Author: Benjamin Van Severen

You were convicted of a felony.  Now you’re wondering – where can felons work in Wisconsin?  (And the United States?) Whether and where felons can work is a polarizing topic for discussion.  Some people believe that it’s appropriate to ban felons from working for the rest of their lives.  These individuals think that a mistake…

What is voter disenfranchisement? Voter disenfranchisement refers to the practice of restricting or denying someone’s ability to vote.  Voter disenfranchisement can take many forms, including things we all share, like gender and age.  In other countries around the world, voter disenfranchisement is sometimes based on ethnicity or the area within a country an individual resides. …

What if you’re just causing a ruckus about the election? Let’s consider an example.  You’re out for a night on Brady Street and after a few drinks you decide that you really, really need to start chanting the last name of your favorite politician.  Sure, it’s annoying, but this conduct isn’t necessarily criminal yet.  But…

What happens when you’re arrested?  What tips can our criminal defense attorneys provide? Some of our clients aren’t surprised when they’re arrested.  But most are.  No matter your position in life, it’s an uncomfortable, sometimes scary scenario to be in.  As criminal defense attorneys, we regularly review police videos (body and squad car cameras) that…

Michigan Law – Involuntary manslaughter Prosecutors in Michigan argued the Crumbleys violated a law called involuntary manslaughter.  Wisconsin does not have a law called involuntary manslaughter, so let’s start by dissecting the Michigan law. Michigan, like Wisconsin, relies on jury instructions when considering criminal charges.  Michigan Model Criminal Jury Instruction 16.10 indicates the elements of…

Wisconsin’s expungement laws haven’t changed much in 2024.  This blog post explains the current state of the law: Wisconsin’s expungement laws in 2024 haven’t changed much.  Over the last few years, but for a few minor changes in the law, expungement (expunction) functions pretty consistently throughout the state.  And although Wisconsin’s law on wiping away…

A felony conviction makes life more difficult.  Unfortunately, it also impacts your ability to travel. A felony conviction does not mean the end of your life.  But it does mean some things will be more difficult.  Applying for a new job, or a new apartment, and maintaining certain rights as a citizen of the United…

Wondering whether police can stop you for broken taillights in Wisconsin?  Van Severen Law Office, S.C. criminal defense lawyers explain: Broken taillights, and replacing burnt out bulbs, involves one of the most basic forms of maintenance we must perform on our vehicles.  This is especially the case if you’ve ever had the pleasure of driving…

How it all started: Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 farm bill) Farm bills in the United States are comprehensive omnibus bills that are passed every five to six years.  They cover agricultural and food policy for the federal government.  The 2018 Farm Bill (Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018) legalized industrial hemp and its derivatives…

What happens when you run from police on foot?  Resisting an officer – Section 946.41 of the Wisconsin Statutes Section 946.41 of the Wisconsin Statutes is titled “resisting or obstructing an officer.  Obstructing an officer generally applies to situations where and individual intentionally lies or misleads the police.  But resisting an officer applies to situations…