Practice areas: Criminal Defense, DUI-DWI; view more
Licensed in Wisconsin since: 1996
Education: University of Wisconsin Law School
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2011 - 2025 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2006 - 2007, 2009 - 2010 Aaron A. Nelson is the founding attorney of Nelson Defense Group, based in Hudson, Wisconsin. For 30 years, Aaron has defended people across Wisconsin, telling their stories with compassion, care, and skill. He has built his successful career on the belief that every person has unconditional dignity, is presumed innocent, and therefore deserves to have best defense and a chance to have their story heard.
Aaron is recognized as one of Wisconsin’s leading criminal defense attorneys, respected for his performance in the courtroom, his creative arguments, and his unwavering dedication to protecting his clients. In 2025, he was selected as one of the top fifty Superlawyers in Wisconsin, and is one of three criminal defense attorneys on the list. Aaron understands the devastating consequences of all criminal charges or convictions, which he and his firm focus solely on criminal defense law.
Aaron represents clients in the most serious and complex of criminal charges, with a record of Not guilty verdicts as well as reduced and dismissed charges. He has received the Martin Hanson Memorial Prize (from the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers) for a successful Not Guilty verdict in a homicide case, more than any other attorney in the state. In 2014, the same organization awarded him the David C. Niblack Award for effective defense of the indigent.
Using his extensive knowledge to benefit others, Aaron regularly speaks at continuing legal education seminars including the National College for Criminal Defense and the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Annual Conference. In honor of his achievements, Martindale-Hubbell awarded Mr. Nelson an AV Preeminent* peer review rating. This is the organization’s highest rating, meant to honor lawyers who exhibit outstanding legal ability and high ethical standards.
Mr. Nelson is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School. He received his license to practice law in 1996. He is a member of the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, the National Criminal Defense College and the National College for DUI Defense.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Criminal Defense, Criminal Defense: DUI/DWIFocus areas
Assault & Battery, Criminal Domestic Violence, DUI/DWI, Felony, Motor Vehicle Offenses, Murder, Sex Offenses, Theft
- 80% Criminal Defense
- 20% Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI
First Admitted: 1996, Wisconsin
Professional Webpage: https://www.nelsondefensegroup.com/attorney/nelson-aaron-a/
Bar / Professional Activity
- National Academy of Criminal Defense Lawyers (“NACDL”), Lifetime Member
- Wisconsin Academy of Criminal Defense Lawyers ("WACDL"), Vice President
- National College for DUI Defense ("NCDD")
- National Criminal Defense College ("NCDC")
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- NOT GUILTY of OWI-2nd: Hudson, WI, man charged with OWI-2nd was found “not guilty” by a jury after Attorney Nelson convinced the jury that another person was driving the motor vehicle, February, 2015
- NOT GUILTY of 2nd Degree Sexual Assault and Battery: Hudson, WI, college student was charged with three counts of 2nd Degree Sexual Assault and one count of Battery. On day three of jury trial, the Judge dismissed one count of Sexual Assault because the State could not meet its burden. After four days of trial, the jurors took less than 30 minutes to find him “not guilty” of all charges, October, 2016
- NOT GUILTY of Possession with Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine – as Party to a Crime: New Richmond, WI, man charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine (PTAC) was found “not guilty” by a jury after Attorney Nelson convinced the jury that the meth was possessed by a known and convicted drug dealer, April, 2015
- NOT GUILTY of Felony Murder: Duluth, MN, man was found “not guilty” of Felony Murder (as a Party to a Crime) and “not guilty” of Attempted Armed Robbery and “Not Guilty” of Attempted Robbery after a four-day jury trial in Superior, WI. It took the jury less than two hours to agree with the Defense that our client did not aid or assist the individual who had shot gun. January, 2016
- NOT GUILTY of Felony Vehicular Homicide: Pierce County mother charged with three counts of felony Vehicular Homicide and on misdemeanor charge of Reckless Driving, found “not guilty” on all charges by a jury, after just two hours of deliberation, June, 2016
- NOT GUILTY of 1st Degree Reckless Homicide: Dunn County man found NOT GUILTY by a jury of the charge 1st Degree Reckless Homicide after Attorney Nelson successfully argued he was acting in self-defense. June, 2017
- NOT GUILTY of Strangulation and Suffocation: Hager City, WI, man charged with Strangulation and Suffocation was found not guilty at a jury trial after Attorney Nelson successfully convinced the jury that his client was innocent. January, 2015
- NOT GUILTY of OWI-2nd: Illinois businessman charged with OWI-2nd was found “not guilty” by a jury after Attorney Nelson convinced the jury that he was not driving while under the influence, May, 2016
- NOT GUILTY of 1st Degree Sexual Assault of a Child under 12: Buffalo City, WI, man charged with three counts of 1st Degree Sexual Assault of a Child under 12 was found “not guilty” after a week-long jury trial. The jury deliberated less than one hour before agreeing with the Defense that the child was only a victim of a custody struggle who was manipulated by his mother, but that he was never sexually assaulted, February, 2017
- NOT GUILTY of Child Abuse Recklessly Causing Harm: River Falls, WI, man charged with Child Abuse Recklessly Causing Harm was found “not guilty” by a jury after Attorney Nelson convinced the jury the scientific evidence and testimony of the mother’s story was untrue, January, 2015
Honors
- Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Martin Hanson Advocates Prize, 2017
- AV rated by Martindale Hubbard
- Named one of 50 Super Lawyers, Criminal Defense in Wisconsin, 2011 - 2017
- David C. Niblack Award, 2014
- Martin Hanson Advocates Prize, Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2016
- Martin Hanson Advocates Prize, Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2014
- Martin Hanson Advocates Prize, Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2010
- Martin Hanson Advocates Prize, Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2016
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- National Criminal Defense College, Trial Skills Institute, 2014-2017
- State Public Defender - Wisconsin, OWI Skills Training, 2014
- Barry S. Cohen SC, Annual Drunk Driving Defense Seminar, 2014-2016
- State Public Defender – Wisconsin, Trial Skills Academy, 2011-2017
- Wisconsin Association for Criminal Defense Lawyers, Dynamic Drunk Driving Defense , 2015
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2011 - 2025
- Rising Stars: 2006 - 2007, 2009 - 2010
