Legal Ground

Will I go to jail for a DUI/OWI/Drunk Driving?

I hear this question all the time. Unfortunately, like most questions people ask lawyers, the answer is, “It depends.” It depends on a great many variables. While you are waiting in police custody to be released to a responsible party or worse while you sit in jail waiting to appear in front of the intake court, you are probably not calmly and methodically working through the logic of the…

What if I failed the Field Sobriety Tests?

It’s the middle of the night. You are driving home from a local tavern or a buddy’s house. You’re tired and looking forward crawling into your nice warm bed. Much to your surprise, you see the lights of a police car in your rear view mirror. What was a nice evening, has just turned into a nightmare. You could lose your license, your job…even your freedom because the officer suspects you of…

Don’t look now…

Legally Weird reports that the FAA is attempting to take away your God given right to keep and bear flamethrower drones. Those opposing the measure claim that the only thing that stops a bad guy with a flamethrower drone is a good guy with a flamethrower drone. House Democrats are reported to be scheduling a sit-in to raise consciousness of the danger of flamethrower drones and get a vote on such…

This one smells bad. Here it is….

Answering to a Higher Court

In June of 2014 I wrote a post about my two vocations. I am both a criminal defense lawyer and an Anglican Priest. I was recently featured in an online article about Alumni of the Lawrenceville School, the prep school I attended near Princeton University. Follow this link to read it.

Cooky Case of the Day: New York Man Eats DWI Test Results.

PORT CHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — A 40-year-old man is facing multiple charges after New York state police say he tried to eat his DWI test results. Troopers say Kenneth Desormes, of Greenwich, Connecticut, was stopped for speeding on Interstate 95 at 5:30 a.m. Sunday. After speaking with him, the troopers determined he was intoxicated and arrested him. Desormes was transported to the state police…

Cooky Case of the Day: Cooky Field Sobriety Tests

Follow this link for today’s Cooky Case a funny video of field sobriety testing. This is what it takes to pas folks…..almost.

Cooky Case of The Day: Man Gets DUI in Barbie Car

Here’s proof that when they say “motorized vehicle” they mean any motorized vehicle. They have made cases stick for drunk garden tractor driving and farmers driving to and from the tavern for a beer and pickled egg between fields. The Telegraph reports that an intoxicated man was arrested and lost his license to drive for operating his daughter’s Barbie Car while under the influence. follow this…

Cooky Case of the Day: Aussie is Ingenious Drunk Driver

Here’s a link to a case about a guy who couldn’t wait until he got to the bar and invented his own “cooler car” powered by a 50cc motor.

New Feature: The Cooky Case of the Day

It occurred to me the readers of On Legal Ground might like a little levity. So in between blog articles, I will scour the web for some good legal humor. Here is today’s Cooky Case from Legal Juice

If you’re wondering “Is there a ‘right’ Mercedes to steal?” – the answer is a resounding “yes.” It would be a Mercedes that doesn’t have a lion in the back.. Per The Telegraph:

Caesar, Circus Probst’s…

The Innocent Owner Defense: Wait! That’s My Car!

Parent’s have bought cars for their kids for a long time. For our children, the ownership of that first car is a rite of passage in a young person’s life. This is certainly the case here in Southeastern Wisconsin. A good friend of mine just presented his daughter with her first car for her birthday complete with a bow on the hood.

Parent’s usually elect to retain title to their kids’…

Do I really need a Lawyer for a First Offense DUI?

If you are arrested for a repeat offense drunk driving or DUI in Wisconsin and convicted, there is no question that you are going to spend some time in jail as part of your sentence. Get convicted enough times, you are going to prison. On a first offense, the penalties are not as severe. In fact, there is no incarceration associated with a first offense conviction. So why invest in the services…

Temporary Restraining Orders Revisited

About a week ago I wrote a post on this blog entitled I have been served with a Temporary Restraining Order, now What?It received a fair amount of attention so I thought I had better write a follow up. There are two types of TRO’s granted in anticipation of an injunction hearing in Wisconsin regularly. Those related to harassment which often arise out of neighbor disputes and those related to…

How Can You be a Priest and a Lawyer?

I have made a career of defending the rights of the accused. I am also an Anglican priest and Canon Lawyer of the Diocese of Quincy (ACNA). I am often asked how I can function in both vocations. We in the churh refer someone like me as bivocational. The Church has a long history of clergy who work in the secular world. St. Paul was a tent maker. My father, also a priest, is a licensed…

I have been served with a Temporary Restraining Order, now What?

In my years of practice, I have handled quite a few Harassment and Domestic Violence restraining order cases. They are emotionally charged and often involve significant consequences. They are not to be trifled with. If you receive a temporary restraining order there is no question that your first call needs to be to a lawyer. Here is a brief outline of points to remember.

1. Keep a cool head:Co…

An empty inbox is a happy inbox.

If you are like me. You get a lot of email. You probably have multiple email addresses. Email can be overwhelming. Between legitimate business, spam and the many email lists you have fallen prey to, it can be difficult to dig out. I recently got out my shovel and did just that. It made me so happy that I thought would share.

As a criminal defense lawyer with a busy practice, I had amassed a…