Letters of Recommendation: What You Need to Know When Applying for a Wisconsin Pardon from a Wisconsin Pardon Attorney

If you have an old felony conviction in Wisconsin that you are wanting to get off your record, applying for a pardon is how one goes about removing that record. There is a lot that goes into making the best argument for obtaining in a pardon including properly framing the original incident, demonstrating what you have done to better yourself since the incident, and explaining to the pardon board how this will help you. But this blog article is not about those things, it just focuses on the important issue of letters of recommendation.

Letters of Recommendation Are Crucial

I’ve seen people without lawyers go to the pardon hearing without any letters of recommendation at all. And I’ve seen members of the pardon advisory board be critical of this lack of preparation of the application. If you look at the application as it is written, there is technically no absolute requirement that you include letters of recommendation. But it seems to almost be an unofficial rule that a lack of letters of recommendation will be held against you. And excellent letters of recommendation can be of great help to you. Do not overlook letters of recommendations.

Too Many Letters Can Be A Problem

One might be tempted to think that if letters of recommendation are good, why not provide as much as possible? This appeared to be the approach of one applicant at the pardon advisory board hearing that occurred on March 20, 2026 who submitted 36 letters. However, inundating the pardon advisory board with so many letters is much more likely to work against you than for you. The members of the board are busy people and are unlikely to appreciate receiving such a large number of letters. Furthermore, 36 letters opens you up to the possibility that there are a few letters that are lesser quality than others. The pardon advisory board pointed out language in some of the letters which wasn’t the greatest for the applicant. Which is another reason why you don’t want too many letters.

Conclusion

If you are seeking a pardon of your Wisconsin case, hiring an attorney immediately increases your chances greatly of being successful. A lawyer knows not only the law but the strategies that will be helpful and the pitfalls to avoid when arguing for a pardon. Contact Subzero Expungements, Pardons & Appeals for a free consultation. 651-248-5142