Top Best Criminal Defense Lawyers | 14601 Available

As a bilingual speaker, I realized from an early age the difficulty that people who do not speak English in this country face.. I knew that whatever profession I chose, I wanted to use my ability to speak both Spanish and English to help those who cannot speak English.. That is when I learned about different types of law related to non-English speakers, and decided to become a lawyer. I worked at a nonprofit immigration group straight out of law school helping Spanish speaking immigrants, and then I did personal injury for two years. After that, I got married and moved to Connecticut, where I started working at Ruane Attorneys.. I became a lawyer because I believe everyone deserves competent representation, regardless of where they are in life. No one is perfect and people make mistakes. Sometimes those mistakes require the help of a lawyer. My favorite part about practicing law is being able to positively affect someone's life by making a hard situation easier to manage.. I'm fully bilingual so when it comes to the immigration cases at the firm, I like meeting people from different countries and I firmly believe that everyone who wants to live here in the United States should be able to do so legally. I’m also passionate about my family, my dogs, and my future baby. I love the outdoors and love running and hiking with my dogs.

Audrey A. Felsen, Esq. has over 15 years of experience practicing in the areas of criminal law and personal injury law. Attorney Felsen was first admitted to practice in 1999 and is admitted to practice in the following state and federal courts: State of Connecticut; United States District Court, Connecticut; Second Circuit Court of Appeals; Southern District of New York.. Ms. Felsen handles all stages of criminal proceedings, from investigation through resolution and post-resolution proceedings, including erasure of records and Pardons. Ms. Felsen is an experienced attorney in both state and federal criminal practice in all matters including complex financial matters, fraud allegations, child pornography, multi-defendant drug conspiracies, firearms offenses and domestic disputes.. Ms. Felsen has been a District Representative for the past six years for the Federal criminal bar in the District of Connecticut. She is an active member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. She is also a member of the American Bar Association and is co-chair of the Criminal Justice section of the Fairfield County Bar Association. Ms. Felsen was the 2017 recipient of the Diane "Cookie" Polan Award in recognition of a rising female attorney fighting for civil rights in the spirit of Diane "Cookie" Polan. She also has worked as an adjunct professor at Sacred Heart University and teaches classes in Connecticut on topics related to criminal justice and state and federal criminal law and procedure.

John Walkley has handled more than 15,000 criminal cases in his 30-year legal career as a prosecutor and a criminal defense attorney in the New Haven, Connecticut area. He has handled the entire spectrum of criminal cases, including assault, murder, manslaughter, DUI, juvenile crime, drugs, burglaries, larceny, robbery, and fraud.

“I chose to work in criminal defense because everyone deserves proper representation when something as important as their liberty is at stake”.. “The thing I love about being a lawyer is helping others who are unfamiliar with the judicial process”.. There are two things you should know about Stephen Lebedevich – he’s a team player, and he likes to win (did we mention that, in his spare time, he’s a competitive volleyball player?) Stephen’ s experiences on the court have made him the lawyer that he is – he knows how to work with other people to achieve a common goal, and he is willing to put in long hours and tons of effort in order to improve. His competitive nature also means that he plays to win and takes his cases extremely seriously. Of course, Stephen knows how to have fun too, and is often the one lightening the mood in the office with his mini basketball hoop and world-cup attire (he’s always the first to sport a USA jersey).

I help people like you protect your rights.. Getting charged with a crime can be a scary experience. Not knowing how your future will be affected can be paralyzing.  That's why you want an attorney who not only has experience, but understands what you're going through.  My firm was built on the principle: Innocent until proven guilty.  Being charged with a crime doesn't always mean you did something wrong -- good people make mistakes, and everyone deserves a proper defense.. I'm a criminal defense lawyer because it's more than just a job - it's who I am. I give each case the careful attention it deserves, and work closely with clients to ensure their best interests are carefully served.  I create and maintain open communication with clients through all stages of their case.  My job is to establish an atmosphere of trust and respect, and understand the challenges my clients are facing.. As your attorney, I'll do the same for you because you are more than a client: You are a person who matters.

I was born and raised in and around New Haven, Connecticut. I earned my bachelor's degree from Boston College and my juris doctor from Marquette. After working as an associate attorney for Jazlowiecki  & Jazlowiecki in Bristol, I opened my own office in New Haven in December 2012.

Tara Knight is the founding member and senior partner of the firm of Knight & Cerritelli L.L.C. located in New Haven, Connecticut. Attorney Knight specializes in criminal defense law and is board-certified in criminal trial advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. She is now using her skills as a negotiator and criminal trial lawyer to represent individuals in personal injury matters.. In 2012 and 2014 the Expanded Governing Board of Yale Law School appointed her Clinical Tutor in Law at the Yale Law School.. She is one of the directors of the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification which is the governing board overseeing the certification of lawyers as Board Certified throughout the nation in criminal law and other areas of specialty. In 2012, she was inducted into the American Board of Criminal Lawyers.. She is rated “AV” by Martindale Hubbell, its highest rating.. Her extensive criminal litigation background includes trial and appellate experience in both state and federal courts. She has tried numerous cases to verdict including defending individuals charged with: Capital Murder; robbery; assault; sexual assault; narcotics; weapons violations; computer and pornography crimes; embezzlement; marijuana; and domestic violence.. Attorney Knight is admitted to practice before the Connecticut State and Federal Courts; the Second Circuit Court of Appeals; and the United States Supreme Court.. She is one the first women ever to be listed in the publication, The Best Lawyers in America, as an outstanding criminal law practitioner in Connecticut. She has been listed in The Best Lawyers In America yearly since 2003.. Attorney Knight has been named a " Connecticut Super Lawyer " yearly since 2006. Additionally, she was designated as one of the Top 25 Women Lawyers in the state since 2007, 2011 and 2012 and one of the Top 50 Lawyers in the state in 2006 by Connecticut Magazine. She was listed in New York Magazine in its 2006 through 2014 editions as one of the best criminal defense lawyers in the New York area. In 2009, Irish America magazine and the Irish Voice Newspaper named her to their "Legal 100" list- a listing of the leading figures in the legal profession across North America.In May 2016, Attorney Knight was awarded the honor of being the only female attorney in Connecticut listed as a "Best Lawyer" for Criminal Defense Practice in the Spring 2016 issue of Best Lawyers Business Edition.. Attorney Knight taught Criminal Procedure at the University of Connecticut Law School during the Fall Semester 2010. Additionally she was an Adjunct Professor of Criminal Law at Quinnipiac University from 1999-2001 and has been a guest lecturer for classes at Yale University Law School, Quinnipiac School of Law, and the University of New Haven and has participated as a panelist and/or lecturer at numerous seminars and conferences sponsored by various bar associations, law schools, television and radio programs, colleges and other organizations.. She is a past-president of the Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (2005-2006).. She was appointed by the Judges of the Superior Court in Connecticut to serve as a member of the grievance/ethics panel for the Ansonia/Milford Judicial District (2006-2009, 2009-2012).. In 2007 the Mayor of New Haven, John DeStefano, Jr., selected her to be a member of an independent review board which was formed to examine the policies, procedures and structures of the New Haven Police Department in the wake of a well-publicized corruption scandal.. She has been a guest commentator on The TODAY Show, Court TV, now TruTV, since 1997 and has been invited to comment as an expert on criminal law on MSNBC, CNN and FOX News. Additionally, she has been featured in two A & E Network Productions and on Court TV’s, The System. She and Attorney Hugh F. Keefe are frequent guests on New Haven’s popular morning radio program, "Chaz and AJ in the Morning" (99.1 WPLR).. Her publications include "How Many Fingers Do You See?" (Connecticut Law Tribune, November 2002) and "Criminal Justice Model A Costly Mistake," (Connecticut Law Tribune, January 2012).. Attorney Knight is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association and New Haven County Bar Association. In 2001, she was inducted into the Connecticut Bar Foundation. She is an active member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys. She has been an executive committee member of the Criminal Law Section of the Connecticut Bar Association since 1995. She is a member of the NORML (National Organization for the Reformation of Marijuana Laws) legal committee and FAMM (Families Against Mandatory Minimums).. Attorney Knight is a graduate of Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut and Suffolk University School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts. She also completed the National Criminal Defense College in Macon, Georgia.. Ms. Knight resides in New Haven with her husband, Hugh Keefe, who is the senior and managing partner of Lynch, Traub, Keefe and Errante PC in New Haven, Connecticut.

Gregory Cerritelli is a partner of the law firm Knight & Cerritelli, L.L.C. Before joining his firm, Attorney Cerritelli worked as a litigator devoting his practice primarily to criminal defense, police misconduct and general litigation. He is a member of the bars of Connecticut, New York, and federal District Court (Connecticut). Attorney Cerritelli is also a member attorney with the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and the Peace Officers Legal Defense Fund where he represents police officers in both criminal and administrative matters throughout the state. In addition to his private clients, Attorney Cerritelli is a Special Public Defender and has been approved by the Chief Public Defender to represent persons accused of crime who otherwise would be unable to afford competent legal representation. He has represented people throughout the state in a wide variety of matters ranging from Murder to Breach of Peace, and minor traffic offenses. He has also represented individuals in Federal District Court for offenses ranging from federal narcotics offenses to Social Security fraud and money laundering.. Attorney Cerritelli is a former police officer of two separate municipalities (1991-1997) and served as a Chairman of the Board of Police Commissioners in Derby (1997-2001). While a police officer, he was a certified domestic violence victim counselor and volunteered as a victim advocate for the Judicial District of Ansonia/Milford. During his tenure as a police officer, Attorney Cerritelli received specialized training in the detection and apprehension of drunk drivers, and was certified to operate the Intoxilyzer 5000. He also received training from the Institute of Police Technology and Management in Jacksonville, Florida in motor vehicle enforcement and the detection and apprehension of drug couriers.. Attorney Cerritelli is a faculty member at the University of New Haven, where he teaches criminal law, constitutional law, police civil liability and evidence to both the undergraduate and graduate schools of criminal justice. He is a Magistrate Judge for the Judicial District of New Britain and Middlesex, where he presides over small claims matters, and criminal/motor vehicle infractions.. Attorney Cerritelli graduated from the University of New Haven with a Master of Science degree in Forensic Science. He received his Juris Doctor degree from Quinnipiac University School of Law.. Attorney Cerritelli has an interest in Second Amendment issues and is an avid collector of sporting firearms. In his spare time, he enjoys gardening and tending his fruit trees, raising chickens, and rescuing German Shepherds.

James I. Glasser is a Partner in the New Haven and New York offices of Wiggin and Dana and is Chair of the Litigation Department. Mr. Glasser is a seasoned advocate who has successfully represented corporations and individuals in complex civil litigation and in investigations and prosecutions conducted by the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, FINRA, the State Department, the Commerce Department, State Attorneys General, and other federal and state regulators. Mr. Glasser also regularly conducts internal investigations and ensures corporate compliance for companies including those in the defense, financial, and healthcare industries.. Mr. Glasser is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He also teaches trial practice at Yale Law School. When he was employed by the Department of Justice, Mr. Glasser was a frequent lecturer at the Justice Department's National Advocacy Center. He helped design and develop the Justice Department's course on advanced trial advocacy. Mr. Glasser has been chosen for listing in the litigation category of Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers. He is described by interviewees as "a consummate professional" and "a great strategist." He is experienced in areas such as securities disputes, False Claims Act litigation and FCPA matters. (For more information about the standards for inclusion in Chambers USA, please click here.) Mr. Glasser also has the distinction of having been chosen by his peers for listing in The Best Lawyers in America in the category of White Collar Criminal Defense (for more information on the standards for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, please click here). Benchmark Litigation, 2015 edition, has recognized Mr. Glasser as a "litigation star" in the categories of Appellate and White Collar/Enforcement/Investigations (for more information about the standards for inclusion in Benchmark Litigation, please click here). In 2015 Super Lawyers recognized Mr. Glasser as one of the top ten lawyers in Connecticut (for more information about the standards for inclusion in Super Lawyers, please click here). Notably, in 2015, Mr. Glasser was selected by the Connecticut Law Tribune to receive their inaugural Professional Excellence Award which honors attorneys with 30 or more years of experience and who have made substantial contributions to the practice of law.. Mr. Glasser is also an accomplished appellate lawyer, having briefed and argued 49 cases in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.. Mr. Glasser serves on the Committee on Admissions and Grievances for the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, was appointed by the Judges of the District Court as Chair of the Federal Grievance Committee for the District of Connecticut, and has served on the Merit Selection Committee considering the appointment of the Chief Federal Public Defender for Connecticut, and on a committee considering the reappointment of Connecticut's United States Magistrate Judges.. Prior to joining Wiggin and Dana, Mr. Glasser was a federal prosecutor for 19 years with the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut where he held senior positions including: Counsel to the United States Attorney; Chief of the Criminal Division; Chief of Appeals; and Assistant In-Charge of the Fairfield County U.S. Attorney's Office. In addition, he chaired Connecticut's Corporate Fraud Working Group, the Financial Fraud Working Group and Connecticut's Anti Gang and Project Safe Neighborhoods initiatives. Mr. Glasser was appointed to serve on the United States Attorney General's Criminal Chiefs' Working Group and was appointed to lead Connecticut's Anti-Terrorism Task Force immediately after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.. During his tenure as a prosecutor, Mr. Glasser investigated and prosecuted complex criminal cases involving a variety of federal offenses including official and political corruption, corporate fraud and financial institution fraud, tax violations, civil rights violations, export control offenses, money laundering, RICO violations, violent crime, and drug trafficking. Mr. Glasser received numerous awards and commendations for his service as a prosecutor, including the Justice Department's prestigious Director's Award and the District of Connecticut's coveted "Standing Tall" award.. Before joining the Justice Department, Mr. Glasser was a litigation associate at the New York office of Mudge Rose Guthrie Alexander & Ferdon where he worked on complex multi-district litigation, civil RICO, fraud, contract, and Medicaid fraud matters.. As a defense lawyer, Mr. Glasser has lectured at the New York County Lawyer's Association, the Society for International Affairs, the American Internal Health Care Auditors Association, the Connecticut Hospital Association and the Connecticut Bar Association's Federal Practice Section, and many other forums. Mr. Glasser is on the Board of Editors of the Federal Bar Council Quarterly and has authored numerous articles of interest to defense counsel. Mr. Glasser serves on the Federal Bar Council's Criminal Procedure Committee.. Mr. Glasser is a member of the American Bar Association and the Federal Bar Council, is a James W. Cooper Fellow of the Connecticut Bar Association, and a member of the U.S. Supreme Court Historical Society and the Society for International Affairs. He also serves on the regional board of the Anti-Defamation League and on the Advisory Board for Connecticut's Juvenile Training School. Mr. Glasser also serves on the Board of CT Star, a 501(c)(3) corporation that supports Connecticut's Support Court initiative. Mr. Glasser is admitted to practice law in New York and Connecticut, and to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and the District Courts in Connecticut and the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York.