Wisconsin appeals release of Making a Murderer's Brendan Dassey

The Wisconsin Department of Justice has asked a federal appeals court to block the release of a prison inmate featured in the Netflix series "Making a Murderer."


Brendan Dassey was convicted in 2007 of helping his uncle, Steven Avery, kill photographer Teresa Halbach. U.S. Magistrate Judge William Duffin overturned Dassey's conviction in August, ruling investigators coerced him into confessing.

DOJ attorneys have argued he should remain in prison while they pursue an appeal, but Duffin ordered him released Monday. The judge on Wednesday ordered Dassey released by 8 p.m. Friday.

The DOJ filed an emergency motion with the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday afternoon, which asks the court to block Dassey's impending release.

Agency attorneys argued Dassey's confession was voluntary and Duffin said in August that Dassey would remain in prison during an appeal.