Cook County Criminal Lawyers

Mark has practiced as a criminal lawyer in Northeast Georgia since 1985. After receiving his JD from the University of Georgia School of Law, he associated with Cook, Noell, Tolley and Aldridge, where he became a partner in 1987. In 1997, Mark opened a solo practice in downtown Athens and then relocated to his current office at Resource Valley in 1998. From the beginning of his practice, Mark has concentrated his trial practice almost exclusively as a criminal lawyer and managing personal injury cases. His past and present associations include Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers ("GACDL") (vice president); the...

I am a solo practitioner in Henry County, Georgia. I focus primarily on Criminal Defense Law, handling well over a thousand cases in State and Superior Courts throughout Georgia, including approximately 75 jury trials.

Sean has been a trial attorney in middle Georgia for over 17 years. During the course of his 17 years as a trial attorney, he has handled a variety of different types of cases. Notably, he has handled over 3,500 criminal cases. These cases ranged from serious violent felonies such as murder, to drug cases such as trafficking and distribution, to DUIs. No case is too big, no case is too small. This is especially true when it involves his clients' freedom and liberties. Sean takes pride in helping people when they need him the most. In addition to criminal...

I enjoy practicing law at The Goolsby Law Firm, LLC with my oldest son in Augusta and Martinez, Georgia. We deal with divorce cases, personal injury, criminal defense and other litigation on a daily basis. As a former federal prosecutor in Augusta, Georgia for over 20 years, I have tried some of the largest fraud and public corruption cases in Georgia and U.S. history.

I'm here to provide the aggressive criminal defense that you deserve.

If you are charged with a crime, you need a dedicated and experienced trial attorney. I have the legal knowledge, experience, and confidence that you need. The criminal legal system can be intimidating and the consequences are often severe. Put a former prosecutor in your corner.

I am a former prosecutor- both felony and misdemeanor

I have handled thousands of criminal matters in my career covering the entire spectrum of criminal charges. Don't go it alone! Don't just plead guilty! Get the aggressive criminal defense that you deserve.



Tested in...

Norm Sawyer’s early career was spent representing the clients of large insurance companies, so he offers a unique perspective to his clients and the Litner + Deganian team. Norm knows how the insurance companies think and act, which can be a big advantage in a personal injury case. He also has a substantial amount of experience working with mediators as well as in state and federal courts.
“Insurance companies have so many clients that there’s very little interaction and a lot of rigid processes,” Norm commented. “I wanted to impact people’s lives, not just their insurance rates.” Norm met Arman Deganian...

Joshua Sabert Lowther, Esq., is a native of coastal South Carolina. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina, and a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree, magna cum laude, from the John Marshall Law School in Atlanta, Georgia. Since he became an attorney, Mr. Lowther has practiced law exclusively in the areas of Healthcare Fraud, Federal Crimes, and Criminal Defense. He began his career defending clients in federal and state courts in the Atlanta, Georgia, metropolitan area, and he has since expanded that practice to include federal trial, appellate,...

Brian Tevis graduated from the University of Georgia in 2002 and Wake Forest University School of Law in 2007. He has aggressively and successfully defended the criminal accused since 2008. He is an experienced trial lawyer and handles every kind of criminal charges including, but not limited to, complex felony cases including Drug Trafficking, RICO and Gang cases, Aggravated Assault, Armed Robbery, Sex Crimes, and Murder. He is also admitted to all U.S. District Courts in Georgia (Southern, Middle, and Northern, ) and the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, and has defended federal clients in drug trafficking, bank...

Tom started The Church Law Firm in 2022 after graduating with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law and becoming a partner at an elite law firm in Atlanta. Since becoming an attorney, Tom has been handling cases involving high profile federal crimes, serious felonies under Georgia law, and civil claims against overreaching government officials, including small businesses that have been unlawfully targeted by law enforcement based on their sale of legal cannabis products (hemp). During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tom also secured the release of over a dozen federal inmates based on their age, medical conditions, or excessively...

Attorney Akil Kenneth Secret is a licensed attorney in the States of Georgia and Nebraska. His practice focuses on Serious Personal Injury Litigation, Wrongful Death Litigation and Major Criminal Defense. Mr. Secret has represented defendants in numerous high profile state and federal cases. He has tried hundreds of cases with extraordinary success. Mr. Secret has represented Lawyers, Doctors, Accountants, Real Estate Brokers and Agents and Corporate Executives. Attorney Akil Secret attended University of Nebraska and transferred to attend Morehouse College where he pursued his undergraduate studies until 1973 with a major in Political Science. He attended Atlanta Law School and earned...

Reid Thompson started his own criminal defense law firm in May of 2009 with an emphasis on serious felony offenses. Since March 2010, he has tried ten felony jury trials winning not guilty verdicts in Murder trials in Fulton and Dekalb Counties. Previous experience includes work as an Assistant District Attorney for the Fulton County District Attorney's Office in the Complex Trial Division and at the Douglas County District Attorney's Office. During and after law school, Reid also worked at the Prosecuting Attorney's Council of Georgia, at the FultonCounty Solicitor's Office, and at the Georgia Justice Project....

As a former prosecutor for 6 years, I have a ton of courtroom experience and legal knowledge. When I first passed the Bar, I opened my own practice concentrating on family law and personal injury. As my knowledge base grew, I decided I wanted to get back to family law but now I had additional information and experience in criminal work.

John Schneider is a partner at Wosnik Law, and an experienced criminal defense attorney who has represented clients in both criminal and civil matters across north Georgia. John has extensive trial experience, and has achieved not guilty verdicts or dismissals on criminal charges ranging from misdemeanor theft and battery to serious felonies, such as kidnapping and sexual offenses. He has also successfully advocated for his clients at other crucial proceedings, such as divorce and child custody hearings, probation revocation hearings, and appeals to the Georgia Court of Appeals and Supreme Court of Georgia. John graduated from the University of Georgia School...

Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney with over 20 years of legal experience. Extensive jury trial experience. Experience handling major felony cases such as Murder, Armed Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Rape, Robbery, Theft Crimes, and all crimes against persons.

Speaks clearly and can even be loud at times. Very honest and ethical. Always loyal to every client, hard worker and sometimes does pro bono work. Highly experienced and very knowledgeable with Georgia law. Senior Attorney practicing part time.

I began my adult life by serving in the U.S. Army, in the Military Intelligence Corps. After an honorable discharge began attending the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1998. After two years of hard work I received my Bachelor's Degree. I began law school in 2001, and received my Juris Doctor in 2004. I have worked extensively in juvenile courts in the metro-Atlanta area, primarily as a guardian ad litem representing the interests of children in deprivation and delinquency cases. I have also served as a guardian ad litem in very contentious custody cases....

Ms. Samantha Ashley Miller is the founding partner of Gross & Miller, and she was admitted to practice law in the State of Georgia in 1997. She is a native of North Carolina and she graduated from Appalachian State University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. In December 1996, she received a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from John Marshall Law School. During law school she served as the editor for The Advocate. She is a member of the Atlanta Bar Association, Cobb Bar Association and the State Bar of Georgia, Family Law Section. She volunteers her...

As a former federal prosecutor and a dedicated criminal defense attorney, Attorney Richard Rice fights diligently to safeguard the rights of his clients. As a member of Mensa International, an organization only open to those persons whose IQ is in the top 2% of world’s population, he uses his considerable experience and knowledge of the law to defend his client’s futures

For his dedication, Attorney Richard Rice has been honored to receive numerous accolades, including:
Being named a “Legal Elite” by Georgia Trend Magazine
Inclusion on the Georgia Super Lawyers® list
An Avvo Rating of 10.0 Superb
Being named one of the Top 100 Trial...

DUSTIN W. HIGHTOWER grew up in Carroll County, Georgia where he graduated from Central High School (“CHS”) in 2000. While attending CHS, Dusty lettered in football, wrestling, and baseball. During Dusty’s senior year he served as captain of CHS’s football team along with his cousin Brian Maxwell (now a mechanical engineer at Southwire), and fellow classmate Josh Hubbard. Dusty also received the honor of representing his class as Homecoming King and Mr. CHS his senior year. Upon graduating from CHS, Dusty attended the University of West Georgia (“UWG”) where he graduated cum laude. During...

Growing up in a multicultural household, I was shaped by my Japanese, Chinese, and African American heritage, which instilled in me the values of hard work, perseverance, and respect. Atlanta is my first home, but my time abroad also shaped my worldview and continues to influence how I approach my work and relationships. I earned my Bachelor’s in Japanese Language and Literature at the University of Georgia and my Juris Doctorate at the University of Alabama School of Law. While in law school, I discovered my passion for service, working in Family and Elder Law Clinics, clerking for a federal judge,...

Katie has spent her entire legal career advocating for her clients. She spent over 14 years as a public defender in Fulton County, representing individuals charged with felony crimes at the trial and appellate level. Most of her career at the public defender’s office was spent in the complex felony unit, representing people charged with the most serious crimes; murder, armed robbery, sex crimes and drug trafficking. More recently, Katie was a partner in a boutique law firm, trying cases and representing clients all over the Metro Atlanta area. Her many years in the courtroom have earned her a reputation...

The Smith Williams Law Firm’s owner, Yolanda Smith-Williams, received a Bachelor of Arts degree from North Carolina A&T State University in Political Science with a minor in English. She received her Juris Doctorate from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan. While in law school, Yolanda gained valuable legal work experience by working with a Circuit Court Judge. This was the start of her experience in working in the area of Family Law. She later received a highly sought after internship with the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office. In this position, Yolanda assisted in prosecuting individuals charged with felonies and...

Amanda Gaddis Speights represents clients in divorce or family law matters, criminal matters, appeals, and other civil litigation. In family law matters, Amanda has guided and counseled clients in settling uncontested divorces, fought for clients' rights in contested divorces and child custody or child support proceedings, and ensured that clients resolved their family disputes with the best resolution possible for their family given the situation. In addition to her work on family law cases, Amanda has represented clients arrested for various crimes, including DUI, felony and misdemeanor drug offenses, theft crimes, assault or battery charges. Amanda is very...

Mr. Leonard is a Georgia DUI lawyer practicing in all of the courts in the peach state. He gets excellent results for his clients because he takes the time to learn about their individual DUI case and to stay on top of the ever changing DUI law. He has been NHTSA trained in DUI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, just like your arresting officer. In addition, he is a SFST Instructor. He is also a U.S. Department of Transportation certified operator of the Intoxilyzer 5000. He is a member of the National College for DUI...

Matthew Van Dyke has a service-driven practice with a specific focus of adding value and maximizing efficiencies for the Client. Mr. Van Dyke believes that it takes a cooperative effort in order to accomplish the Client’s goals.

For his business clients, Mr. Van Dyke will work with you to add value to your organization while being efficient and minimizing the risks for litigation. However, if litigation does arise, Mr. Van Dyke will represent your interests zealously, both in the courtroom and in the boardroom. For clients who have been charged with a crime, Matthew will work with you and for you...

Ruslyn D. Ruby has practiced law since 2017. She focuses her practice on family law, probate and general civil litigation. She was born and raised in Georgia and has lived in Forsyth County since her childhood. Mrs. Ruby graduated with a bachelors degree in Business Management, cum laude, from the University of South Carolina Aiken. While at USC-Aiken, she was the captain of the cheerleading squad and a member of Alpha Omicron Pi. In 2016, Ruslyn received her Juris Doctorate from Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law. While in law school, she was a member of the Association of...

On the morning of July 3, 2003, I was driving to cover Court for another attorney during a tropical storm, when I was blown off the road by the intense rain and high winds. I was informed by a third party whose judgment and observation I trust that my estimation of time during that period was very wrong. I spent a short time in a medically-induced coma, followed by about three weeks of being unconscious. The accident left me paralyzed on my right side, and I spent approximately four to five months after I awoke re-learning...

JD Univ. of Ga. Law School 1986 LLM in Taxation Emory University 1994 Litigated thousands of cases.

I began prosecuting felony cases as an Assistant District Attorney in Cherokee County, Georgia, right out of law school. After 10 years in Cherokee County I took over as the Senior Assistant District Attorney in Pickens County, where I prosecuted for 5 years. In 2013, I transitioned into private practice and now represent people who have been charged with committing a crime. After prosecuting for 15 years, I know first-hand that not everyone who has been arrested is guilty, and I work tirelessly to protect my client's rights in court.

Cortney M. Stuart's legal background began with the Superior Court of Athens, Georgia, where she interned while studying as an undergraduate at the University of Georgia, from which she graduated with Bachelors in Criminal Justice, Sociology, and Political Science. She later graduated from the Florida Coastal School of Law, cum laude, receiving her Juris Doctor in May of 2011, subsequently sitting for the Georgia and Tennessee Bars in July of 2011, and being admitted to both in November of 2011. In 2012, she began her career as an associate at the Law Offices of Edwin Marger, LLC. Under Edwin Marger's...

Musa M. Ghanayem, attended Law School at Michigan State University College of Law, where he was a Dean's List member every semester, and a Cum Laude graduate. Musa is licensed to practice in Georgia and New York and has been involved in a variety of areas of Legal Practice. As a 1st year associate Musa was a senior associate in a complex commercial litigation and Qui Tam boutique law firm. After two years as an associate, he realized his passion as an advocate for civil rights, human rights, and the protection of the Constitution. In 2002 Musa joined...