Taylor Schabusiness, convicted of murdering and dismembering Shad Thyrion in 2022, attacked her defense attorney Curtis Julka during an April 2025 court hearing—marking the second time she has assaulted legal counsel. The 27-year-old was in court facing charges for attacking a prison guard when she lunged at Julka before being tackled by deputies. She has not been charged for either attorney attack, raising questions about courtroom security, attorney safety, and the challenges of representing violent defendants in criminal proceedings.

What Is the Taylor Schabusiness Attacks Lawyer Case About?

The Taylor Schabusiness attorney attacks case involves two separate violent incidents where the convicted murderer physically assaulted her defense attorneys during court proceedings.

First Attack – February 2023

Schabusiness attacked attorney Quinn Jolly during a competency hearing before her murder trial in Brown County Court. She lunged at Jolly with her elbow, striking him before deputies wrestled her to the ground. Jolly immediately filed a motion to withdraw, citing an ‘irretrievably broken’ attorney-client relationship. The court granted his request, and Christopher Froelich replaced him as defense counsel.

Second Attack – April 2025

During a preliminary hearing in Fond du Lac County Court for charges of attacking a prison guard, Schabusiness attacked attorney Curtis Julka. She jumped from her seat, yelled, and lunged at Julka before five deputies tackled her to the ground and removed her from the courtroom.

The hearing resumed 45 minutes later via videoconference, with Schabusiness appearing from jail. Judge Anthony Nehls ruled she had ‘waived her right to be present’ due to her behavior. Julka withdrew from the case immediately after the hearing, and Froelich once again took over her representation.

Critical Detail: Despite two documented attacks on attorneys captured on courtroom video, Schabusiness has not been criminally charged for assaulting either Jolly or Julka. Fond du Lac District Attorney Eric Toney confirmed in April 2025 that no charges had been filed for the attack on Julka.

Who Is Taylor Schabusiness? Understanding the Murder Conviction

Taylor Schabusiness is currently serving life in prison without parole for the February 2022 murder, sexual assault, and dismemberment of Shad Thyrion in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

The Crime

On February 21, 2022, Schabusiness picked up Thyrion from his mother’s home. After smoking methamphetamine and injecting trazodone, they returned to Thyrion’s mother’s basement where they engaged in sexual activity. Schabusiness strangled Thyrion with metal chains during what she later claimed was erotic asphyxiation. She continued strangling him for 3-5 minutes after he began coughing blood until he died.

After his death, Schabusiness sexually assaulted the corpse for several hours, then dismembered the body using kitchen knives. She placed body parts in plastic bags, storage totes, and cardboard boxes throughout the home and in her vehicle. On February 23, 2022, Thyrion’s mother discovered her son’s severed head in a bucket covered with a towel in the basement.

The Trial and Conviction

A Brown County jury convicted Schabusiness in July 2023 of:

• First-degree intentional homicide
• Mutilation of a corpse
• Third-degree sexual assault

The jury deliberated for just 50 minutes before finding her guilty on all counts. In a second phase of trial, jurors rejected her insanity defense, determining she did not suffer from a mental disease or defect at the time of the murder. Court-appointed psychologists testified that drug use, not mental illness, fueled her actions.

Sentencing

Brown County Circuit Judge Thomas Walsh sentenced Schabusiness on September 26, 2023, to:

• Life in prison without possibility of parole for murder
• 7.5 years initial confinement plus 4 years extended supervision for mutilation of a corpse (consecutive)
• 3 years initial confinement plus 4 years extended supervision for sexual assault (consecutive)

Judge Walsh stated: ‘This crime offends human decency, it offends human dignity, and it offends the human community. When life is taken from a person in the fashion that it was in this case — where the victim’s remains are cut up and packaged in containers — it’s difficult to identify a human nature in those activities.’

What Criminal Charges Is Schabusiness Facing for Attacking the Prison Guard?

While serving her life sentence at Taycheedah Correctional Institution, Schabusiness was charged with battery by a prisoner with a repeater enhancement after allegedly attacking a correctional officer on July 24, 2024.

The Incident

According to the criminal complaint, Schabusiness requested medical attention after a staple lodged in her arm from a fall. A sergeant escorted her to the medical room where a nurse prepared to remove the staple with tweezers. Detective Kristina Meilahn testified that Schabusiness began ‘giggling,’ then suddenly lunged at the nurse. The sergeant intervened, pushing the nurse to safety.

Schabusiness then:

• Grabbed a metal tray and struck the sergeant in the head
• Swung a small metal table at the sergeant
• Continued the attack until the sergeant deployed pepper spray

The sergeant sustained injuries that prevented her from returning to work.

Legal Resolution

Initially facing a felony charge of battery by a prisoner carrying up to 6 years in prison, Schabusiness accepted a plea deal in October 2025. She pleaded no contest to an amended misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct.

On December 1, 2025, Judge Anthony Nehls sentenced Schabusiness to 90 days in jail to be served concurrent with her life sentence. During the sentencing hearing, body camera footage of the attack was played in court. Schabusiness was wheeled into the courtroom strapped to a chair with seven deputies present.

Current Status: Where Does the Taylor Schabusiness Case Stand Now?

Murder Conviction – Final

Schabusiness began the appeals process for her murder conviction in 2024. However, her court-appointed appellate attorney found no grounds for appeal and was dismissed from the case. The Wisconsin Court of Appeals ruled that Schabusiness would need to hire her own attorney or file her own brief to pursue further appeals. As of December 2025, no active appeal is pending.

Prison Guard Attack – Resolved

The battery case concluded on December 1, 2025, with Schabusiness receiving a 90-day jail sentence for disorderly conduct, to be served alongside her life sentence.

Attorney Attacks – No Charges

Despite two documented attacks on her defense attorneys in 2023 and 2025, Schabusiness has not been charged with any criminal offenses related to either assault.

Incarceration

Schabusiness remains incarcerated at Taycheedah Correctional Institution in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, serving life without parole. She will be eligible for the 90-day sentence from the prison guard attack case to run concurrently.

Why Aren’t Defendants Charged for Attacking Their Attorneys?

The decision not to charge Schabusiness for attacking her attorneys raises important questions about legal accountability and courtroom security.

Prosecutorial Discretion

District attorneys have broad discretion in deciding which cases to prosecute. Factors that may influence the decision not to charge for courtroom attacks include:

• The defendant is already serving a life sentence without parole
• Additional charges would not meaningfully increase punishment
• The attacks were quickly subdued with no serious injuries
• Prosecutorial resources are better spent on cases with greater public safety impact
• Courtroom security measures can address future risks without prosecution

Legal Protections for Attorneys – The Growing Concern

The lack of charges in the Schabusiness case highlights a troubling gap in legal protections for defense attorneys. In 2023, Florida passed legislation making it a felony to attack defense attorneys, public defenders, or court-appointed counsel after attorney Eric Atria suffered a fractured skull when his client attacked him during trial. The bill passed unanimously in both chambers after legislators viewed footage of the attack.

Wisconsin has not enacted similar protections specifically for defense attorneys, though attorneys can be protected under general assault statutes. The American Bar Association has documented increasing threats and violence against lawyers, particularly in criminal defense and family law.

What Are the Legal Implications for Criminal Defense Practice?

The Schabusiness case illuminates critical challenges in criminal defense representation and courtroom security.

Attorney Safety and Ethical Obligations

Defense attorneys face a unique professional dilemma when representing violent clients. They have ethical obligations to:

• Provide zealous representation regardless of the client’s behavior
• Maintain client confidentiality except in limited circumstances
• Continue representation unless the relationship breaks down irretrievably

After Quinn Jolly was attacked, he wrote in his withdrawal motion: ‘Due to the irretrievably broken state of the attorney-client relationship, caused by the events of the court hearing on February 14, 2023, counsel requests to be withdrawn from all further representation.’ Both Jolly and Julka were granted permission to withdraw, but Christopher Froelich, who represented Schabusiness during her murder trial, stepped in both times.

Courtroom Security Measures

Following the attacks, courts implemented enhanced security measures for Schabusiness’s appearances:

• She was required to wear restraints, including a spit hood, at some hearings after spitting on jail staff
• She was wheeled into court strapped to a chair for her December 2025 sentencing
• Seven deputies were assigned to courtroom security during proceedings
• Courts allowed videoconference appearances after the April 2025 attack
• Physical barriers maintained greater distance between Schabusiness and court personnel

Key Takeaways for US Readers

The Taylor Schabusiness attacks lawyer case reveals critical issues at the intersection of criminal justice, attorney safety, and courtroom security:

Violence Against Defense Attorneys Is Increasing: Research shows threats and attacks against lawyers, particularly criminal defense attorneys, are rising nationally. Defense counsel face unique risks because they often work closely with clients who have histories of violence, mental illness, or substance abuse.

Courtroom Security Requires Constant Assessment: Courts must balance competing interests: the defendant’s constitutional rights, attorney and public safety, and the need for orderly proceedings. Physical security measures, enhanced deputy presence, and remote appearance technology are becoming standard tools for managing high-risk defendants.

Legal Protections Vary By State: Some states like Florida have enacted specific laws enhancing penalties for attacks on defense attorneys. Other states rely on general assault statutes. Bar associations and legal experts increasingly advocate for uniform nationwide protections for all court officers.

Prosecutorial Discretion Affects Accountability: District attorneys decide which cases to prosecute based on multiple factors. When defendants are already serving life sentences without parole, prosecutors may determine that additional charges would not serve public interests or meaningfully increase punishment.

Defense Attorneys Face Extraordinary Challenges: Representing violent or unstable clients requires extraordinary professional commitment. Attorneys like Christopher Froelich, who continued representing Schabusiness after she attacked two previous attorneys, demonstrate the dedication required to ensure all defendants receive constitutionally mandated legal representation.

Conclusion: What This Means for the Future of Criminal Defense

The Taylor Schabusiness attacks lawyer case serves as a stark reminder of the personal risks defense attorneys face when representing violent defendants. While Schabusiness has not been charged for assaulting her attorneys, the case has prompted important conversations about attorney safety, courtroom security, and the need for legislative protections.

As violent crime rates fluctuate and courts handle increasing numbers of cases involving defendants with mental health and substance abuse issues, the legal profession must continue developing strategies to protect attorneys while ensuring all defendants receive effective representation. The constitutional right to counsel depends on the willingness of attorneys to represent unpopular, dangerous, or difficult clients—a commitment that should not require attorneys to risk their physical safety.

For courts, prosecutors, bar associations, and legislators, the Schabusiness case provides a clear call to action: implement enhanced security measures, provide adequate resources for threat assessment and attorney protection, and enact legislation that recognizes defense attorneys as essential court officers deserving the same legal protections afforded to judges and prosecutors.

• • •

About AllAboutLawyer.com: AllAboutLawyer.com provides comprehensive legal news, analysis, and resources for consumers, legal professionals, and those interested in understanding complex legal cases and their implications for the American justice system.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you are facing criminal charges or need legal representation, consult with a qualified criminal defense attorney in your jurisdiction.

About the Author

Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
Her writing blends real legal insight with plain-English explanations, helping readers stay informed and legally aware.
Read more about Sarah