(Madison) Wisconsin State Public Defender Nicholas L. Chiarkas left for New Orleans today after being asked to assist in the recovery from Hurricane Katrina. Chiarkas will lead a team charged with rebuilding the area's criminal justice system, including New Orleans and several other Parishes.

A few of the realities facing Chiarkas' team include lack of defense attorneys, funding issues, caseload and miscellaneous logistical problems. The assistance effort will focus on developing a recovery plan that can be integrated into a long-term reconstruction plan.

State Public Defender Chiarkas and the team of other experts from around the country are in New Orleans this week to interview judges, defense attorneys, prosecutors, law enforcement, and community leaders.

Washington D.C.’s American University is helping to coordinate the project including its financing and participation. Chiarkas is using personal vacation time to devote to the effort.

This continues the track record of Chiarkas and the Wisconsin’s State Public Defender System -- Israel modeled their recently developed public defender system after Wisconsin’s system, and Japan relied on Chiarkas' expertise in the reconstruction of its justice system.

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