Court Hearings Archives » Hogan Eickhoff

Private Criminal Defense Attorney in Appleton, WI

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.

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.

Criminal Defense Attorney in Appleton, WI

The Benefits of Working with a Private Criminal Defense Attorney vs. a Public Defender

June 6, 2023 | Court Hearings

Some criminal defendants in Wisconsin are faced with a choice of whether to pay for their own attorney or have a public attorney appointed for them. For some defendants, a public defender is an absolute necessity. However, if you have the ability to hire a private attorney in any way, you should strongly consider doing so. There are substantive differences in both the experience of working with your lawyer and the results that they will obtain for you.

What to Expect During a Criminal Trial in Wisconsin

April 18, 2023 | Court Hearings

Very few criminal cases will actually go to trial. Most cases result in a plea agreement with the prosecutor, where the defendant pleads guilty in exchange for a lighter sentence or lesser charges. However, you can and should fight the charges against you all the way to trial if the prosecutor does not have the evidence to prove your guilt. Here is what is in store for you if your Wisconsin criminal case goes to trial.

Criminal Defense Attorneys near Appleton, WI

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Facing Criminal Charges

April 4, 2023 | Court Hearings

What you do once you learn you are being investigated or have been criminally charged can affect the outcome of your case. There is little that you can do on your own to make your situation better. Unfortunately, there are many mistakes that you can make that can make your situation worse. Law enforcement will do everything that they can to win a conviction, and your mistakes can make their life easier. The way to avoid making crucial errors that can muddy your legal situation is to contact an attorney. Your lawyer will advise you about what not to do, and they will deal with the prosecutor on your behalf.

What is a Sentencing Hearing and What Happens During One?

February 21, 2023 | Court Hearings

Sentencing is when the court imposes a punishment on the defendant after they have been found guilty at trial or has pled guilty to a crime. A judge will hold a hearing before they render their decision about the criminal sanctions for the defendant. The sentencing hearing is a tremendously stressful proceeding for the defendant because they literally learn their own fate. The defendant has a right to be heard before the judge hands down a sentence.

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.

What to Expect at a Preliminary Hearing

January 17, 2023 | Court Hearings

There is much that happens early in your case, well in advance of trial. In the beginning, you must learn of your legal rights and enter a plea (as you do in the initial appearance), and the basis for the case against you must be established. There is a screening process to weed out weak cases because forcing you to trial on a vague and unestablished case is inconsistent with your legal rights.

Defendant at Initial Appearance, near Appleton, WI

What to Expect at an Initial Appearance

January 3, 2023 | Arraignment

You may be more familiar with another term for an initial appearance – an arraignment. The initial appearance is exactly what its name implies – it is your first time in front of a judge in your criminal case.

Four Tips for Building A Strong Criminal Defense

November 22, 2022 | Arraignment

What you do after you have been arrested and charged with a crime could dictate whether you face legal consequences and how serious they are. You can help or hurt your own criminal defense based on your own actions. Regardless of the charges against you, there are things that you can do to put yourself in the position to get the best possible legal outcome in your case. Here are four tips for you to consider as you seek to build the strongest possible criminal defense in your case. Hire an Experienced Attorney Immediately You should never try to face the criminal justice system on your own. Law enforcement has seemingly unlimited resources that they can use in your case. You are up against an experienced prosecutor who knows the process well. Although they may have many cases on their docket, they know how to move along the ones that … Continued