Best Criminal Lawyer in Columbus
Brandon Shroy
Criminal Lawyer
Brandon Shroy only practices criminal defense. Since 2006 Brandon has been in trial courtrooms daily handling criminal charges.
After graduating from Capital University Law School he accepted a prosecution position at the Columbus City Attorney’s Office. Brandon quickly developed a reputation as an aggressive litigator with an ability to expertly apply detailed legal knowledge to his cases with outstanding results.
With experience as both a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney, Brandon is adept at perceiving and addressing weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, which has proved an invaluable asset in his criminal defense practice.
Joe Edwards
Criminal Lawyer
Columbus Ohio Criminal Defense Attorney W. Joseph Edwards grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Thiel University in Greenville, Pennsylvania where he double-majored in chemistry and philosophy, he moved to Ohio to attend law school at the University of Dayton. While in law school, Edwards competed on the National Moot Court Team and worked as a law clerk for two years alongside renowned Dayton defense attorney, Daniel J. O’Brien.
After graduating from The University of Dayton School of Law in 1985, Edwards was admitted to the Ohio and Federal bars. He first began his legal career working as an Assistant Attorney General in the federal litigation section under Ohio Attorney General Celebrezze. Following a successful tenure at the Attorney General’s office, Edwards worked as an Assistant Prosecutor for the Franklin County Prosecutor’s office where he prosecuted a variety of crimes in Franklin County, Ohio.
In 1990, attorney W. Joseph Edwards started his law practice in Columbus, focusing on criminal defense at the state level in Ohio and at federal levels while maintaining a civil practice for personal injury clients. Edwards’ experience on “the other side of the bench” working as a prosecuting attorney gives Attorney Edwards’ representation of his clients a unique edge as he understands the requirements and needs of the prosecution, as well as having long-standing professional relationships with many state prosecutors and U.S. Attorneys.
Edwards has tried over one hundred felonies before a jury, argued over ten cases before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and more than seven cases before the Ohio Supreme Court. He has handled over one-hundred fifty criminal appeals and has represented persons accused in a diverse array of matters, from complex mortgage and securities fraud to civil wrongful death actions. Far from just exclusively representing people in high-stakes felony cases, he also provides legal representation to people charged with DUI and misdemeanors, as well as civil personal injury matters.
Dustin Blake
Criminal Lawyer
Bar Admissions & Certifications
- Ohio Supreme Court
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
- United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
- Ohio Supreme Court Certification on Capital Case as Co-Counsel
- NHTSA Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Certification (OVI / DUI)
Education
- Juris Doctor, The University of Akron School of Law
- B.A., Mount Union College, Business Administration
Honors & Awards
- Recognized by Best Lawyers
- Rated by Super Lawyers: Rising Star
- Recognized “Top Lawyers” Central Ohio by Columbus C.E.O. Magazine
- Rated Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® – highest rating legal ability & ethics
- Avvo 10.0 rating
Associations & Memberships
- The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Trial Lawyers
- American Bar Association
- Ohio State Bar Association
- Columbus Bar Association
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Central Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Central Ohio Association for Justice
Adam Burke
Criminal Lawyer
Adam Burke is a Columbus criminal attorney practicing in Columbus, Ohio. He is passionate about defending the rights of men and women facing criminal charges. Since 2008, Mr. Burke has concentrated his practice on aggressively defending clients charged with serious felony and misdemeanor offenses.
Experienced Columbus Criminal Attorney
Mr. Burke’s practice has been focused on criminal defense for many years.
Mr. Burke’s mission is to deliver outstanding legal representation to his clients at a reasonable fee.
Mr. Burke earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from The Ohio State University and his Juris Doctor from Capital University Law School.
While attending Capital University Law School, Mr. Burke earned the CALI Excellence for the Future Award for achieving the highest grade in the Criminal Law Course taught by the renowned former Professor and Criminal Defense Attorney Max Kravitz.
Mr. Burke is a licensed to practice law and in good standing the following jurisdictions:
- The State of Ohio – Surpeme Court of Ohio
- The United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
- The Supreme Court of the United States
Brian D. Joslyn
Criminal Lawyer
In Brian’s pursuit of justice, he has become one of Ohio’s most recognized and skilled criminal defense attorneys. His success has been heralded by many reputable organizations including Columbus CEO Magazine naming him as a top lawyer, The National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys selecting him as one of the ten best criminal lawyers in Ohio, Additionally, Super Lawyers a rating service for outstanding lawyers, selected Brian as a rising star in Ohio for attaining a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.
Brian is also included the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers and has earned the AV Preeminent award which is given to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills and ethical standards by their peers of attorneys and judges.
With a proven track record of success in handling over 15,000 cases, Brian and his team of exceptional legal minds have represented all walks of life; students, blue- and white-collar professionals, licensed professionals, professional sports stars, celebrities, police officers, FBI agents and even other criminal defense attorneys.
Regardless of your background, profession or status, all of our clients receive the highest level of attention. We understand the stress and anxiety you are feeling from your criminal charge and we make it our business to provide the same level of passionate representation that we would for our own family members.
Joseph J. Kunkel
Criminal Lawyer
After graduating from McDonald High School near Youngstown, Ohio, Mr. Kunkel completed his undergraduate studies at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. While at OU, he was a Pre-Law, Political Science major, as well as a member of the varsity men’s Track and Cross Country teams. After earning his bachelor’s degree he moved on to law school at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio.
At ONU, Mr. Kunkel earned a certificate of achievement in the field of criminal law and received first place in the Burke E. Smith mock trial competition. While in law school he completed judicial externships in Van Wert and Franklin Counties, as well as public defender internships at the municipal and federal levels. Mr. Kunkel gained valuable experience at each of these stops doing everything from researching and writing judicial opinions to working in the courtroom representing indigent defendants.
Chelsea Lund
Criminal Lawyer
Chelsea Lund is originally from New Ipswich, New Hampshire. Chelsea spent the first nine years of her legal career at The Koffel Law Firm (now Koffel Brininger Nesbitt), where she gained invaluable experience assisting clients with OVIs, traffic tickets, BMV issues, Title IX cases, protection orders, and other criminal charges.
Education:
University of Connecticut (2011)
Capital University Law School (2017)
Awards:
Super Lawyers Rising Star (2021)
Memberships:
Ohio State Bar Association
Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Columbus Bar Association
Women Lawyers of Franklin County
Joshua Hall
Criminal Lawyer
After graduating from Capital University Law School in 2003, Joshua went into private practice as a Criminal Defense Attorney in central Ohio. Through his demonstration of professionalism and strong litigation abilities as a Defense Attorney, Joshua was placed on the court appointed list in Licking County and offered a position with the Office of the Ohio Public Defender. Joshua has used his decades of experience to effectively navigate the legal system and applies this legal expertise to his Private Practice. Staying ahead of the law’s frequent changes is Joshua’s strong suit.
Education
Capital University Law School Juris Doctor, 1997
Capital University B.A., Political Science & Economics, 2000
Exceptions to ‘Driving While Texting’ Law are Affirmative Defenses
In many jurisdictions, including Ohio, the laws against ‘Driving While Texting‘ or distracted driving are strict, but there are specific exceptions that may serve as affirmative defenses in court.
An affirmative defense means that even though the defendant acknowledges they were texting while driving, they provide a valid legal reason or exception for doing so, which can potentially lead to dismissal of charges or reduced penalties. In this context, these exceptions allow the driver to justify their actions under the law.
Common Exceptions (Affirmative Defenses) to the ‘Driving While Texting’ Law:
Emergency Situations:
- Texting or using a phone to communicate during a legitimate emergency, such as calling 911, reporting a crime, or seeking medical assistance.
Law Enforcement or Public Safety Officials:
- Police officers, firefighters, emergency responders, or public safety officials may use their mobile devices while driving in the course of their official duties.
Hands-Free Devices:
- If the driver uses a voice-operated or hands-free device to send or receive text messages without physically holding the phone, it may be considered an affirmative defense.
Parked or Stopped:
- If the driver is legally parked or stopped (not in active lanes of traffic), texting or using a mobile device is typically allowed.
Navigation Purposes:
- Some laws may allow the use of a mobile phone for navigation (GPS), though it must typically be mounted and operated without manual interaction during driving.
How Affirmative Defenses Work:
If a driver is cited for texting while driving, they can argue one of these exceptions as an affirmative defense in court. However, the burden is on the defendant to prove that the exception applies to their case.
These exceptions provide limited circumstances where texting or using a phone while driving can be legally justified, but drivers must meet strict criteria to use them as a defense.