Attorney Melissa Barrette has a reputation for aggressively representing her clients and not hesitating to take cases to trial. Her record includes both pre-trial dismissals and winning acquittals by jury in both felony and misdemeanor cases involving charges of drunk driving, child abuse and sexual assault. She understands that her role includes being both a compassionate advisor to her clients and a legal champion in court.
In 2019, she partnered with long-time colleague Attorney Brett Kaehne to continue a life dedicated to defending those accused of crimes. Prior to forming Kaehne and Barrette S.C., Attorney Barrette practiced criminal defense in Sheboygan for six years.
Attorney Barrette is a member of the Sheboygan County Bar Association, the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (WACDL), the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), and the National College of DUI Defense (NCDD). She is also a member of the NORML legal committee.
Attorney Barrette attended the University of Wisconsin. As an undergraduate, she triple-majored in legal studies, political science, and sociology and served as the president of the University’s Legal Studies Association.
After graduation, she immediately enrolled in the University of Wisconsin Law School. While there, she gained acceptance into the prestigious Wisconsin Innocence Project, reviewing claims of actual innocence and evaluating where other attorneys failed their clients.
Attorney Barrette also worked at the Madison Department of Civil Rights, where she fought to preserve social justice.
Education
University of Wisconsin Law School, Madison, Wisconsin
Honors: Women’s Law Student Association, Member
University of Wisconsin
B.A. - 2010
Honors: University’s Legal Studies Association, President
Major: Legal Studies
Major: Political Science
Major: Sociology
Past Positions
Law Offices of Chirafisi & Verhoff, S.C., Clerk
Wisconsin Innocence Project, Project Assistant, Intern
Madison Department of Civil Rights
Professional Associations
Sheboygan County Bar Association, Member
Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (WACDL), Member
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), Member
National College of DUI Defense (NCDD), Member
NORML, Legal Committee, Member
Current Employment Position
Partner
