Martin Hanson Advocate's Prize
Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Attorney Christopher T. Van Wagner was three-times awarded the honorable Martin Hanson Advocate Prize for securing an acquittal (not guilty verdict) or dismissal upon the merits in Wisconsin murder cases. Each year, the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers carefully selects the honorees based on the results they were able to obtain in murder cases. The Martin Hanson Advocate Prize, named in honor of one of the finest criminal defense lawyers and strongest client advocate of his generation, as well as one of the founders of WACDL, has never previously been awarded three times to the same attorney. Attorney Van Wagner is among a very small handful of criminal defense lawyers to have ever been recognized.
Acquitted: Attempted Murder
State of Wisconsin -v- Wayne Staton, charge of attempted murder. Five attorneys abandoned the case before Attorney Christopher T. Van Wagner was hired by Staton to defend him against charges of attempted murder of a house guest with whom he had become intoxicated before allegedly firing a gun that nearly killed her. Attorney Christopher Van Wagner secured an acquittal for Stanton: not guilty of murder.
Acquitted: Confessed Murder
State of Wisconsin -v- Robert Meng, charge of first-degree intentional homicide. Meng accidentally shot and killed a person, then burned the car and the victim, but under duress when he was arrested, he gave several stories and practically admitted to negligent handling of a dangerous weapon. The jury acquitted Meng on the negligent handling charge, and failed to reach a unanimous decision on the murder charge.
Acquitted: Attempted First-degree Murder
State of Wisconsin -v- Covarrubias, charge of attempted first-degree murder. Under Wisconsin law, an attempt crime is charged as full crime; attempted murder is charged as an intentional homicide (a Class A Felony subject to lifetime imprisonment). The mother of Attorney Christopher Van Wagner's client had watched with angst in her stomach but a patient confidence throughout the trial, emotions that erupted in joyful tears when the jury returned a not-guilty verdict after only two hours of deliberation.
About Christopher T. Van Wagner
Attorney
Christopher T. Van Wagner has been in practice since 1981. He graduated
from Cornell Law School. He clerked for a federal district judge, and
then began prosecuting cases in the Trenton, New Jersey district attorney's
office. Chris spent many years with a Chicago based law firm before resettling
to Wisconsin where he prosecuted federal cases. He left government work
in 1994 and entered private practice as a criminal defense lawyer. Shortly
thereafter, he and Attorney
Tracey Wood formed a successful partnership, Van Wagner & Wood,
S.C.. Chris Van Wagner is widely known for his expertise in serious felony
defense, particularly homicide, sexual assault, and white collar crimes.
Chris has been appointed by courts to assist in the defense of another
where his level of expertise was needed to protect the rights of the defendant
in the due process of the case. [Chris
Van Wagner]
Appeals & Serious Crimes - Homicide - Murder - State - Federal
Van Wagner & Wood's attorneys represent people on every type of criminal appeal, from post conviction remedies to intermediate courts in Wisconsin - the Wisconsin Court of Appeals - and Wisconsin Supreme Court, as ell as appeals under federal jurisdictions to the United States Court of Appeals. Attorney Tracey Wood frequently represents people appealing drunk driving (or related) convictions to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.
Drug Crimes
Van Wagner & Wood's criminal defense attorneys represent
people charged with drug related crimes, in both Federal and state cases. Those
attorneys most frequently represent people charged in the state of Wisconsin.
Federal Drug Charges: Van Wagner & Wood criminal defense
attornes routinely handle drug and other cases charged by a Federal agency.
State Drug Charges: Van Wagner & Wood's criminal defense
attorneys routinely handle drug related criminal cases for people residing in
Wisconsin, and most frequently residing in the following areas: Adams County,
WI (Adams, Wisconsin Dells), Ashland County, WI (Ashland), Barron County, WI
(Barron), Bayfield County, WI (Washburn, Bayfield), Buffalo County, WI (Buffalo
City, Mondovi), Burnett County, WI (Siren), Chippewa County, WI (Chippewa Falls),
Clark County, WI (Abbotsford), Columbia County, WI (Columbus, Wisconsin Dells),
Crawford County, WI (Prairie du Chien), Dane County, WI (Belleville, Black Earth,
Blue Mounds, Brooklyn, Cambridge, Cottage Grove, Cross Plains, Dane, Deerfield,
DeForest, Fitchburg, McFarland, Madison, Maple Bluff, Marshall, Mazomanie, Middleton,
Monona, Mount Horeb, Oregon, Rockdale, Shorewood Hills, Stoughton, Sun Prairie,
Verona, Waunakee, Windsor), Dunn County, WI (Menomonie), Eau Claire County,
WI (Abbotsford, Eau Claire), Grant County, WI (Mount Hope, Lancaster, Fennimore),
Green County, WI (Monroe), Iowa County, WI (Mineral Point, Dodgeville), Jackson
County, WI (Black River Falls), Jefferson County, WI (Jefferson), Juneau County,
WI (Mauston), La Crosse County, WI (LaCrosse, Lafayette, Darlington), Marathon
County, WI (Wausau), Monroe County, WI (Sparta), Pepin County, WI (Durand),
Pierce County, WI (River Falls), Polk County, WI (St Croix Falls), Portage County,
WI (Stevens Point), Price County, WI (Park Falls), Richland County, WI (Richland
Center), Rock County, WI (Janesville), Rusk (Ladysmith), St Croix County, WI
(Hudson), Sauk County, WI (Sauk City, Wisconsin Dells), Taylor County, WI (Medford),
Trempealeau County, WI (Whitehall), Waushara County, WI (Columa, Wautoma), Washburn County, WI (Spooner), and Wood
County, WI (Wisconsin Dells).
Drunk Driving (OWI, DUI, DWI)
Van Wagner & Wood's attorneys frequently represent people charged with every type of drunk driving offense in the state of Wisconsin - from OWI - 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th misdemeanor offense to 5th and higher felony offenses. The successful criminal & drunk driving defense firm also represents people against vehicular homicide while intoxicated charges, as well as operating after suspension or revocation. Attorney Tracey A. Wood is highly regarded as Wisconsin's foremost authority on drunk driving laws & defense. Attorney Christopher T. Van Wagner has been three-times honored with the Martin Hanson Advocates Prize for numerous homicide acquittals.
Van Wagner & Wood's attorneys represent people across the state of Wisconsin, and have appeared in nearly every court, the most frequent of which include: Madison, Wisconsin Dells, Baraboo, Monroe, Darlington, Jefferson, Waukesha, Portage, Montello, Friendship, Mauston, Lancaster, Prairie du Chien, Wautoma, Wisconsin Rapids, Stevens Point, Wausau, Black River Falls, Viroqua, La Crosse, Eau Claire and Janesville, Wisconsin.
Federal Crimes
Van Wagner & Wood's criminal defense attorneys handle Federal
cases throughout the state of Wisconsin and Federal appeals cases throughout
the nation. The attorneys at Van Wagner & Wood have handled Federal cases
for more than twenty years, cases and appeals ranging from Federal conspiracy,
drug charges of possession, intent to deliver, sell, distribute controlled substance,
securities fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, domestic terrorism, Internet crimes
money laundering, to kidnapping.
The criminal defense attorneys at Van Wagner & Wood represent
people charged with Felony Murder, Homicide, Negligent Homicide, Reckless Homicide,
Vehicular Homicide, Reckless Endangerment, First-degree Intentional Homicide,
and Second-degree Intentional Homicide. Those attorneys most frequently represent
people accused or charged in the state of Wisconsin. Often times, they are called
upon by a client residing outside of the state of Wisconsin, which they represent
in very serious crimes such as Felony Murder or Homicide. Van Wagner & Wood 's attorneys have handled cases for clients in Florida, Kansas, Oklahoma, California, New Jersey, Minnesota, and Illinois.
Van Wagner & Wood's criminal law defense lawyers frequently appear in Wisconsin Circuit Courts in Madison, Wisconsin for Dane County; Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin for Chippewa County Circuit Court; Menomonie, Wisconsin for Dunn County Circuit Court; Eau Claire, Wisconsin for Eau Claire Circuit Court; Lancaster, Wisconsin for Grant County Circuit Court; Monroe, Wisconsin for Green County Circuit Court; Mauston, Wisconsin for Juneau County Circuit Court; La Crosse, Wisconsin for LaCrosse County Circuit Court; Wausau, Wisconsin for Marathon County Circuit Court; Sparta, Wisconsin for Monroe County Circuit Court; Stevens Point, Wisconsin for Portage County Circuit Court; Janesville, Wisconsin at Rock County Circuit Court; Baraboo, Wisconsin at Sauk County Circuit Court; Wisconsin Dells at Columbia County Circuit Court; Wisconsin Rapids at Wood County Circuit Court; Waukesha, Wisconsin at Waukesha County Circuit Court; Elkhorn, Wisconsin at Walworth County Circuit Court. They also appear at Oneida Circuit Court in Rhinelander, Wisconsin; Langlade Circuit Court at Antigo, Wisconsin.
If your case is in another area of Wisconsin, please contact an attorney at Van Wagner & Wood to discuss it.
