Marcus A. Ross

I am a former Assistant City Prosecutor for the Columbus, Ohio City Attorney's office and have been handling criminal, traffic and DUI felony and misdemeanor classification offenses for 20 years. I have handled cases throughout Franklin County, Delaware County, and throughout the state of Ohio. I have handled numerous suppression and evidentiary/oral hearings, jury trials and bench trials during my years of practice. I have also served as General Counsel for a small minority owned construction firm prior to starting my practice and joining the law firm of Walton & Brown, LLP as Of Counsel. In addition to my core competency of criminal and traffic defense, I have practiced in the areas of labor & employment, personal injury, landlord tenant, and have handled collection actions for judgment debtors and creditors as well as general civil and business litigation. I am certified as a Minority Business Enterprise with the City of Columbus, Ohio, and the State of Ohio through the Dept. of Administrative Services MBE/EDGE certification program.

Criminal Law

Drug Crimes, Expungement, Gun Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes

DUI & DWI

Traffic Tickets

Suspended License

• Free Consultation
  The initial 30 minute consultation is free. After the initial consultation the prospective client will be charged $25 per every 15 minutes in addition to the 30 minute consultation.

Ohio

6th Circuit

Since 2015

Federal Circuit

Since 2006

Federal Circuit

Since 2004

Of Counsel, OVI/DUI, traffic and criminal defense

Walton & Brown, LLP

2017 - Current

Handle criminal, traffic and OVI/DUI misdemeanor and felony referrals for firm throughout the state of Ohio.

Associate

Skinner & Associates,LLC

2016 - 2017

Associate Attorney where I handled criminal, traffic, DUI matters for the firm in Franklin County in addition to court appointed criminal referrals from Licking and Delaware Counties on misdemeanor and felony criminal matters.

General Counsel

IAP Government Services Group

2006 - 2016

Served as General Counsel for Innovative Architectural Planners Government Services Group, a construction management firm headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. My responsibilities included but were not limited to: negotiating commercial lease agreements, working in a coordinated effort with human resources to resolve labor and employment disputes with employees and ensure compliance with employment handbook by employees, reviewing subcontractor agreements on individual projects managed by the company, as well as settling disputes with judgment creditors on behalf of company.

Assistant City Prosecutor

Columbus,Ohio City Attorney’s Office

1997 - 2001

I previously served as an Assistant City Prosecutor for the Columbus,Ohio City Attorney’s Office where I handled numerous jury trials and bench trials for misdemeanor criminal and traffic offenses. Cases ranged from minor misdemeanor traffic violations to OVI/DUI to simple assault and domestic violence and a penalty range of a monetary fine of $150 fine to six(6) months in jail. My experience included handling numerous motion/suppression hearings on 4th and 5th amendment issues on search and seizure and Miranda as well as administrative license issues where procedural due process is at issue.

Capital University Law School

J.D. (1995) | ABA Accredited Law School Curriculum

1992 - 1995

Ohio State University - Columbus

M.A. (1992) | African and African American Studies

1991 - 1992

Hampton University

B.S. (1989) | Finance

1986 - 1989

Ohio State Bar Association

Member

Current

Columbus Bar Association

Member

Current

Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Member

Current

DBE

Ohio Department of Transportation

2019

MBE/EDGE

State of Ohio Department of Administrative Services

2010

Q. can I get arrested for using something I was told I can use?

May 15, 2023

A: Your father can file an Unauthorized Use of Property Charge or Theft charge against you if he gave you specific instructions not to use or possess the lawnmower. Unauthorized Use of Property or Theft are criminal offense(s) which can be misdemeanor or felony classification offenses based on the value of the lawnmower. I would recommend you don’t take the lawnmower.

Q. If a cop was standing on freeway shoulder, can he accurately use his lidar gun if two vehicles pass him by as it’s used?

April 19, 2023

A: The Ohio Supreme Court ruled in a 2020 decision (Rodojev decision)that an expert is not required to be in court to testify about how laser speed detection units/guns work. The results of the speed laser detection unit on the speed of the motorist are admissible without the testimony of an expert witness on how the technology works. The decision means the trial court takes judicial notice of the scientific reliability of the laser detection unit. However, the laser detection unit results can be challenged by calling into question whether the instrument was properly calibrated prior to usage or whether there was proper maintenance of the laser unit. You can also challenge the angle at which the officer held the device and the officer’s qualifications to use it. Judges and jurors can make a determination as to the weight given to the officer’s testimony on proper calibration or maintenance of the unit in addition to these other factors in ruling on the guilt or innocence of the motorist. ... Read More

Q. Is it possible to request a retrial for a case I was sentenced on during covid?

April 10, 2023

A: You may want to explore if there are any grounds to file a a motion to vacate the guilty plea with the court on the basis that you did not knowingly,intelligently and voluntarily waive your right to a jury trial by entering the guilty plea.