MANITOWOC COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Claiming the criminal justice system is broken, Steven Avery has written to the Wisconsin Legislature, complaining about a judge, his lawyers, previous decisions in the case, and apparently asking lawmakers for help.
Avery, 59, is serving a life sentence after being convicted of killing Theresa Halbach in October 2005. The Wisconsin Supreme Court rejected his most recent appeals in November, although his attorney said additional motions would be coming at some point.
Avery’s nephew, Brendan Dassey, was also convicted in the case. He currently does not have any appeals pending.
Their cases received worldwide attention with the 2015 release of the Netflix series “Making A Murderer.”
Avery’s eight-page letter was sent to the Manitowoc County Clerk of Courts, but is addressed to the Wisconsin Legislature, with a note from Avery that he wants it placed in his criminal file.
While Avery does make any specific request for a new trial, the letter outlines a variety of issues for lawmakers he would like to see addressed. It is unclear what authority lawmakers would have to act on any of the topics.
“The Criminal Justice System is Broken; And it has to be Fixed and this is the time to fix it and get it right, Because I’m the victim of a setup and it has to be fixed now,” Avery wrote.
Avery addresses several issues in the letter.
One section complains about Sheboygan County Judge Angela Sutkiewicz, who has handled post-conviction motions at the circuit court level since the judge who heard the trial retired.
The judge “Turned a blind eye to much of the evidence and also refused to admit probative admissible evidence that, when evaluated under the proper standing is damming,” Avery said.
In a section labeled “Judges Behaving Badly,” Avery claims the misconduct is sometimes subtle and sometimes blatant. The court “abused its discretion” in denying several of his post-conviction motions, and argues he should have had a new trial, he said.
Additionally, he argues it should be a Manitowoc County judge, not a Sheboygan County one, handling the case.
Avery also complains about his trial lawyers, Dean Strang and Jerome Buting, saying they didn’t listen to him, and didn’t do their job, or else he wouldn’t be in prison.
He claims the attorneys were “working for the D-A Kenneth Kratz, they would always listen to them and not there (sic) client Steven Avery.”
FOX 11 has reached out to Strang and Buting for comment, as well as to Kathleen Zellner, Avery’s appellate attorney, the state Department of Justice and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos’ office.
