WISCONSIN — This week, wrongful conviction attorney Kathleen Zellner's efforts to overturn Steven Avery's 2007 murder conviction in the slaying of Teresa Halbach received a jolt of good news.

Zellner was victorious in her recent appeal before the Wisconsin Appeals Court. However, the court's decision is not a get-out-of-prison card for Avery — at least not yet. But, Zellner considers the court's decision a major development. Avery's case in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, drew millions of sympathetic followers after the first 10-part series of "Making a Murderer" launched on Netflix in December 2015.

Season two of Making a Murderer was released last October and Zellner was the focus of the series. Many people who watched it believe it was even better than the original documentary. Additionally, on Nov. 20, 2018, this writer released his fifth true-crime book, through Colorado-based WildBlue Press, "Wrecking Crew: Demolishing the Case Against Steven Avery."

Kathleen Zellner was interviewed by this writer on numerous occasions for book research after having previously worked in Wisconsin as an investigative reporter and made multiple visits to Avery Salvage Yard and the Manitowoc County Courthouse in 2016 and 2017. Wrecking Crew chronicles Steven Avery's lawyer's quest to overturn his Wisconsin murder conviction. Because of this week's court ruling in Wisconsin, Zellner has been back in the news. She was interviewed by Rolling Stone and Newsweek among other major publications with an international audience.

Avery Update: We Won!!!!!! Back to the circuit court. #TruthWins @llifeafterten @ZellnerLaw @TManitowoc @michellemalkin #MakingaMurderer

— Kathleen Zellner (@ZellnerLaw) February 25, 2019 And Zellner also made time for a question and answer session with Patch.



1. Explain for people the significance of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals ruling. Why is this considered a major victory for Steven Avery?



Zellner response: The Wisconsin Court of Appeals has granted Zellner's motion to add an additional claim against the State for destruction of evidence which could result in Avery's conviction being thrown out. There are only 2 other cases in Wisconsin that have allowed this. The State adamantly fought this motion but lost. Allowing Avery to include the destruction of evidence claim all but guarantees the reversal of his conviction for the murder of Teresa Halbach. 2. What can people expect to happen in Steven's case over the next 60 to 90 days?