Criminal Law

Criminal cases involve alleged violations of the law.  Sometimes, that can be for something relatively ordinary, like speeding, or it can be quite serious, like drug possession or a bar fight.  What is shared by all of these types of cases is that anyone charged faces legal consequences.  These consequences can include monetary fines, and, if serious enough, jail time.  

Resolving these types of cases takes an attorney willing to listen to your side of the story, review the evidence, and engage prosecutors on your behalf.  Scroll down to see some of the most common types of criminal law cases that Attorney Hirsch handles. 

Traffic Tickets

Getting pulled over and getting a ticket can ruin anyone’s day.  Oftentimes, people will choose to just pay the ticket and be done with it.  But, this can be really bad for the long term.  First, it means that you may have points added to your license, and too many points will result in your license being suspended.  Second, your insurance rates are far more likely to go up if you just pay the ticket, because you are admitting guilt to exactly what you were charged with. 

Hiring an attorney to handle your traffic ticket will allow you to either have your ticket negotiated to a reduced charge (oftentimes, to a non-moving violation, which will help your insurance rates), or potentially having the whole ticket dismissed.  As a bonus, you will likely not have to appear in court.

Contact Attorney Hirsch and see what can be done about your ticket to keep you moving on the road.

OWI / DUI

Wisconsin is consistently in the top 5 for states with the most drunk driving cases.  Being charged with operating while intoxicated (OWI), otherwise known as driving under the influence (DUI), is often the most serious interaction with the law that people face.  The consequences can be very serious: loss of license, steep fines, incredibly expensive insurance, and potential jail time.  

Handling this type of case properly requires a knowledgeable attorney to review of all of the evidence from your interaction with police.  This includes the validity of the initial traffic stop, the investigation itself, the administration of the field sobriety tests, and any additional scientific testing.  If challenging the charges based on the evidence is unlikely to result in a victory, then a negotiated resolution is also an option.

In order to determine the best path towards a resolution on your OWI case, contact Attorney Hirsch and find out what can be done.

Misdemeanors

Misdemeanors are criminal offenses that can result in jail penalties up to 9 months, fines up to $10,000, or both.  These types of charges can range from disorderly conduct to drug possession to assault.  A conviction of a misdemeanor can have serious consequences on your life.

The Sixth Amendment in the U.S. Constitution guarantees a criminal defendant’s right to an attorney.  While hiring a private attorney is not a requirement for defending a criminal case, it can be immensely helpful to help you reach a better resolution.  A private attorney will be able to spend significantly more time reviewing your case and getting to know you (as opposed to a court-appointed public defender).  That will give you a major advantage in determining the most beneficial course of action for your case.  

Attorney Hirsch will listen to your side of the story, explain the law in terms you can actually understand, review evidence, make court appearances with you (or on your behalf), speak to the prosecutor, evaluate available options, and guide you to the best possible results on your case.  

To get started on your defense of your misdemeanor case, contact Attorney Hirsch.

Ordinance Violations

Ordinance violations are criminal charges, but at the municipal court level.  Most often, these are charges for violations such as disorderly conduct, underage drinking, possessing a fake ID, public intoxication, and low level assault.  But make no mistake: these charges should be taken very seriously.  Consequences for these types of cases can still have a serious impact on your life.

For a review and representation of your ordinance violation, contact Attorney Hirsch.