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John Birdsall

John Birdsall

We Demand Justice
  • Criminal Law, DUI & DWI, Domestic Violence ...
  • New York, Wisconsin
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Biography

Attorney John Birdsall has more than 30 years of experience and has earned a reputation as one of the most trusted criminal defense lawyers in Milwaukee and the State of Wisconsin. With over 250 jury trails, mostly for serious felonies such as homicide, he has an acquittal rate that is three times the Wisconsin average. John’s practice is focused exclusively on defending the wrongly accused, and has recently helped a client named Eddie Gill. After being accused of shooting and killing a Milwaukee resident, John helped uncover that the police has interrogated Gill into confessing when he was in fact not involved at all. Gill was merely a witness to the crime, and John was able to defend his rights and have the case dismissed and all of the charges again Gill were dropped. John has been able to help several clients defend their rights, like Gill, and ensure that they are getting the best results no matter what the charges are against them. As a current member of the board of directors and past President of the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, John has helped developing sentencing guidelines for state judges and serves as a member of the Wisconsin Sentencing Commission. He also holds an AV rating, the highest available, in Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, which is a testament to the fact that his peers have ranked him at the highest level of professional excellence. John has shared his experiences by writing and hosting lectures for a wide range of audiences on criminal law topics such as warrantless searches, coerced confessions, prison overcrowding and truth-in-sentencing. John earned a Bachelor of Arts with Honors from University of Wisconsin Madison and a Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin Law School where he was named to the Dean’s List. He was also formerly associated with Borgelt, Powell, Peterson & Frauen as well as Gonzalez, Saggio, Birdsall & Harlan in Milwaukee before beginning his own prac

Education
University of Wisconsin Law School
J.D. (1989) | Law
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Activities: Dean's List (Law School), Graduated with Honors, Legal Defense Project (student attorney).
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University of Wisconsin - Madison
B.A. (1986) | Political Science, History - Honors Program
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Activities: Phi Beta Kappa National Honors Society, Political Science Society, Model Organization of American States
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Professional Experience
Founder
Birdsall Obear & Associates LLC
- Current
President
Birdsall Law Offices, S.C.
- Current
Attorney
Gonzalez, Saggio, Birdsall & Harlan
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Attorney
Borgelt, Powell, Peterson & Frauen S.C.
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Publications
Articles & Publications
Race and Sentencing in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Sentencing Commission
Sentencing in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Sentencing Commission
Trouble Ahead: Wisconsin's New Domestic Abuse Laws
Wisconsin Lawyer
Chair's Perspective
Criminal Law News
Chair's Perspective
Criminal Law News
Problems with the New Truth-in-Sentencing Law
Wisconsin Lawyer
Chair's Perspective
Criminal Law News
Legislative Committee Report
Criminal Law News
Legislative Committee Report
Criminal Law News
Speaking Engagements
Representing Indigent Defendants at Sentencing and Disposition, 1998 State Bar of Wisconsin Annual Convention
Sentencing Hearing in the "New World", Refocusing the Profession for the New Millenium
Awards
Martin Hanson Advocate Prize
Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
The Martin Hanson Advocate Prize is awarded to a criminal defense attorney in Wisconsin that achieves the rare achievement of getting an acquittal in a homicide case.
AV Rating
Martindale-Hubbell
Awarded to attorney based on a high rating by their peers
Professional Associations
Wisconsin State Bar  # 1017786
Member
Current
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Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
President
Current
Activities: Past President of the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
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Wisconsin State Bar, Criminal Law Section
Board Member
Current
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National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Member
Current
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Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Board of Directors
Current
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State Bar of Wisconsin, Sentencing Commission
Member
Current
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Milwaukee Rescue Mission
Volunteer Attorney
Current
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YMCA Milwaukee Urban Campus
Board Member
Current
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Committee on Indegent Defense Compensation
Member
Current
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Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
New York
New York State Office of Court Administration
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Wisconsin
Wisconsin Court System
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Fees
  • Free Consultation
  • Credit Cards Accepted
Practice Areas
    Criminal Law
    Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
    DUI & DWI
    Domestic Violence
    Domestic Violence Criminal Defense, Domestic Violence Restraining Orders
    White Collar Crime
    Appeals & Appellate
    Civil Appeals, Federal Appeals
Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
Websites & Blogs
Website
Website
Blog
Legal Blog
Contact & Map
Birdsall Obear & Associates LLC
Milwaukee Office
1219 N. Cass Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Telephone: (414) 928-2309
Fax: (414) 831-5468