Profile
Attorney Craig Mastantuono of Mastantuono Law Office in Milwaukee practices criminal defense in state and federal courts throughout Wisconsin. He uses a strategic and imaginative approach to achieve positive outcomes for people accused of or under investigation for crimes of all types. In addition, he offers powerful consultation services in the delicate areas of crisis management and white collar compliance.
After graduating from DePaul University College of Law in 1992, attorney Mastantuono began his career handling drug cases for the Waukesha trial division of the Wisconsin state public defender’s office. Since then, he has entered private practice as a criminal defense lawyer. In addition to his extensive trial work, he has argued before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals and the Seventh Circuit Federal Court of Appeals.
Attorney Mastantuono has gained a reputation as an aggressive trial lawyer and innovative negotiator. In addition to his recognition in the Super Lawyers publication, he was named a Leader in the Law by the Wisconsin Law Journal in 2008 for his successful constitutional challenge of Wisconsin's carrying concealed weapons law, as well as for his defense of a 10-year-old boy in a high-profile homicide case. He is a frequent expert commentator on legal issues for Channel 12 WISN/ABC News Milwaukee.
About Craig Mastantuono
Law School: DePaul University College of Law
Admitted: 1992, Wisconsin
Professional Webpage: www.mastantuono-law.com/attorney.html
Honors and Awards:
- He has been included in the criminal defense attorney category in the Wisconsin Super Lawyers Publication every year from 2005 through 2010, and was previously named in Milwaukee Magazine's Top Lawyers cover story in 2003.
- Wisconsin Law Journal - Leader in the Law, 2008. For litigation related to a successful constitutional challenge of Wisconsin's concealed carry weapons ban, his successful dismissal of a homicide charge against a 10-year old boy in a high-profile Milwaukee case, and for legal community fundraising event on behalf of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee. See: http: www.wislawjournal.com (search: 2008 Leaders in the Law)
- Milwaukee Magazine - Annual Top Lawyers Survey, 2003. Selected in attorney peer survey as an 'up and comer' in the Milwaukee legal community
- The Business Journal of Milwaukee, 40 Under Forty recognition, 2005. Chosen as a dynamic business leader under 40 years old in the Milwaukee business publication's annual special edition. See: http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com
Bar/Professional Activity:
- Wisconsin Hispanic Lawyers Association - Board Member
- Justinian Lawyer's Society/National Italian American Bar Association
- Milwaukee Bar Association
- Wisconsin State Bar, Criminal Law Section
- Justinian Lawyers Association/National Italian American Bar Association
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Co-Chair, Programs & Interventions Committee, Milwaukee County Community Justice Council, 2009
- Committee Chair, State Bar of Wisconsin Bench & Bar Committee, 2009
Pro bono/Community Service:
- 2004-11: L4B&G, Lawyers for Boys & Girls Clubs Event, annual legal community fundraiser hosted at Mastantuono Law Office
- City of Milwaukee Board of Harbor Commissioners, current term: 2008-2011 (appointed by Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett)
Scholarly Lectures and Writings:
- Criminal Sentencings, Wisconsin Opinions, January 18, 2000 (Defense strategies for sentencing hearings in criminal cases (co-authored with Barbara Gorman, Wisconsin State Public Defender's Office/Hudson)).
- Hey Judge, Am I Movin' You Yet?, Wisconsin Opinions, June 28, 2000 and July 5, 2000 (Motion practice in criminal cases – two parts).
- Editorial, Commission Needed to Reform Juvenile Law, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Crossroads Section, May 13, 2003 (Perspective as counsel on Milwaukee juvenile homicide case and call for juvenile law reform).
- Motion Practice. Wisconsin State Public Defender Conference; 1999.
- Criminal Law Procedure. Wisconsin State Bar/Bench & Bar Conference; 2005.
- Criminal Law Issues & Your Case, WI Association for Justice, Tort & Technique Seminar; 2009.
- Office of the Wisconsin Public Defender Trial Skills Academy, faculty, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005
- Wisconsin State Public Defender Conference, 1998 Can They Do That?, Search & Seizure Law
- Wisconsin Opinions 1/18/00 Criminal Sentencings
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Crossroads Section 5/18/03 Commission Needed to Reform Juvenile Law
- Wisconsin State Bar Association, Annual Convention, 2003 Juvenile Competency Co-presented with Dr. Antoinette Kavanaugh, Ph.D., Northwestern University
- Wisconsin State Public Defender Conference, 2004 Hot Topics in Juvenile Law
- Wisconsin State Bar Association, Bench & Bar Conf., 2005 Criminal Law Procedure
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Marquette University Law School/Center for Continuing Legal Education, Annual Criminal Law Update, 2005-present
Verdicts and Settlements:
- June 2009: Dismissal of Homicide charge in Burnett County, WI, for Constitutional Due Process violation during police investigation. Client is a Minneapolis firefighter who defended himself in his home with a firearm against an intruder. See link to AP news story: (Google search: Mastantuono Minneapolis firefighter)
- State vs. Forbush, 2011 WI 25, favorable decision from the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturning the Court of Appeals and granting suppression of evidence/oral statement of the defendant on basis of a police violation of the right to counsel in a criminal case proceeding., 2011
Educational Background:
- 1989 - B.B.A./Business Administration, Marketing emphasis, Loyola University of Chicago 1992 - J.D., DePaul University College of Law / Chicago
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