'Defending Humans': The documentary being filmed in Madison

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A new documentary being filmed in Madison this week aims to provide a new perspective on those who defend what society considers the worst of the worst.

Defending Humans, directed by Milwaukee-native Michael Neelsen, explores due process and the debate over what justice looks through the lens of those who defend some of the most hated defendants.

"My hope is to put every person in the audience in an uncomfortable position at some point in the film," said Neelsen. "I will be asking them to hear a story about someone they don't think is defensible — and hopefully get them to a place where, yeah, it's important that they get a defense."

The documentary, currently in production at the Wisconsin Mosaic Center, was initiated by Aaron Nelson, one of four criminal defense attorneys from the state featured in the film.

Nelson said the goal is to challenge people's perceptions about the accused, even when the whole world is against them.

"I think that most people who are caught up in the criminal justice system don't get the due process they’re entitled to. If that means the system is broken, then yeah — I think so," said Nelson.

"So, when somebody asks me, 'How can you represent those people who did that?' I ask, 'How do you know they did that? How do you know why they did that?' There are all kinds of questions like that that need to be asked."

The film also follows Milwaukee attorneys Mindy Nolan, Mike Cohen, from Eau Claire, and Jessa Nicholson Goetz, who practices in Madison.

It comes as due process has become a point of contention and debate in America — an issue that's put Wisconsin in the national spotlight after the recent arrest of Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan.

Dugan pleaded not guilty to federal obstruction charges stemming from allegedly helping a man evade immigration officials.

"That's a story because of who it is [Dugan]," Nelson said. "People get arrested all the time without due process…but how do we get to these ideas without exploiting the person that's maybe suffering from that unfairness when the rest of the world is just going to be, well, they deserve it."

While no one wants to be viewed as a villain, that's something the audience will ultimately decide.

"If we can just get the audience to open their minds, just a little bit, to empathy, that's what we hope we can do," Nelson said.

The goal is to release the documentary in 2026. You can follow updates on the film at StoryFirst Media.