Ken Kratz

Ken Kratz
Name	Kenneth R. Kratz
Birth date	1960s
Birth place	Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Occupation	Former district attorney, attorney
Known for	Prosecution in the Steven Avery case, subsequent misconduct allegations

Ken Kratz is an American former district attorney and lawyer who served in Calumet County, Wisconsin and as special prosecutor in high-profile criminal matters in Wisconsin. He gained national attention for his role in the prosecution of Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey, which later became the subject of media scrutiny and legal controversy. Kratz's career includes positions as a prosecutor, educator, and public official, as well as allegations of ethical misconduct that prompted disciplinary proceedings and resignation.

Early life and education

Kratz was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and raised in the Midwestern United States region. He earned a bachelor's degree from a regional university and a Juris Doctor from an accredited law school before entering public service as a prosecutor. During his formative years he completed internships and clerkships with local district attorney offices and participated in programs connected to American Bar Association standards and Wisconsin Law Foundation initiatives.

Legal career

Kratz began his career as an assistant prosecutor in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin and later served as the District Attorney of Calumet County, Wisconsin. Over his tenure he handled a broad docket including homicide, sexual assault, and complex criminal litigation, and collaborated with federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Marshals Service. He lectured at continuing-education seminars sponsored by the National District Attorneys Association and engaged with professional organizations including the Wisconsin District Attorneys Association and the State Bar of Wisconsin. Kratz also worked on interjurisdictional prosecutions involving neighboring counties such as Manitowoc County, Wisconsin and Brown County, Wisconsin and appeared in state-level appellate proceedings before the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Role in the Steven Avery case

Kratz served as lead prosecutor in the murder trial of Teresa Halbach in Calumet County, Wisconsin, a case that implicated Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey. As special prosecutor he coordinated investigative and prosecutorial strategies with law enforcement agencies including the Manitowoc County Sheriff's Office and the Wisconsin Department of Justice, and he presented evidence to juries and in pretrial hearings in Calumet County Courthouse. The trial and convictions were widely covered by media outlets such as The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and later became central to the documentary series Making a Murderer. Appeals and post-conviction motions related to Avery and Dassey reached federal courts including filings under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 procedures and habeas corpus petitions in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.

Controversies and misconduct allegations

Kratz's handling of the Avery prosecution and his public communications attracted criticism from defense attorneys, criminal-justice reform advocates, and journalists. Allegations included claims about disclosure of evidence, witness interviews, and prosecutorial rhetoric in press conferences covered by Associated Press and cable news networks like CNN and Fox News. In addition to professional critiques, Kratz was accused of improper conduct in communications with journalists and complainants, prompting inquiries by entities such as the State Bar of Wisconsin and comment from legal scholars at institutions like Harvard Law School and Yale Law School who analyzed prosecutorial ethics. The documentary Making a Murderer and ensuing public debate brought national attention, involving commentators from The New Yorker, ProPublica, and broadcast journalists from NPR.

Disciplinary actions and resignation

Following complaints, Kratz faced formal ethics investigations by the Office of Lawyer Regulation (Wisconsin), and disciplinary proceedings considered allegations including sending harassing communications to a sexual-assault complainant. The Wisconsin Supreme Court and the Office of Lawyer Regulation reviewed suspension and sanction recommendations that referenced rules adopted by the American Bar Association and state disciplinary standards. Under mounting scrutiny and administrative action, Kratz resigned his elected position as Calumet County District Attorney and ultimately agreed to discipline including suspension from the practice of law and other conditions imposed by the State Bar of Wisconsin regulatory framework.

Later career and public activities

After his resignation Kratz pursued roles outside elected office, engaging in private practice and consulting work consistent with post-discipline conditions set by the Office of Lawyer Regulation. He made limited public statements and occasionally appeared in media interviews with outlets such as USA Today and regional broadcasters in Wisconsin Public Radio. Kratz has been the subject of continuing public discussion among criminal-justice reform groups including Innocence Project advocates, academic commentators at Marquette University Law School and University of Wisconsin Law School faculty, and legal analysts who monitor prosecutorial conduct. His career remains a reference point in debates about prosecutorial ethics, media relations, and post-conviction review in the American legal system.

Category:People from Milwaukee, Wisconsin Category:Wisconsin lawyers