Dean Strang and Jerome Buting, known for their defense of Steven Avery in the Netflix series, will speak May 1.

Two stars of the Netflix documentary "Making a Murderer" will visit Erie May 1 to speak at the Erie County Bar Association's Law Day luncheon.

Dean A. Strang and Jerome F. Buting, who won over audiences with their passionate defense of homicide defendant Steven Avery in the nonfiction "Making a Murderer" series, will speak about their involvement in the case and their observations of the criminal justice system.

"Anybody who's seen the series knows how thoughtful they are, how well-spoken they are," said Erie lawyer Tim Riley, the chair of the bar association's Law Day committee. "These guys were high on our list."

The series followed Avery, a Wisconsin man who was wrongfully convicted of a 1985 sexual assault and served 18 years in prison until DNA evidence exonerated him. After Avery's release, he sued local officials who were involved in the case against him — but while that civil case was still ongoing, Avery was charged in the 2005 death of a photographer, Teresa Halbach.

Strang and Buting represented Avery at his criminal trial in the homicide case, after which he was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without parole. The lawyers suggested during the trial that the evidence in the case, including DNA evidence, could have been planted by local law enforcement officers who were involved in investigating the crime scene on Avery's property despite the ongoing civil case.

The "Making a Murderer" series became wildly popular when it was released on Netflix in December 2015.

"We're excited to have (Strang and Buting) as our keynote speakers because the documentary 'Making a Murderer' was so popular and intriguing," said Sandra Brydon Smith, the bar association's executive director. "We're interested in their perspective on the case."

Strang and Buting will explain recent developments in the case at their Law Day talk at the Bayfront Convention Center.

"I’m really excited because I think it's going to be interesting to hear them," Riley said. "They can certainly speak to what was an incredible experience."

Strang and Buting will meet with high school and college students before giving their talk at the noon luncheon.

The bar association holds the annual luncheon to commemorate the nationally recognized Law Day, set aside "to celebrate the role of law in our society and to cultivate a deeper understanding of the legal profession," according to the American Bar Association.

The Erie County Bar Association is also putting on a 5k run/walk April 29 that will raise funds to support the educational needs of students living in homeless situations.

Tickets to the luncheon are $35 each and can be purchased at the Erie County Bar Association's website.

Madeleine O'Neill can be reached at 870-1728 or by email. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNoneill.