What to Look for in a Defense Attorney

February 15, 2022 | Criminal Defense Attorney

Who you choose as a criminal defense attorney could make a large difference in the outcome of your case. Not every attorney is the same. Different attorneys have varying styles, and some make work better for your situation. Between price, level of service, and legal strategy, you are putting quite a bit in your lawyer’s hands. Oftentimes, you do not have a long period of time to decide on a lawyer. Here are some things to look for when you are choosing a criminal defense attorney.

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Removing Arrests from Your Record in Wisconsin

February 4, 2022 | Criminal Defense Attorney

The rules about removing arrest records in Wisconsin can be complex. You have every interest in having a clean record. Arrests and convictions can show up on a background check, and they can harm your ability to move on with your life. If expungement or removal is an option for you, it is something that you should certainly pursue. First, you need to understand the state’s laws and how to get the information removed.

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Expunging Criminal Records in Wisconsin

January 17, 2022 | Criminal Defense Attorney

People who have been convicted of a crime could face consequences years into the future. So long as the crime remains on your record, others will be able to view it with a simple background check. When you are trying to find a job or a place to live, a background check could complicate things for you. Currently, Wisconsin is in the process of changing its laws to make expunging criminal records easier, in line with a national trend of criminal justice reform. However, the current laws are more restrictive. Nonetheless, it is possible to remove some convictions from your record.

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Possible Criminal Defenses (Part 2)

December 22, 2021 | Criminal Defense Attorney

This is the second post in our series about possible defenses to Wisconsin criminal charges. Some of these may apply to you. If they do, you can rest assured that we will leave no stone unturned as we fight for your legal rights. With that in mind, here are some additional ways that you can dispute the criminal charges against you and either have the case thrown out of court or win acquittal from a judge or jury.

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Wisconsin Still Charges 17-Year-Olds as Adults in All Cases

November 19, 2021 | Criminal Convictions

Criminal justice reform has a long way to go in Wisconsin. Along with being one of the most difficult states to get an expungement of your criminal record, the state has many other laws on the books that are very unfavorable to defendants. One is a law that automatically charges every 17-year-old who has been arrested as an adult, practically ensuring that they will begin their life with a criminal record that could be very hard to clear. While Wisconsin allows for expungement of criminal records when the defendant was under 25 when the crime was committed, this policy does not cover all crimes. This law seems more unfair and out of place in the current time. Therefore, efforts are underway to change this.

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SCOW Finds Generic Conduct in “High Crime Area” Created Reasonable Suspicion of Criminal Activity

November 3, 2021 | Court Hearings

The Wisconsin Supreme Court continues to make life harder for criminal defendants throughout the state, broadening law enforcement’s power through its recent rulings. In one case, the Supreme Court has practically criminalized being in a “high-crime area,” allowing officers practically unlimited ability to view any ordinary behavior in these areas as a pretext to search possible suspects. With rulings like these, defendants need attorneys more than ever to help them fight illegal searches and seizures.

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Discharge from Probation Didn’t Count as Successful Completion of Sentence for Expungement Purposes

October 22, 2021 | Court Hearings

Although momentum seems to be on the side of criminal justice reform and allowing for broader abilities to expunge criminal records, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals did not exactly see it this way in a recent case. The court would not allow expungement of a defendant’s criminal record when he was discharged from probation. In order to be fully eligible for possible expungement, defendants need to complete their sentence in full, no matter the circumstances. To ensure your best chances of expunging your criminal record, make sure to hire a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.

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Odor of Burning Weed Justifies Warrantless Entry into the Home

October 6, 2021 | Criminal Defense Attorney

In any criminal case that involves physical evidence, you can expect some scrutiny from criminal defense attorneys of how law enforcement seized the evidence. One of a defendant’s basic rights in any trial is their Fourth Amendment right to be free from an illegal search or seizure. When police enter a home without a warrant, their entry will almost always be challenged. This is exactly what happened when police went into a home after smelling burning marijuana. However, in the case of In the Interest of B.W.R., the Wisconsin Court of Appeals gave officers very wide latitude for a warrantless search.

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Does CBD Show Up on a Drug Test?

September 21, 2021 | Criminal Defense Attorney

Don’t get caught up with a drug offense charge because of CBD. CBD is an increasingly common ingredient in both food products and cosmetics and is also smoked in various forms, whether vaporized concentrates or the actual flower of the hemp plant. CBD is derived from hemp, which under the Federal Hemp Act is legal across the United States. In a recent article in Healthgrades, CBD is noted as being particularly helpful for a wide variety of ailments and is used in products ranging from gummies to creams. However you ingest your CBD products, they will eventually make it into your bloodstream, and depending upon their contents, could lead to you testing positive for THC on a drug test.

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What are the Consequences of Illegally Possessing Prescription Drugs?

August 20, 2021 | Criminal Defense Attorney

Many people associate stiff drug possession penalties with illegal narcotics such as heroin and cocaine. However, the law defines illegal possession of drugs differently. For the most part, Wisconsin law groups drugs into categories for purposes of illegal possession. Some types of prescription drugs can fall into buckets where illegal possession can merit serious jail time. Either way, you need to take drug possession charges seriously from the very first minute.

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