Chris Zachar
Pardon applications in Wisconsin
When Governor Evers assumed office he breathed new life into an institution that Governor Walker refused to use over his eight years in...
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Chris Zachar
Sep 18, 20234 min read
Your options for resolving an arrest without a criminal conviction
Many clients come to us after being arrested for the first time terrified by the prospect of going through life with a criminal record. ...
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Chris Zachar
Dec 6, 20194 min read
Cell Phone Forensics: Location Data
Forensic location data from cell phones, tablets, and even smart watches is becoming more and more common in criminal prosecutions....
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Chris Zachar
Sep 2, 20194 min read
How the police can legally steal from you: Civil asset forfeitures
It is fairly common to get a new criminal case, and in the weeks that follow for a client to get served with a lawsuit seeking to seize...
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Chris Zachar
Jul 3, 20194 min read
WHY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM SPENDS MONEY ON BILLBOARDS AND CARTOONS BUT NOT REHAB AND PROBATION
I was driving down South Avenue in La Crosse this morning when a billboard caught my eye: it advised me to know the consequences of...
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Chris Zachar
Jul 2, 20192 min read
What does it mean when you're charged as a "Repeater?"
Almost every week I walk into court with a client who is shocked by language on a criminal complaint charging them as a “repeater.” “But...
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Chris Zachar
May 18, 20192 min read
A quick guide to subpoenas in criminal cases
What are they? A subpoena is a court order requiring the appearance of a witness (subpoena and certificate of appearance), or the...
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Chris Zachar
May 18, 20195 min read
What goes into trial preparation?
We’re currently preparing a half dozen or so trials for the summer, so I thought it would make sense to discuss a little bit of what goes...
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Chris Zachar
May 3, 20191 min read
Taking a moment to brag
Lawyers love to brag about themselves. Successful cases, semi-successful cases, and even cases that weren’t actually successful often...
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Chris Zachar
Feb 24, 20195 min read
What is a conflict of interest?
The number one reason we turn prospective clients away is due to conflict of interest. And the clear majority of those clients ask us...
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Chris Zachar
Feb 17, 20194 min read
How Wisconsin's insane concept of supervision drives our insane belief in mass incarceration
Last week the Columbia University Justice Lab released a report detailing many of Wisconsin’s most prominent failures in sentencing and...
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Chris Zachar
Feb 7, 20194 min read
A New Approach to Teenage 'Sexting' Prosecutions
In recent years, prosecutors across the State have begun charging teens who exchange nude selfies with possession, or even the creation...
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Chris Zachar
Dec 23, 20183 min read
Five TV shows that get the criminal justice system right
I’ll be the first to tell anyone who wants to listen that my job is not like how it is portrayed on television. All too often I see...
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Chris Zachar
Dec 23, 20187 min read
Don't fall for fake news from the La Crosse Police Department
Over the past few years, the La Crosse Police Department has become increasingly vocal over what it deems a “revolving door” criminal...
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Chris Zachar
Oct 27, 201812 min read
Wisconsin's Dumb Marijuana Laws
Perhaps the oldest staple in the war on drugs is a national prohibition on the possession of marijuana. I grew up with a vilified image...
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Chris Zachar
Oct 21, 20185 min read
So you want a new judge or a change of venue?
One of the most frequent questions we get from our clients is whether they can get a different judge or a change of venue. The question...
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Chris Zachar
Sep 29, 20183 min read
A Short Primer on Self-Defense
Much of our practice is devoted to defending people accused of violent crimes and in many of those cases, we defend a client who was...
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Chris Zachar
Sep 29, 20185 min read
The Public Defender Crisis in Wisconsin
Public Defenders are some of the most dedicated, experienced and highly-skilled attorneys out there. Many people contact me because they...
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Chris Zachar
Sep 29, 20185 min read
A Quick Guide to Anonymous Tips, Confidential Informants, and Jailhouse Snitches
Many of our cases originate from an anonymous call, information provided by a police informant, or allegations from a jailhouse snitch....
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Chris Zachar
Jul 29, 20185 min read
When do you really need a lawyer?
I get a lot of calls from prospective clients asking whether I think they really need a lawyer to help them with a traffic ticket, police...
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