Anthony Cotton

Tony was born and raised in Waukesha, Wisconsin. He went to Catholic Memorial High School, UW-Madison and Marquette Law School. During his second year of law school Tony was hired by a Yale law professor to investigate human rights abuses in Eritrea, East Africa. Throughout the summer of 2004, Tony traveled throughout Eritrea to interview civilians and prepare claims for people who had been victimized as a result of the Eritrean-Ethiopian war. This experience solidified Tony’s desire to help the underdog.

While still in law school, Tony was selected to intern with the Federal Defender’s Office in Milwaukee. As a law clerk, Tony was invited to Washington, D.C. to help the attorneys prepare arguments for one of the most historic criminal cases in United States history – United States v. Booker (2005).

Tony joined Kuchler & Cotton immediately upon graduating law school in 2005. He has spent his entire professional career working for the underdog and the voiceless. All of Tony’s practice involves defending those accused of crimes.

Tony is known for his results but also for his creativity, passion and work ethic. He is willing to work night and day to make sure that he gets the best results for his clients. Tony’s first trial, right out of law school, was a homicide case in Jefferson County – the client was found not guilty. Tony has even won cases after the client was previously convicted by a jury. In 2015 Tony was hired by a family to represent a young man serving life in prison for homicide. The client’s conviction had been overturned on appeal. The case went to trial and the jury acquitted the client after a few hours of deliberation.

Tony has also obtained not guilty verdicts and dismissals on charges of First Degree Intentional Homicide, Reckless Homicide, Second Degree Sexual Assault, 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. Tony has secured not guilty verdicts in Federal Court (one count of bank robbery, one count of witness intimidation, and one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime).

Juries have found Tony’s clients not guilty in cases where his clients have confessed to the crimes and even in cases where the evidence is overwhelming. In one case, despite the client confessing to the crime, a judge agreed, mid-trial, to dismiss a gun charge given the lack of corroborating evidence. Another client was found not guilty of robbing and assaulting nuns despite the fact that he was identified at trial and in a lineup as the perpetrator. 

Tony has been successful in getting evidence suppressed. In Milwaukee, Tony has had confessions and other physical evidence suppressed, resulting in dismissals of gun charges, drug charges and bail jumping offenses. In Milwaukee County, a judge suppressed four pounds of marijuana and $12,000 in cash because of an illegal police intrusion into the client’s home. After the win, the money was returned to the client. In Waukesha, judges have suppressed statements, confessions and evidence of drug dealing. In one case, felony marijuana manufacturing charges were dismissed after Tony filed a motion and brief 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 outright. Tony is one of the youngest attorneys to ever receive federal appointments in the Eastern District of Wisconsin.

One year out of law school, Tony was elected to the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (WACDL). He served in every leadership capacity in the organization and was elected President in 2015, where he served for two years. Tony was also elected to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) at the age of 28. In 2010 Tony became a Life Member of NACDL. In 2012 he was re-elected to another 3 year term on the NACDL Board. Tony is also heavily involved in the local community. In 2009 Tony was selected to be President of 180 Juvenile Diversion, an organization helping divert criminal charges for youthful offenders. He served as President until 2012.

Tony is highly committed to his work and he spends countless hours working for and defending his clients. Good results don’t just happen – they are earned. Tony’s hard work has been recognized by Super Lawyers, every year since 2008. Tony was selected as a “Rising Star” every year from 2008 to 2013. In 2014, and every year since, Tony has been selected as a “Super Lawyer.” This distinction is offered to only 5% of lawyers in Wisconsin. Tony was also recognized by the Wisconsin Law Journal in 2010 when he was selected as an “Up and Coming Lawyer,” an award given to only twenty attorneys in the state.

Because it is crucial to the profession that criminal defense lawyers be highly trained, Tony helps run training programs for other lawyers. He has structured numerous continuing legal education programs throughout the State on behalf of the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and he has lectured at the annual State Public Defender’s Convention. Tony travels around the country attending regular seminars so that he is up to speed on every major development in criminal law.

Tony believes that there is nothing more honorable than defending the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. He works tirelessly for his clients and leaves no stone unturned. His results speak for themselves. In countless cases, Tony has secured life changing results for his clients. He has won trials and beat cases that seem impossible to defend. Feel free to give him a call or read his reviews on avvo.com where dozens of former clients have attested to his passion, commitment and work ethic.