Drewa ‘protective, persuasive’ voice for clients

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As a forensic practice coordinator and assistant state public defender, Timothy Drewa is known as a tenacious litigator.

“He diligently prepares for motion and pretrial hearings,” said Eric Heywood, training coordinator at the State Public Defender’s Office.

Drewa is a 2013 graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School. During his time there, he immersed himself in criminal law by participating in the Innocence Project, Prosecution Project and the Criminal Appeals Project.

“Attorney Drewa relies on that experience not only as a practical understanding of how the criminal justice system does work, but also as an academic viewpoint to envision how it should work,” Heywood said.

After law school, Drewa joined a firm in northern Wisconsin: O’Melia, Schiek & McEldowney. While in private practice, he helped clients with various legal questions, including ones touching on civil, criminal, divorce and workers’ compensation matters. He also represented the public as a guardian ad litem and as a city prosecutor.

Drewa joined the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Oshkosh office in 2015 and was transferred to the West Bend office in 2018.

“He connects with clients who may otherwise feel scared or abandoned by the criminal justice system,” Heywood said. “He is passionate in his commitment to explain and protect the legal rights of his clients. Attorney Drewa works hard to accomplish the client’s goals.

“He uses creative motion practice to advocate for his clients,” Heywood added. “He brainstorms innovative ways on how to apply existing law and how to expand it. Some of his novel motion ideas have even been granted review on appeal by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.”