The mother of Elijah Vue will have new legal representation.
Manitowoc County Judge Anthony Lambrecht ruled in favor of Katrina Baur as she requested that Attorney Amber Gratz no longer be attached to her case.
Kathy Pakes, the Director of the State Public Defender’s Assigned Counsel Division, objected to the motion, claiming Gratz is a “competent and diligent attorney,” and added that approving it could delay the case.
Baur claimed there was a “breakdown in their attorney-client relationship,” and said Gratz “refused to meaningfully discuss or prepare a trial strategy for me.”
For her part, Attorney Gratz said that she believes the relationship can be repaired at this time, but also voiced concerns regarding two outside attorneys offering to take the case.
Judge Lambrecht agreed with the last part, saying that, in the court’s eyes, Attorney Obear and Associates meeting with the client in the jail is an “attempt to sabotage the attorney-client relationship between (Baur) and (Gratz).”
However, he also granted Baur’s request, noting that this is not a reflection on Gratz’s performance.
The Public Defender’s Office has begun searching for a new counsel as Baur is set to return to court on August 20th for a status conference.
She and Jesse Vang are facing charges in connection with the 2024 death of her 3-year-old son, Elijah Vue.
