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1. Can the City Attorney give me legal advice?

No. The City Attorney represents the City of Manitowoc as a whole, not individual citizens. The office provides legal services to the Mayor, Common Council, and the various departments of the City. The City Attorney cannot give legal advice to private citizens or recommend private attorneys. If you would like legal advice, you need to contact a private attorney or call (800) 362-9082 for the State Bar of Wisconsin Lawyer Referral and Information Service.

2. Can I call your office to discuss my criminal charges?

No. The Office of the City Attorney does not deal with criminal matters. If the case is in Manitowoc County and you wish to speak to the prosecutor, you can contact the District Attorney's Office at (920) 683-4070. If you wish to speak to a defense attorney, you can contact the Office of the Public Defender at (920) 683-4690 to determine if you are eligible for their services or call (800) 362-9082 for the State Bar of Wisconsin Lawyer Referral and Information Service.

3. How can I talk to the City Prosecutor about my citation?

If you wish to discuss your citation with the City Prosecutor, you must first enter a plea of not guilty. At that time, you will be given a pretrial conference appointment to meet with the City Prosecutor and discuss your case.

4. I can’t appear for my pretrial conference at the time scheduled. What do I do?

If you are unable to appear at your pretrial conference, you can contact the City Attorney's Office one week in advance to reschedule your conference at a time convenient to you and the City Prosecutor. Pretrial conferences are only held during normal business hours.

5. Do I need a lawyer in Municipal Court?

You are not required to have an attorney in Municipal Court. If you wish to be represented by an attorney, you must hire one at your own expense. Attorneys from the Public Defender's Office do not handle municipal citations and the Municipal Court does not appoint attorneys.