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Cafferty & Scheidegger, S.C.
Criminal Defense in Elkhorn

Elkhorn, WI Criminal Defense Attorney

Criminal defense in Elkhorn, Walworth County seat, home of the Walworth County Circuit Court. Felony and misdemeanor practice since 1994.

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10,000+ Population U.S. Census 2023 est.
Walworth County Seat Walworth County
4 branches Circuit Court wicourts.gov
Located here County Jail Walworth Sheriff

Criminal Defense in Elkhorn, Walworth County Seat

Elkhorn is the county seat of Walworth County and the hub of all criminal-defense practice in the county. The Walworth County Circuit Court, District Attorney’s office, Sheriff’s HQ, and County Jail are all concentrated in a single campus at County Highway NN. Whatever happens criminally in Walworth County, from Lake Geneva BOAT-OWI to UW-Whitewater student cases, ends up in Elkhorn.

Cafferty & Scheidegger has appeared in the Walworth County Circuit Court continuously since 1994. We know the four branches, the rotating ADAs, the tendencies of the bench, and the bond-hearing rhythms that shape this courthouse.

What Shapes Elkhorn Criminal Practice

  • Single-courthouse county. Walworth County’s 4 branches handle the entire county’s felony and misdemeanor caseload. Judges rotate through criminal calendars, and relationships between defense counsel and chambers matter.
  • Small-DA flexibility. The Walworth County DA’s office is smaller than Racine’s or Kenosha’s. That often means more direct negotiation, and sometimes better charging outcomes on reasonable fact patterns.
  • Low competition on the defense side. Most 4-county criminal-defense firms are concentrated in Racine and Kenosha. Walworth County is often underserved on the defense side, a fact we have capitalized on since 1994.

Where Your Case Is Heard

  • Walworth County Circuit Court (all felonies and misdemeanors)
  • Elkhorn Municipal Court (city-ordinance violations)
  • Walworth County Jail (booking / bond hearings)

Our Elkhorn Practice

Most Common Criminal Charges in Elkhorn

  • OWI, US-12 and Highway 67 corridors
  • Reckless driving
  • Drug possession, often related to Milwaukee-bound I-43 traffic
  • Theft and burglary
  • Disorderly conduct
  • Domestic violence with DV modifier
  • Pre-arraignment jail appearances, because the county jail is in Elkhorn, every Walworth County defendant passes through

Courts in Elkhorn

Walworth County Circuit Court

1800 County Highway NN, Elkhorn, WI 53121

Phone: (262) 741-7012

Official website →

All Walworth County felonies and criminal misdemeanors are heard here, this is THE Walworth County courthouse. 4 branches. Arraignments Mondays/Wednesdays. District Attorney and Public Defender offices are co-located.

Elkhorn Municipal Court

9 South Broad Street, Elkhorn, WI 53121

Phone: (262) 723-2219

Official website →

City-ordinance violations (traffic, ordinance DC, etc.).

Law Enforcement Agencies Serving Elkhorn

Elkhorn Police Department

City of Elkhorn

Non-emergency: (262) 723-2210

Official website →

Small-city department with close working relationships with County Sheriff and State Patrol.

Walworth County Sheriff's Office

County-wide; primary for unincorporated townships. HQ is in Elkhorn.

Non-emergency: (262) 741-4400

Official website →

The Sheriff's main office and the Walworth County Jail are in Elkhorn, adjacent to the Circuit Court.

Wisconsin State Patrol, Post 9

US-12 and Highway 67 through Elkhorn

Walworth County District Attorney's Office

Felony and misdemeanor prosecutions county-wide

Non-emergency: (262) 741-4220

Co-located with the courthouse.

High-Enforcement Corridors

  • US-12, east-west through Elkhorn connecting Whitewater to Lake Geneva
  • Highway 67, north-south across Walworth County through Elkhorn
  • Highway 11, east-west south side
  • County Highway NN, leads directly to the courthouse and jail complex

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Elkhorn the best place to handle Walworth County cases?
Elkhorn is Walworth County for criminal-defense purposes. The Circuit Court, District Attorney's office, Sheriff's HQ, and County Jail are all concentrated in a single campus at County Highway NN. Any Walworth County felony or misdemeanor case will require appearances in Elkhorn.
What happens at the Walworth County Jail in Elkhorn?
Every Walworth County arrestee is booked at the County Jail (adjacent to the Circuit Court). Bond hearings happen in the Circuit Court the next business day. If you or a family member has been booked in Elkhorn, the urgency is real, getting defense counsel at the initial appearance substantially improves bond outcomes.
Does the small-town PD in Elkhorn mean cases are easier?
Not necessarily. Elkhorn PD has fewer officers, but they work closely with Walworth County Sheriff and state prosecutors. Cases they bring are often thoroughly investigated. What is sometimes different is charging discretion, a small-city DA sometimes has more flexibility to negotiate than a high-volume urban DA.
Where do I park near the Walworth County Courthouse?
The courthouse complex at 1800 County Highway NN has dedicated parking on-site. It sits on the south side of Elkhorn off Highway 67, about 2 miles south of US-12. Allow extra time on arraignment days (Mondays and Wednesdays).

Charged in Elkhorn? We defend across Walworth County.

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