Putnam County Criminal Lawyers

Former Federal civil rights lawyer and former chair of the Georgia Bar's Individual Rights Section. Helped train U.S. Military Intelligence prior to opening criminal defense firm and KSU grad, 1994. Local court are my specialty and clients are my family. 17 years experience at work for you and I only take a very limited number of cases.

Partner, Grisham & Poole, P.C. Serving Cherokke County, Pickens County, North Georgia and Metro Atlanta Criminal Defense Attorney Former Assistant District Attorney Former Assistant Solicitor General

Born in 1967 in Jacksonville, Florida, Mr. Burns moved to Marietta, Georgia, at the age of five. After graduating from Sprayberry High School in 1986, Mr. Burns attended Kennesaw State University, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

In 1993, Mr. Burns graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law, Doctor of Jurisprudence. Subsequent to his graduation from law school, Mr. Burns opened his own practice and has since been practicing law in Northern Georgia and the greater metro Atlanta area, relocating to Cherokee County 15 years ago.

Currently, Mr. Burns maintains a trial practice concentrating in criminal and...

Areas of Practice Criminal & Bankruptcy Law Bar Admissions Georgia U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia Georgia Court of Appeals Supreme Court of Georgia Education University of Mississippi School of Law, University, Mississippi - 2000 Law Journal: Journal of National Security Law, Editor in Chief Honors and Awards Voted by his peers as among the Legal Elite in Georgia in Bankruptcy Law. (Georgia Trend Magazine) Professional Associations and Memberships Georgia Bar Association Cherokee County Bar Association NACBA

DeKalb County Bar Association (President, 2006-2007), Atlanta Bar Association; National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Vice Chairman, DUI Committee, 2005-Present); Georgia Defense of Drinking Drivers Group; Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; National College for DUI Defense (Elected to Board of Regents, 2008, Dean 2017-18, Dean Emeritus 2018-19, Fellow 2019-Present).

Villard Bastien, licensed in Georgia, New York and New Jersey, has been a Litigation Attorney for more than sixteen years. He was first exposed to the practice of law at the District Attorney's Office in Queens New York. Prior to actively practicing law he worked on the claims side of the insurance industry for three years. He continued to practice for various insurance carriers and various defense firms as an Attorney. The past seven years have been mainly dedicated to the representation of individuals seriously injured as a result of the negligence of others. He also represents individuals for...

Norman Cuadra is a managing partner at the firm of Cuadra and Patel, LLC and the Law Firm of Norman H. Cuadra, PC. He graduated from University of Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Sciences and also graduated from Nova Southeastern University-Shepard Broad Law Center with his Juris Doctor. Norman H. Cuadra is also presently the Chief Judge of the Suwanee Municipal Court. He has been a judge for the last 18 years. He is presently the Chief Judge for the City of Suwanee. He was an Associate Judge with the City of Chamblee and the City of Doraville. He coached...

Willis Law Firm is a highly esteemed Atlanta defense firm that focuses on aggressively defending an assortment of DUI cases in Georgia. Their team possesses more than 230 years of combined experience in the legal field. One of the firm’s partners was selected as Best Lawyers® 2012 “Lawyer of the Entire” for DUI Defense for the Atlanta area. Four of their attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the list of Super Lawyers®. They're available to speak 24 hours a day, so give them a call today at (404) 800-0025 for a free consultation.

Criminal Defense attorney with over a decade of experience.

While in high school, I played all sports. In college, I obtained my Black Belt in Chinese Boxing and was a security officer. After college, I became a teacher and coach, and taught History, Geography, Science, Health and Physical Education. I led Science Fairs and Living History in the Classroom. I led my students on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness Challenge and taught health. During my career, I coached Basketball, Football, Soccer, Baseball, Volleyball, Cross-country, and Track and Field. After law school, I worked for law firms in Atlanta and in 2007 opened my office in Lawrenceville....

Evan Watson is a criminal defense trial lawyer specializing in DUI, drug, and theft offenses. In his 8 years as a member of the Georgia Bar, Evan has represented hundreds of clients successfully in the Municipal, State and Superior Courts throughout Georgia.

Attorney Mari Lee Chambers is a founding partner in Chambers, Hill & Quinde. She began practicing law in Norcross, Georgia in 1988 and has always practiced in Gwinnett County and the surrounding counties. Attorney Chambers has practiced many types of law in numerous counties. She has served as a conflict public defender in Fulton County and is currently the Solicitor for the City of Auburn. She has handled every type of family law case, including juvenile law, divorce, custody modifications and adoptions. Attorney Chambers is a wife and mother to three teenagers. She is...

Lawrenceville Divorce and Criminal Defense Attorney

Constancia Carter earned her law degree from Georgia State University. She focuses her criminal defense caseload on representing criminal defendants with a history of mental illness and handling matters relating to guardianship, conservatorship, and involuntary commitments. Attorney Carter is a true litigator known by clients and colleagues as a caring, knowledgeable lawyer who puts her clients’ needs first. She has an in-depth understanding of the law and works hard to find creative legal solutions. Attorney Carter is admitted to practice in the Georgia Supreme Court, Georgia Court of Appeals, and the US District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

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...

Since starting Rachel Kaufman Law in June of 2015, Rachel has provided top-notch legal representation to hundreds of clients throughout the State of Georgia. In that short time, Rachel has gained a reputation for being a highly passionate and highly effective courtroom advocate. Amongst her colleagues, judges and courtroom personnel, Rachel is known for being a smart fighter, who can see through the tumbleweeds and intuitively zero-in on which strategic routes need to be taken to get to the best outcome possible. No matter the charge (DUI, Murder, Drug Offense, etc.), Rachel approaches each client’s situation with family-like loyalty and...

Justin W. Chaney is a native of Atlanta. Prior to becoming an attorney Mr. Chaney was a Border Patrol Agent on the US-Mexico border in California and Texas. He was an Adjudications Officer with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) at the New Orleans District Office. While with the INS Mr. Chaney conducted interviews and adjudicated thousands of various petitions and applications. After graduating from Whittier Law School in 2002, Mr. Chaney’s practice has focused on immigration law and criminal defense for non-citizens. He is a member...

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,...

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....

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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....

Keith was named one of the Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys in the United States by the National Trial Lawyers Association. Keith was selected twice to the Super Lawyers in 2017 and 2018 Georgia Rising Stars list, an honor reserved for those lawyers who exhibit excellence in practice. Only 2.5% of attorneys in Georgia received this distinction. In 2013, at the age of 30, Keith was appointed to serve as an associate Juvenile Court Judge for the Augusta Judicial Circuit, and continues in that role while still maintaining his private practice. Keith has handled thousands of criminal cases in Georgia...

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...

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...

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...