In addition to the national media attention Nicholson’s 2015 double homicide trial brought, she has handled a number of high profile cases and is comfortable navigating the often complicated relationship between an accused person and the press. Nicholson has handled several cases that have garnered widespread media attention. Nicholson’s work has been discussed in The New York Times, she has been quoted as a legal expert in the Wall Street Journal as well as locally in both Wisconsin television and print media. Feature articles have been written about Nicholson in both the Wisconsin State Journal and the Capital Times, and she authored a column for Wisconsin Lawyer Magazine in 2013 discussing the challenging topic of representing an “unpopular” defendant in a high profile case. She was retained by Channel 3000 to be their paid exclusive legal expert during the Rittenhouse trial, while also lending her perspective to National Public Radio’s nationwide audience.
Speaking of awards, in September 2021 the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers created an award to honor lawyers that were able to successfully secure an acquittal for felony sexual assault cases, which are some of the most challenging cases to defend. The award is named the Kuchler-Nicholson-Stilling award, after Donna Kuchler, Kathy Stilling, and…you guessed it. Both Donna Kuchler and Kathy Stilling were winding down their practices at the time, while Jessa was only 38 at the time the award was named. They were each presented with an honorary award part of being its namesake. Not one to rest on the laurels of an honorary award, Jessa won her first KNS award in January of 2022 for an acquittal on 3rd degree sexual assault in Brown County.
In addition to receiving praise from colleagues, Nicholson is regularly asked to teach Continuing Legal Education courses for other attorneys in her field. Nicholson has taught courses for the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Wisconsin State Public Defender, the Dane County Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Association, the Wisconsin State Bar, and has guest lectured at the University of Wisconsin Law School. Nicholson is a faculty member at the Wisconsin Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Trial College, and has recently been the faculty member that teaches on what is arguably the most dynamic part of a trial – closing arguments. Nicholson has been asked by Dane County judges to sit on committees to reform treatment courts in Wisconsin.
You can reach her at jessa@nglawyers.com, or by calling 608-237-6854.
Learn more about how we can put this experience to work for you. Call 608-237-6854 or contact us online for a free 30 minute initial consultation about your criminal defense or family law case at our office in the heart of downtown Madison. We also offer off-site, weekend and evening appointments upon request.
