The Role of Miranda Rights in Criminal Defense Cases

April 2, 2024 | Criminal Defense Attorney

We’ve all seen it in movies and television shows when a police officer arrests someone: the officer says, “You have the right to remain silent, you have the right to an attorney,” and so on. This warning is what is known as a person’s Miranda rights or a Miranda warning, and it serves an important legal function in our criminal justice system. Any errors in the way police advise you about your Miranda rights could result in your statements being inadmissible in court – which could have a significant impact on the outcome of your case.

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Drug Offenses: Your Rights and Defense Strategies in Appleton, WI

February 20, 2024 | Criminal Defense Attorney

Being charged with a drug crime may have a significant impact on your life in both the near and long-term. A conviction could bring both jail time and other collateral consequences that can complicate many things for you going forward. However, a conviction is by no means a certainty when you are facing criminal charges. An experienced drug criminal defense attorney, like the ones at Hogan Eickhoff, can provide you with a vigorous legal defense in the hopes of achieving the best possible outcome in your case.

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Understanding Felonies: Types, Penalties and Defense Strategies in Appleton, WI

December 19, 2023 | Criminal Defense Attorney

In Wisconsin, a felony is a crime that is punishable by imprisonment in a state prison. It is a far more serious charge than a misdemeanor, which may be punished by up to a year in county prison. Felonies involve more serious crimes. These crimes could be violent in nature or more serious versions of crimes that may otherwise be misdemeanors. For example, possession of narcotics and theft charges could rise to felonies when they exceed a certain amount of drugs or monetary value, respectively.

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The Role of Mitigating Factors in Wisconsin Criminal Cases

November 7, 2023 | Court Hearings

If you have been convicted of a crime in Wisconsin, it is far from the end of the legal story in your case. The law gives the judge the discretion to impose a sentence in your case. There is a wide range of potential that could range from probation to the maximum possible period of incarceration under the law. The judge may consider a number of factors before they reach their decision. Two defendants could receive entirely different sentences based on their own personal situations, both in life and surrounding the crime that was committed. One key concern in any sentencing proceedings is mitigating factors.

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Importance of Hiring a Criminal Defense Attorney in Wisconsin

September 19, 2023 | Court Hearings

Once you have been charged with a crime, your first major decision is whether to hire a lawyer in your case. There is no question that you should retain an attorney to represent you. Your legal rights and perhaps even your freedom are at risk. You are then faced with a choice of whether to hire a private criminal defense lawyer or a public defender. It is worth the investment to get your own private lawyer. Public defenders are simply too overloaded and under-resourced to fight as effectively as a private lawyer can.

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Clearing Your Criminal Record in Wisconsin

August 9, 2023 | Criminal Convictions

State law in Wisconsin lets adult criminal records be expunged or sealed only in certain circumstances. If a person was arrested for a criminal offense but never convicted of the crime, it can be possible for them to have their arrest record removed from the Wisconsin Criminal History Repository.

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What You Need to Know About Bail and Pretrial Release in Wisconsin

June 20, 2023 | Bail

If the defendant qualifies for bail, Wisconsin law states that the defendant is “eligible for release under reasonable conditions designed to assure his or her appearance in court, protect members of the community from serious harm, and prevent the intimidation of witnesses.” In practice, you may need to fight for reasonable pretrial conditions or even to be released at all.

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The Top Defenses Used in Criminal Cases in Wisconsin

May 9, 2023 | Criminal Defense Attorney

The prosecutor has the legal obligation to prove each element of the alleged offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Even if they believe they have the evidence, it does not automatically mean that you will be convicted. For each charged offense, there may be an effective legal defense that keeps the prosecutor from being able to prove the crime. Depending on your defense, you may have your own obligation to prove each individual element. Some of these defenses amount to saying, “yes, I did what I was accused of, but there is a valid legal reason for it.” Here are some defenses that are used in Wisconsin criminal cases.

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What are Pretrial Conferences and What Happens During Them?

February 7, 2023 | Court Hearings

There are numerous things that must be considered before trial that are far more than just “housekeeping” items. The actual trial is where your freedom is at stake, and the court system takes it extremely seriously. Criminal trials are coordinated and planned to an extent to allow both the state and you to effectively present their case. The pretrial conference is a critical milestone in your case because it both sets the ground rules for the trial and could even facilitate a resolution of your case.

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