Andy Thompson

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Attorney Laura Nirider was taken aback — in a positive way — by the overwhelming response to “Making a Murderer.”

“I don’t think anybody expected ‘Making a Murderer’ to be what it was,” said Nirider, who is representing Brendan Dassey in appealing his conviction for the 2005 murder of Teresa Halbach.

So when it was announced by Netflix in late July that new episodes of the docu-series are in the works, Nirider was pleased, saying it would shed additional light on what she contends was coercion by law enforcement in obtaining Dassey’s confession to Halbach’s horrific killing.

“Of course, we’re glad it’s happening,” Niider said of the new episodes.

NEWSLETTER: Sign up for "Making a Murderer" updates

TIMELINE: History of the Steven Avery case

RELATED: “Making a Murderer” coverage, archived stories and more

Dassey and Steven Avery were convicted of killing Halbach, a 25-year-old photographer, in Manitowoc County in the fall of 2005. Avery is serving life in prison with no possibility of parole; Dassey is serving life, but will be eligible for parole consideration on Oct. 31, 2048.

No release date has been announced for the second season of "Making a Murderer," which will focus heavily on efforts by Dassey and Avery to overturn their convictions.

“I think the eyes of the world were opened to the injustice that happened in season 1," Nirider said. "I think people watched that interrogation video (of Dassey) and were outraged.”

Not everyone is glad that Making a Murderer 2 is happening.

“Shame on @netflix … for bringing more attention (to Avery),” read one angry tweet.

And it’s safe to assume that some Manitowoc County residents aren’t thrilled about the renewed attention on the Avery/Dassey cases, based on earlier criticism leveled against the community and law enforcement agencies from outsiders, many of whom vented their displeasure on social media.

Manitowoc County Sheriff Robert Hermann told USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin that he would “probably” watch the new episodes, but declined further comment.

But in March, amid reports that a second season of “Making a Murderer” was under consideration, Hermann said a sequel would likely be bad for the community.

“The first one has been a terrible injustice to the criminal justice system, law enforcement, our area,” he said at the time. “It’s about the money they’re making off of this, and it’s at the cost of the Halbach family.”

Filmmakers Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos said the new episodes “will take fans of the acclaimed documentary series back inside the story of convicted murderer Steven Avery, and his co-defendant, Brendan Dassey, as their respective investigative and legal teams challenge their convictions and the state fights to have the convictions and life sentences upheld.”

The episodes will examine the post-conviction process and “the emotional toll the process takes on all involved,” the filmmakers said in a news release.

Dassey’s legal team, including Nirider and Steve Drizin of the Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago, will be featured in the new episodes, along with Avery’s attorney, Kathleen Zellner.

Nirider said the new episodes will keep Dassey's plight in the public eye. She said he continues to receive letters of support from people who believe he was unjustly convicted.

“That keeps him going,” she said. “It’s like an extended family around the world.”

Andy Thompson: 920-996-7270, or awthompson@postcrescent.com; on Twitter @Thompson_AW