Lawyer Overview

Steve Hurley's more than 35 years of practice provides clients with the background necessary to litigate complex cases. Steve is highly regarded throughout the state for his expertise in criminal defense. His persuasive presentation in the courtroom and knowledge of the law make him an effective litigator for civil cases as well. Steve was nominated and elected by his peers to the American College of Trial lawyers. His reputation earns him many referrals from colleagues for both criminal and civil cases.

Steve practices before agencies, state and federal courts, and has successfully represented clients at all stages: from pre-suit or pre-charging negotiations, through appeals before the appellate and supreme courts.

Various bar associations frequently request Steve to lecture on evidence, trial advocacy and criminal defense topics. Since 1989 he has been an adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin law School, a popular teacher on evidence and trial advocacy. In 1998 Steve was appointed by Governor Tommy Thompson as a member of the Criminal Penalties Study Committee, composed of judges, lawyers and corrections officials, which provided advice about implementation of Wisconsin's Truth in Sentencing Law and which rewrote the penalty structure for criminal offenses.

Steve was recently profiled by the Isthmus magazine in a cover story titled "Hurley for the Defense," available here. In addition, the American Bar Association Journal had a feature article on Steve's recent victory on behalf of a client. The article is available here.

The 2008 Wisconsin Super Lawyers® magazine featured Steve in its cover story.

On going to court
"I prepare. What you see in court is a show – not one line is unrehearsed. Liken it to a play written, produced and performed by one person for one show. You can’t do it without preparation."

On understanding
"You must listen well. Empathy follows as does understanding. In the end, they have to trust me and I have to respect that trust."

Areas of Practice

• Criminal Defense

Representative Cases

• People ex rel. Rice v. Cunningham, 336 N.E.2d 1 (Illinois 1975)
• Green v. Associated Milk Producers, Inc., 692 F.2d 1153 (C.A.8 (Minn.) 1982)
• County of Door v. Hayes-Brook, 449 N.W.2d 601 (Wis. 1990)
• Jackson v. Benson, 578 N.W. 2d 602 (Wis. 1998)
• Uhl v. Zalk Josephs Fabricators, Inc., 121 F.3d 1133 (7th Cir. 1997)
• State v. Wulff, 557 N.W. 2d 813 (7th Cir 1997)
• State v. Hicks, 549 N.W. 2d 435 (Wis. 1996)
• State v. Hicks, 536 N.W.2d 487 (Wis. 1995)
• DeWitt, Porter, Huggett Schumucher & Morgan, S.C. v. Kovalic, 991 F.2d 1243 (7th Cir 1993)
• John Doe Case No. 2003 JD 001 v. The Honorable J. Mac Davis and State of Wisconsin, 2005 WI 70 (2005)
• United States of America v. Georgia Thompson, 484 F.3d 877 (7th Cir. 2007)

West Practice Categories

Criminal Law

Bar Admissions

• Illinois
• Wisconsin
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois
• U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin
• U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit
• U.S. Supreme Court

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Former Member, Board Directors)
• Wisconsin Defender (Member, Editorial Advisory Board)
• Dane County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
• Dane County Bar Association
• State Bar of Wisconsin
• Wisconsin Criminal Defense Manual, 1992 (Member, Editorial Review Board)
• State Bar of Wisconsin
• Defense Juvenile Case in Wisconsin, 1993 (Member, Editorial Review Board)
• Wisconsin Education Fund (U.S. Representative Scott Klug), 1992 - 1994 (Former Chairman)
• Western District Bar Association, Criminal Justice Committee (Former Chairman)
• American Inns of Court, James E. Doyle Chapter, 1992 - 1999 (Master Bencher)

Honors and Awards

• William M. Coffey Defender Award, 2007
• Warren L. Stopler Award to the Most Outstanding Adjunct Member of the Instructional Staff, University of Wisconsin Law School, 2004
• Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
• The Best Lawyers In America, 1995 - Present
• Super Lawyer - Super Lawyers and Rising Stars®/Milwaukee Magazine, 2005 - 2008
• Who's Who in American Law
• Leading Wisconsin Attorney, 1999
• Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Legal Defense Service, Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, 1994
• Certificate For Contributions, Drama Series "Picket Fences" Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, 1992 - 1993

Classes and Seminars

• Doggone Dogma: Dogs, Alerts & Admissibility, Dane County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, April 8, 2008
• Evidence, Trial Advocacy, University of Wisconsin Law School, 1989 - 2007
• Wisconsin Evidence Workshop, Professional Educations Systems, Inc., 1992 - 2004
• American Jurisdiction over Foreign Business, National Cheng Chi University, Taiwan, 1996

Past Employment Positions

• Office of the State Appellate Defender, Fifth Judicial District Mt. Vernon, Illinois, Deputy Defender, 1974 - 1976
• Office of the State Appellate Defender, Third Judicial District, Ottawa, Illinois, Assistant Defender, 1972 - 1974
• Dane County, Wisconsin, Court Commissioner, 1982 - 1999

Education

• University of Illinois College of Law, Champaign, Illinois, 1972
  J.D.
• Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 1969
  B.A.
  Honors: Dean's List
  Major: Political Science

Offers Free Initial Consultation

Accepts Credit Cards

Published Works

• Can Defense Counsel Ethically Breach A Plea Agreement?, Wisconsin Defender, June, 2005
• The Attorney-Client Privilege: The Self Defense Exception To The Attorney-Client Privilege, Wisconsin Defender, January , 1998
• Admissibility of "Soft Science" Expert Testimony in Wisconsin and Techniques to Challenge its Use, Wisconsin Defender, December, 1998
• Straw, Sticks or Bricks: How Strong is the Attorney-Client Privilege? A Cautionary Tale for Defense Counsel, Wisconsin Defender, June, 1998
• "Sharp Practice:" The Use of Section 908.01(4)(b) Admission by Party-Opponent to Hoist A Prosecutor By His Own Words, or the Lessons of State v. Cardenas-Hernandez, Wisconsin Defender, December , 1999

Address

33 East Main Street
Suite 400
Madison, WI 53703-3095

Phones

(608) 257-0945

Faxes

(608) 257-5764

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.hbslawfirm.com