompson and McCallum, and currently Governor Doyle. In 2004, Governor Doyle also appointed her to the Governor’s Juvenile Justice Commission.
When Governor Doyle created the Commission to Reduce Racial Disparity in the WI Criminal Justice System in 2007, Ms. Bias was appointed. After the release of the commission’s final report, the Governor created an Oversight Commission with responsibilities for advocacy and accountability in reducing racial disparity in WI. Ms. Bias currently serves on that commission.
Ms. Bias served on a number of other boards including the Board of Governors for the Racine County Bar Association, Good Samaritan Board, Junior League Advisory Board, and was appointed by former Governor Thompson to serve on the Governor’s Task Force on Racial Profiling. In 2004, Ms. Bias an unsuccessful candidate for Racine Circuit County Judge. Also in 2004, she was appointed to serve as a team member to investigate conduct matters at Southern Oaks Girls School.
Ms. Bias has presented at the annual public defender conference on a variety of topics. She currently presents the “Best Defense Is No Offense” program to young people at schools, churches and community centers urging them to avoid violence, gangs and drugs.
In recognition of her outstanding commitment to community service, in February 2003 Ms. Bias received the Racine Journal Times Award. She has also received the Racine Interfaith Coalition Freedom Award (February 2002), the NAACP Attorney Ted Harris Award (October 2001), and the YWCA Women of Distinction Award (August 2001).
Ms. Bias received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 1984 where she graduated magna cum laude, and her law degree from the University of Iowa Law School in 1987. She resides in Racine with her husband, Randall Luter.
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