Top Best Criminal Defense Lawyers | 25978 Available

Taylon Sumners-Schwartz is an award winning attorney who handles criminal matters ranging from complex litigation to minor traffic offenses. Sumners-Schwartz Law, founded by Taylon in April of 2024 is a locally owned law firm serving Mt. Vernon, Missouri and surrounding areas in the 417. Taylon previously spent 9 years working for Dee Wampler and Joseph Passanise at Wampler & Passanise, before starting her own law practice near her hometown to give back to her community. She is known for her compassion, communication, and credibility in the courtroom. Shefiercely advocates to achieve justice for her clients from start to finish and is a member of a number of professional organizations including the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association and the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Fighting for your rights!

I am in Washington Missouri, near the Missouri river. I meet with clients * By Appointment Only * For over 25 years I have served my clients in State Courts in approximately 70 counties and in numerous Municipalities throughout the state. I look forward to meeting with you and helping you resolve your issues.

20+ years experience providing honest straight answers to emotional legal questions, with the fight to follow through in the courtroom.. I attended the University of Kansas, earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree majoring in Psychology in 1992.  I attended the University of Missouri at Columbia Law School earning my Juris Doctorate in 1995. I was licensed to practice law in October of 1995.. On December 28, 1995, I was appointed an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney of St. Francois County, Missouri becoming First Assistant in 1998.  During my time as an assistant prosecuting attorney I volunteered to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the Southeast Missouri Family Violence Council, helped form a family violence task force, and was a guest lecturer at the Mineral Area College Law Enforcement Academy.. On August 21, 1998, I joined the Ramshur Law Office of Piedmont, Missouri, where I learned and provided the solid, practical legal representation essential to my country based clients.. On May 14, 2001, I returned to Farmington to join the Law Office of Kenneth Seufert.. In May of 2013, I established the Law Office of Blake Dudley located on Jackson Street in Farmington, Missouri, a mere two blocks from the St. Francois County Courthouse. We provide solid, competent and experienced legal representation to individuals and families throughout the Southeast Missouri area, and in particular the counties of St. Francois, Washington, Madison, Ste. Genevieve, Iron, Reynolds, Wayne and Crawford.

One of the things that I think is critical to being a quality lawyer is to enjoy what you do.  I am very thankful that since I graduated from law school 15 years ago, I have always enjoyed being a lawyer.. As a lawyer, I spend lots of hours preparing cases for trial, holding the State to their burden of proof and researching whatever evidentiary issues all my cases may have.  In fact, most of my blog entries focus on the in-and-outs of these issues.  However, I learned very early in my career nothing is more valuable than the time you spend meeting with the client.  Quite frankly, it’s the part of the career that I enjoy the most.  It’s during these meetings that I feel I can make the most difference.  It is my opportunity to get to know my client.. When my clients come to the office, it is usually during the most difficult time in their life   As one can imagine this is usually not an easy time for people when they are accused of a crime.  Often there is a lot more going on than just the stress of a pending criminal case, whether it’s an addiction issue, going through a difficult loss, or simply trying to navigate the emotional aftermath following an accusation.. These are sometimes difficult discussions but they are well worth the time.  As our society becomes more and more computer oriented clients ask if it is truly necessary to spend the time meeting in my office.  They will always be necessary and can never be replaced by a phone call, email or quick conversation in the courthouse hallway.  The personal connection is the foundation of a strong attorney/client relationship.. When I am arguing to a judge at a final sentencing, I am amazed how many times I reference back to something my client and I discussed in my conference room several months earlier at the beginning of the case.  If I spend the time getting to know my client, I can then in turn paint my client as a person, not just a “Defendant” to the State, to the Jury, or to the Judge.. Throughout my career I have had many former clients approach me and tell me how well they have been doing the last several years.  I have been blessed to see many people get their life back on track and live productive successful lives.  When I see people take advantage of these second chances it is a living example of the part of my criminal defense work that I find most satisfying.  It is why I enjoy doing this work.. A lot of people think that the accused do not deserve a second chance or could not possibly pull it together to take advantage of a second chance.  My experience shows otherwise.  As a lawyer, my relationship to my client is often the same we have to close family members – they may have their flaws, but I am not going to sit back and watch someone else push them around.

Michael Boyd has the knowledge and experience necessary to achieve the results that you need.  His hard work and attention to detail have proved to be the difference in many of the cases that he has handled.  Michael's promise is to treat every legal matter as if it were his own and it is that vigourous approach to the law that his client's have come to appreciate and depend on.

I graduated from Tulane University in 2005 Summa Cum Laude, with departmental honors in English Literature. I was also admitted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. I graduated from Tulane Law School in 2008, Summa Cum Laude with honors in Trial Advocacy. I was also a member and then a Notes and Comments Editor for Tulane Law Review, a respected legal journal.. While in law school, I obtained valuable experience with both the Missouri Public Defender System and the Tulane Criminal Law Clinic as a student-attorney authorized to practice law on a limited basis pursuant to Missouri Supreme Court Rule 13 and Louisiana Supreme Court Rule 20. Through these oppurtunities, I was able to begin practicing in court rooms while still in law school and even obtained my first "not guilty" verdict before I graduated.. After graduation, I decided to return home to fulfill my dream of working with my Father, Charlie James. I've been able to learn from his years of experience while gaining extensive court room experience primarily handling criminal defense cases, and, more recently, civil rights cases.. After more than 15 years of practice, I've defended thousands of cases, taken hundreds of deposiitons, and continue to try case regularly. I have obtained dismissals and not guilty verdicts in all kinds of criminal defense cases including, but not limited to, DWI, simple possession, possession with intent, assault, abuse, and murder. My civil rights practice focuses primarily on wrongful arrest, excessive force, unlawful incarceration, malicious prosecution, wrongful death, and other cases of police misconduct.

As a police officer, I conducted the types of investigations and written the reports that are used by law enforcement in a criminal case.  As an assistant prosecutor I've had to use those types of reports to evlauate cases for trials and used them to negotiate pleas.  I've seen a criminal cases from handcuffs to conviction. I know where to look and what to look for to see if a case is going to hold up.  Let me put this unique insight to work for you.  Call me for a free case review.

Each client is important to me, and I believe it is critical to provide one on one personal attention to truly understand each client's unique circumstances. I'd be happy to provide a free consultation to personally discuss your legal matter and determine how to best assist you.

I was born in St. Louis County, raised in Sullivan, and have lived in Columbia since 2001 when I began attending Mizzou.  In addition to Boone, Cole, and surrounding counties, I am very open to taking criminal and traffic cases in and around Franklin County.  I will also take certain types of cases throughout the state.. I am a big sports fan.  My favorites are Boxing, Baseball, and Football, as well as Hockey.  My teams are the Cards, Rams, and Blues, as well as Mizzou.  I never miss a game of any of these teams, nor a boxing match on TV.  I am also working on becoming a boxing judge.. I also like to keep myself updated on politics, and enjoy learning about family history and history in general.. I attend Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Columbia, and sometimes also the St. Thomas More Newman Center on campus.. I speak German a little, and Spanish a VERY little.. My favorite movies include Braveheart, Anchorman, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Rob Roy, and Rocky (all except 5).  My favorite muscians/bands include George Strait, Breaking Benjamin, Johnny Cash, Seether, Three Days Grace, The Offspring, Garth Brooks, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Ben Faber focuses his practice in the fields of DWI defense, alcohol and drug offenses, traffic violations, and general criminal defense matters, including cases in both state and federal courts. Ben grew up in Columbia, Missouri, and understands the unique dynamic of central Missouri. After graduating Rock Bridge high school, he attended the University of Missouri-Columbia where he received a bachelor’s degree in History. He went on to the University of Missouri School of Law where earned a Juris Doctorate and a Certificate in Dispute Resolution. While in law school, Ben clerked at a local law firm where he gained the experience in criminal law, personal injury, workers’ compensation, and administrative law. He is an active member of the Boone County Bar Association, the Boone County Bar Association Criminal Defense Committee, the Missouri Bar Association, and the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.. Ben Faber has handled hundreds of criminal cases and strives for the best possible result for his clients in every case. When he is not able to secure a dismissal or favorable outcome through negotiation, Ben is not afraid to take the fight into the courtroom, and has successfully argued motions to suppress evidence which has resulted in the case being dismissed. Ben Faber has also had success in Missouri Department of Revenue Driver’s License hearings, finding creative ways to win and maintain his clients' driving privileges after a DWI arrest. In 2013, Ben was part of the team that won the freedom of Anthony Williams, who had been wrongly convicted in 1994 and spent over 20 years in prison before being released as a result of the work done by the Bukowsky Law Firm. Ben has written briefs in the Missouri Court of Appeals in both civil and criminal.. Ben is a member of the Missouri Bar Lawyers for Veterans program, and also volunteers his time as the staff criminal defense attorney for Boone County Veteran’s Court, a treatment-based alternative sentencing court. He lives in Columbia with his wife and daughters.