Background

Sarah Raisch is a Senior Attorney at Romanucci & Blandin and part of its highly regarded Civil Rights team. Her background in criminal defense has given her expertise in seeking justice for individuals affected by various parts of the criminal justice system, especially concerning police misconduct.

In addition to handling civil rights cases, Sarah is a member of the firm’s Mass Torts & Class Action team. Recently, Sarah was appointed to the Leadership Development Committee for In re: Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 3060, Case No. 1:23-cv-818 (Northern District of IL) where she is actively representing women who have used chemical hair straightening products and subsequently developed uterine, endometrial, and ovarian cancer. 

Before Romanucci & Blandin, Sarah spent a decade with the Office of the Lake County Public Defender, building up a meaningful history of trial experience. After joining the office in 2012, she defended clients facing charges for misdemeanors, DUIs, and felonies of all kinds. She engaged in pretrial and trial litigation to challenge the veracity of the prosecution’s case by defending her clients’ civil rights. These motions challenged: warrants; unlawful search and seizures, arrests or dog sniff cases under the Fourth Amendment; unlawfully obtained or coerced confessions under the Fifth Amendment; and denials of the right to counsel under the Sixth Amendment. Her work on cases included writing and arguing motions to suppress unlawfully obtained or unfavorable evidence, discovery motions, motions for sanctions, petitions for rule to show cause, and motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. Sarah sought the best possible result for her clients facing significant challenges from socio-economic or other circumstances with limited or no resources due to systemic discrimination.

In her time with the Public Defender's office, Sarah advocated and negotiated favorable case dispositions and sentencing outcomes, as well as tried 20 cases to jury trial verdict and nine cases to bench trial verdict, including trials for Attempted Murder, Battery, Theft, Class X DUI, and Drug Possession charges. As a Principal Assistant, her typical caseload would include up to 90 concurrent, active felony cases. She also represented clients in Post-Conviction Petitions. Sarah was responsible for a sophisticated caseload in both quantity and complexity of clientele, including clients facing poverty, mental health challenges, substance abuse issues, lack of childcare and familial stability, and employment barriers. She also managed client expectations regarding possible case outcomes utilizing transparent strategic development, clear internal and external communication, and compassion.

Prior to her time as a public defender, Sarah represented adult and juvenile clients at trial and appellate levels in felony, misdemeanor, and traffic matters at Richards & Hall (now Richards & Dimmer) in Racine, WI, as an Associate Attorney.

Sarah enjoys participating in triathlons and completed the 140.6-mile Wisconsin Ironman in 2019. She is a mother of twins and spends her free time planning and enjoying travel with her friends and family when not long-distance running or cooking a gluten-free diet.

Clerkships

  • Judicial Clerk, Dane County Circuit Court Judge William Hanrahan, 2011
  • Law Clerk, Hennepin County Public Defender's Office, 2010

Practice Areas

Education & Certifications

  • J.D., University of Wisconsin Law School, 2011
  • B.S.W., University of Wisconsin - Madison, 2008
  • B.A., University of Wisconsin - Madison, 2008

Awards & Recognition

  • Quarterfinalist, Herbert Wechsler National Moot Court Competition, 2010
  • Meyerhoff Undergraduate Excellence Award for Leadership, Service and Scholarship, University of Wisconsin, 2008

Notable Cases

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

  • Sarah serves as a leadership member in:
    • In re: Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 3060, Case No. 1:23-cv-818 (Northern District of IL) (Leadership Development Committee)

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice

  • Illinois, 2011
  • Eastern District of Wisconsin, 2011

Newsroom

In the News

Press Releases

Speaking Engagements

  • Panelist, Women in Law, UIC Women's Law Caucus and the Justinian Society of Lawyers, Chicago, IL, February 2023
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