ON THE DEFENSIVE: Should juries really be searching for the ‘truth?’
Jury instructions are a central part of any criminal trial.
ON THE DEFENSIVE: The case for ‘good time’ on extended supervision
For more than 15 years, Wisconsin courts have operated under the “truth in sentencing” model.
ON THE DEFENSIVE: Wisconsin has enough prosecutors
Attorney General Brad Schimel has announced his plan to ask the Legislature for millions more dollars to hire more prosecutors throughout the state.
ON THE DEFENSIVE: Netflix documentary shows making of a good defense attorney
The Netflix series “Making a Murderer” has garnered national attention. The episodes are compelling, largely because Steven Avery was wrongly convicted of rape, having served 18 years in prison for that crime.
ON THE DEFENSIVE: With pay progression, prosecutors and defenders should come before judges
In her State of the Judiciary Address, Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Pat Roggensack promised that she will fight for higher judicial salaries when the Legislature begins work on the state’s next budget.
ON THE DEFENSIVE: She was just 17… and shouldn’t be tried as an adult
Under Wisconsin law, a 17-year-old is considered an “adult” for the purpose of criminal prosecution.
ON THE DEFENSIVE: The expanding Fourth Amendment
In recent years, some of the biggest cases before the United States Supreme Court have dealt with how Fourth Amendment protections should apply in modern circumstances.
ON THE DEFENSIVE: Citations shouldn’t be cash cow for municipalities
Americans are over-legislated, a fact that partly explains why we incarcerate more people than any other country on the planet.
ON THE DEFENSIVE: Doubling down on a failed approach
America has 5 percent of the world’s population, but 25 percent of its prisoners. As a society, we should have the courage to recognize that doubling down on a failed system is not a means of making our communities safer.
ON THE DEFENSIVE: The veteran’s dilemma
Of the 1.6 million military members who are now veterans, about 670,000 have been deemed to have a disability that is connected to their military service.
ON THE DEFENSIVE: A letter to new prosecutors
It’s that time of year when social media becomes flooded with pictures and posts from new law school graduates, all who will soon embark on different careers.
ON THE DEFENSIVE: Wisconsin’s disastrous probation revocation system
By state law, probation must be the first consideration at sentencing. Because of this, and because many everyday crimes do not warrant incarceration, thousands of defendants are placed on probation every year in Wisconsin.
Legal News
- Congressional candidate challenges rivals’ ballot papers
- FBI interview covers poll worker’s complaint
- Milwaukee County hires lawyers to protect 2020 ballot privacy
- Madison election official reassigned after ballot error
- Prison guard sentenced for sexually assaulting inmate
- Wisconsin Supreme Court weighs judicial recusal rules
- Wisconsin settles Waupun prison death lawsuit for $3.75M
- Wisconsin settles $10M PFAS lawsuit against Tyco
- Poll: Most Americans think Supreme Court favors Trump
- FBI interviews Milwaukee officers in 2020 election probe
- Georgia-Pacific settles wrongful termination lawsuit
- Attorney reprimanded over witness payments
Case Digests
- Witness Inducement-Public Reprimand
- Attorney Misconduct-License Revocation
- Daubert Standard-Damages Cap
- Business Replacement Benefits-Equitable Estoppel
- Self-Storage Act-Sufficiency of Evidence
- Rule 11 Plea-Constructive Possession
- Sentencing Enhancement-Harmless Error- Methamphetamine Distribution
- Substantive Reasonableness-Sentencing Disparity
- Deferential Substantial-Evidence Standard-Hardship Determination
- First Amendment-Connick/Pickering Balancing Framework
- Monell Liability-Eighth Amendment (Medical Care)
- Lanham Act-International Service





