Top Best Criminal Appeals Lawyers | 33388 Available

Attorney Joanne M. Stella has been representing clients in New Hampshire since graduating from Boston University School of Law in 1993.  Over 20 years of outstanding and compassionate criminal defense and civil litigation.. During law school Attorney Stella was a research assistant to a law professor working on Title VII and IX Sexual Harassment laws.  She spent her first summer interning for an International Dispute Resolution Firm in London, England and spent her second summer working for the Alaska Public Defender’s Office where she gained a passion for representing those falsely accused of crimes.. Upon graduation and up until 1996 Attorney Stella worked tirelessly as a court appointed counsel for indigent defendants in the criminal courts.  As a New Hampshire Public Defender her caseload included felony level sexual assault and drug cases as well as misdemeanor criminal offenses and juvenile delinquency offenses.. After leaving the Public Defender’s office Attorney Stella began her own practice as the contract attorney hired to provide legal services to all full-time students at the University of New Hampshire (UNH).  During her 18 year tenure as the UNH legal services attorney she has represented over 9,000 students.  Many thousands of those cases involved drug and alcohol offenses, as well as the litany of criminal offenses often connected to the use of substances such as DWI, Possession of Fake IDs, Simple Assault, Resisting Arrest, Underage Intoxication, etc.  Attorney Stella has experience representing those charged locally by the Durham Police, UNH Police, Dover Police, New Hampshire Liquor Law Enforcement Officer and New Hampshire State Police as well as representation in the surrounding communities such as Newmarket and Portsmouth.   In addition to guidance in their criminal cases, UNH students received expert advice from Attorney Stella on the collateral consequences affecting their status as a student for such things as financial aid, scholarships, study abroad, disciplinary matters, immigration issues for international students and the potential impact on future employment.  Attorney Stella has the knowledge and experience to guide young adults through this maze of sanctions that can occur as a collateral consequence of being arrested.   Also, during her time at UNH Attorney Stella counseled thousands of students involved in landlord tenant disputes and twice argued their cases successfully in the New Hampshire Supreme Court.. Attorney Stella has tried hundreds of cases, both criminal and civil, and everything in between from Supreme Court appeals to motor vehicle hearings.   She has represented thousands of clients and has a proven track record of success.  Attorney Stella always provides a free consultation and will take the time address each client’s needs expertly and with compassion.

Kirsten Wilson is a nationally-respected trial lawyer and former New Hampshire state and county prosecutor. Kirsten represents individuals and businesses in criminal matters in state and federal courts.. She servied for over twelve years as a Senior Assistant Attorney General for the State of New Hampshire and Assistant County Prosecutor in Rockingham County, New Hampshire. She has successfully tried hundreds of major criminal cases including  murder, sex crimes and drug offenses. Kirsten led the team that prosecuted the first capital murder case tried in New Hampshire since 1959. She has practiced at two of New Hampshire’s most-respected law firms handling civil and criminal defense matters and has argued numerous appeals before the New Hampshire Supreme Court.. Kirsten has served as a legal analyst for FoxNews and appeared frequently as a legal commentator on major legal news stories. Several of her prominent murder cases have been featured on the Discovery ID Channel, and she continues to serve as a commentator on additional cases. She previously served as an adjunct faculty member in Plymouth State University’s criminal justice department teaching Constitutional Law. In 2009 she was recognized as one of New Hampshire’s brightest young achievers with a record of professional and volunteer accomplishments in the Union Leader’s “40 Under 40”. She is a recipient of the Board of Governor’s National Award from the Association of Government Attorneys in Capital Litigation.. She is a contributing author to A Practical Guide to Evidence in New Hampshire (2012 and 2021) published by MCLE New England.. Admitted to practice in New Hampshire and Massachusetts as well as the First Circuit Court of Appeals, Kirsten graduated on the Dean's List from New England School of Law in 1997 and received her undergraduate degrees at Miami University, in Oxford, Ohio.

Portsmouth, New Hampshire criminal defense attorney Kevin O'Keefe has represented thousands of clients in all areas of criminal law. Before establishing Reis & O'Keefe, Kevin handled every type of case from DWIs to major felonies including homicides as an attorney with the New Hampshire Public Defender.. A New Hampshire native, in 2009 Kevin returned to New Hampshire to practice law in his home state after gaining education and experience around the country. He began his legal career at the Broward County Public Defender in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Trial was a daily occurrence in this urban area where, for two years, Kevin spent every day in court and tried dozens of cases. He won acquittals in his first three cases, including two DWIs.. Kevin has ridden the bus with homeless clients in Miami and played badminton with military generals at the Pentagon. He knows that every client and every person has unique motivations and goals and he will see those through to the end with honesty, respect, and a tenacious desire to win.. No one can control what another human being will decide. Kevin provides straightforward advice, representation, and candor to everyone. He will not over-promise you results. Instead, he will fight to get you the best possible result.. You can rest assured that, when you hire him, you are in good hands. In a fast paced trial practice, there is no time to sugar coat and no tolerance for the unprepared. Kevin’s experience in New Hampshire and Florida is unmatched. He is often called on to pass his knowledge to other lawyers; typically presenting on panel jury selection.. Kevin captained, then coached, the UNH tennis team prior to law school. He attended Roger Williams University School of Law in Rhode Island and clerked at the Pentagon for the United States Air Force, conducting administrative analysis and assisting in criminal investigations.. Kevin is an avid surfer and can be found in the ocean at dawn year-round. He loves sports and graduated with a Master’s in Sports Administration from the University of Miami (FL).

I have been a member of the New Hampshire Bar Association since 1994.  I am a retired Police Captain with extensive experience in criminal procedure, criminal investigation, arrest, search and seizure and police operations, police procedure and other aspects of criminal investigation and law. I use my knowledge and over 20 years  of criminal justice experience to assist my clients in achieving a favorable outcome to their issues.. I also use my legal knowledge, compassion and understanding to work with my family law, divorce and child custody clients in their most troubling times.  I have experience in divorce, child custody, child support, parental rights, both father's and mother's cases, property and business issues in divorce and all levels of family law litigation.. I live in the Southern New Hampshire area and spend my time outdoors skiing, golfing, hiking, running, bicycling and anything else I can do outdoors!. I am a member of the New hampshire and Nashua Bar Association as well as the Family Law and Criminal Law practice groups.. I also believe in giving back to my community and I am on the Board of Directors of the Nashua Soup Kitchen and Shelter.. January 2025 – Administrative License Suspension (ALS) dismissed against client after Atty Mello took it to an administrative hearing.. January 2025 – DWI accident resulting reduced to a Negligent Driving after Atty Mello negotiated with Police Prosecutor.. January 2025 – Stalking Order against client dismissed after Atty Mello took it to trial.. January 2025 – .16 DWI reduced to a non-criminal Reckless Operation- Salem District Court. January 2025 – Felony Identity Fraud dropped, client plead to a misdemeanor with a fully suspended sentence.. December 2024 – Felony Criminal Threatening with a Firearm-reduced to a misdemeanor with a fully suspended sentence -Merrimack County Superior Court. December 2024 – Complicated four day divorce trial culminated in a win for Atty Mello client where client’s parenting time was increased, alimony eliminated and assets equitably divided.. December 2024 – Complicated divorce trial with multiple business holdings decided for wife who was represented by Atty Mello. She was awarded the marital home and all related equity.. November 2024 – DWI reduced to Negligent Driving-no loss of license-Merrimack District Court. November 2024 – Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Images-client received a fully suspended sentence- Hillsborough Superior Court-Manchester

Max Pines Law offers wise counsel, supportive service, and powerful litigation in criminal matters, civil rights, personal injury, and expungements.

As a former social worker, I know that supporting clients emotionally is equally important as knowing the law and how to fight a case in trial. The criminal justice system can be very traumatizing. I help clients understand their rights, the options we have to fight the case, and support them in getting their lives back on track.

Mr. Torinto Marasco is a trial lawyer who has been practicing law since 2006. His current practice focuses primarly on injury accidents and criminal/DUI defense. He has successfully represented thousands of clients for injuries caused by careless people and victoriously defended hundreds of clients against criminal charges.. Torinto's training began in Las Vegas, NV where he worked for the state's largest personal injury firm. This was a high volume firm where Torinto was busy negotiating hundreds of claims each year, pre-litigation. Later, Torinto moved to Texas and secured public defender contracts with several counties. This gave Torinto a lot of courtroom experience defending clients in jury trials. With experience under his belt, Torinto was hired to work for the largest personal injury firm in Texas. This was also a high volume firm, but this time Torinto worked litigation and was scheduled for trial every month.. To further his knowledge of the law Torinto took and break from working and went back to law school to earn a Master of Laws degree (LL.M.). He graduated with highest honors in 2012. Today, Torinto enjoys a balanced practice of negotiating cases that should be settled and taking the rest to trial.. In addition to being a lawyer, Torinto has been sworn-in as Commissioner Pro Tem for the Stevens County Superior Court and is the current president of the local Bar Association. He is licensed to practice law in Washington, Texas, Connecticut, and New York. In 2012, Torinto was admitted to argue cases before the Supreme Court of the United States.. Torinto Marasco was born in 1976 in Los Angeles, California. His father is from Rome, Italy and his mother is from Ensenada, Mexico. Having parents from two different countries he grew up speaking both Spanish and Italian. Torinto is the oldest of two boys. He met his wife in college in 1999 (they are both left-handed) and they married in 2007. They have two children together--a boy and girl.. Torinto moved to Washington to explore the outdoors. Throughout the seasons Torinto is usually somewhere on a mountain either camping, mountain biking, or snowboarding. His other passions are flying and motorcycle riding.

Christopher Taylor is the founder and owner of CR Taylor Law, P.S. Mr. Taylor has been in private practice for over 18 years. Mr. Taylor regularly represents individuals on a retained basis on criminal matters in Thurston County, Lewis County, Mason County, and Grays Harbor County on a range of offenses, including DUI, theft, assault, domestic violence offenses, drug offenses, burglary, trafficking in stolen property, arson, and murder. Mr. Taylor has been lead counsel on well over 100 jury trials and hundreds of substantive motions, and has the experience and professional reputation to vigorously pursue his clients' goals.. Mr. Taylor also has current contracts with Thurston County Public Defense and Grays Harbor County Public Defense as a conflict panel attorney, representing individuals accused of felonies, as well as representing appellants convicted in courts of limited jurisdiction, who are unable to be represented by the County office due to ethical conflicts. He also represents individuals seeking relief based upon the Washington Supreme Court's Blake decision in Lewis County on contract with the Washington State Office of Public Defense. Mr. Taylor is an active member of the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (WACDL), Washington Defender Association (WDA), Washington Coalition for Open Government (WashCOG), and the Thurston County Bar Association (TCBA). Mr. Taylor also serves as the private criminal defense bar representative to the bi-weekly Thurston County Superior Court Criminal Administration Meeting. Mr. Taylor is also the co-chair of the WACDL Rules Committee.