MADISON, Wis. – Attorney General Josh Kaul today announced the creation of the Public Protection Unit within the Division of Legal Services at the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ). This unit has been created by merging DOJ’s Environmental Protection Unit and Consumer Protection Unit.

“The Wisconsin Department of Justice must be a watchdog for consumers and our natural resources,” said Attorney General Kaul. “The creation of the Public Protection Unit is a step toward revitalizing the enforcement of our consumer protection and environmental laws.”

The Public Protection Unit will be overseen by a single unit director. DOJ intends to fill the position that will no longer be needed for a second unit director with an attorney who will focus primarily on environmental cases. Combining the Environmental Protection Unit and the Consumer Protection Unit under the same management position will also enable DOJ to more effectively leverage paralegal and legal associate time to assist with complex consumer-protection and environmental cases.