Atty. Anthony D. Cotton | Attorney

Tony was born and raised in Waukesha, Wisconsin. He attended Catholic Memorial High School from 1994-1998, the University of Wisconsin Whitewater from 1998-2000, and the University of Wisconsin Madison from 2000-2002. Tony majored in Political Science at UW and held officer positions in numerous student organizations. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin, Tony enrolled at Marquette University Law School where he specialized in criminal and international law. In 2003, Tony was elected President of the Marquette Law School International Law Society. Shortly thereafter, Tony accepted a summer job in Eritrea, East Africa. During that summer, Tony traveled throughout Eritrea investigating and documenting human rights abuses committed by Ethiopian soldiers.

Upon his return, Tony began working with his Moot Court team to prepare for the National Environmental Law Competition. At a competition of over 100 teams in New York, the Environmental Law Team won an award for Best Appellant Brief and Tony was recognized as the best oralist for one round. His team's brief is published as a Law Review article. During this time, Tony had been hired by the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company and by the Federal Defender's Office of the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Tony worked for the Federal Defender's Office from September - December, 2004. As a law clerk in this office, Tony performed legal research, helped draft a habeas brief to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, and traveled to the Supreme Court to hear oral arguments in the Booker case. Tony's employment with Northwestern Mutual began in September 2004 and ended in May 2005, when Tony graduated law school and began working for Kuchler & Cotton Law Offices.

Since he has begun practicing, Tony has quickly developed a reputation as an attorney who fights hard for his clients. Tony has obtained not guilty verdicts and dismissals on charges of Reckless Endangerment, Battery, Substantial Battery, Carrying a Concealed Weapon, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Illegal Alien in Possession of a Firearm, Heroin Dealing, Voter Fraud, Obstructing an Officer, Resisting Arrest, Burglary, Robbery, Hit & Run, Cocaine Delivery, Bail Jumping, Child Neglect, Physical Abuse of a Child, Theft by Contractor, Disorderly Conduct and many others. In many cases, juries have found Tony's clients not guilty despite confessions and overwhelming physical evidence against them. In one case, despite the client confessing to the crime, Tony convinced a judge mid-trial to dismiss a gun charge due to lack of evidence. In another case, three eyewitnesses claimed to see Tony's client shoot five rounds into their house. The jury acquitted the client in less than one hour. In yet another trial, Tony's client was accused of breaking into a school and beating and stealing from teachers. The client was identified by the teachers and was allegedly seen speeding away in a van. The client was charged with 3 felony and 3 misdemeanor charges. The jury acquitted him on everything.

Tony has been successful in getting evidence suppressed. In Milwaukee, Tony has suppressed confessions and other physical evidence, resulting in dismissals of gun charges and bail jumpings. In Waukesha, Tony has convinced judges to suppress statements, confessions and evidence of drug dealing. In one case, felony manufacturing of marijuana charges were dismissed after he filed a motion challenging the search of his client's house. Tony has won motions in virtually every jurisdiction he practices in. In federal court, Tony has gotten charges of heroin delivery, voter fraud, illegal alien in possession of a firearm, and marijuana conspiracy, dismissed. Tony is one of the youngest attorneys to ever receive federal appointments and has quickly earned a reputation as an aggressive, hard-working attorney.

At the age of 26 Tony was elected to the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (WACDL). At the age of 28 he was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL). With WACDL, Tony is also the co-chair of the Legislative Affairs Committee. For NACDL Tony serves as Vice-Chair of the Indigent Defense Committee. In Waukesha, Tony is heavily involved in the community. In June, 2009 Tony was elected President of 180 Juvenile Diversion, an organization helping divert criminal charges for youthful offenders.

Tony is highly committed to criminal defense and spends countless hours working for and defending his clients. Tony's hard work was recognized in 2008 when he was selected by Super Lawyers as a rising star in the criminal defense field. Tony believes strongly in the importance of holding the police and the prosecution to their burden of proof and will fight hard for your rights. Tony comes from a blue collar background. He drove garbage truck for years while putting himself through college and law school. On Saturdays, you still may see him driving truck for his father's company, Cotton Disposal.

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