Georgia · Criminal Defense
Best Criminal Defense Attorneys in Georgia
1,446 Georgia attorneys list criminal defense in their official bar profile. They are ranked below by the objective public record — federal court activity first, then years admitted — and every listing is in active good standing per the State Bar of Georgia. This is not a paid placement or a rating of skill.
Ranked criminal defense attorneys in Georgia
Edward T. M. Garland
Atlanta, GA
- Bar #
- 284900
- Admitted
- 1964 · 62 yrs
- Law school
- University of Georgia
- Firm
- Garland Samuel & Loeb PC
James E. Palmour, III
Gainesville, GA
- Bar #
- 560600
- Admitted
- 1964 · 62 yrs
- Law school
- Atlanta Law School
James G. Blanchard, Jr.
Evans, GA
- Bar #
- 062000
- Admitted
- 1968 · 58 yrs
- Law school
- Cumberland L.s./samford
- Firm
- Columbia County Justice Center
J. Alfred Johnson
Marietta, GA
- Bar #
- 394200
- Admitted
- 1969 · 57 yrs
- Law school
- John Marshall (atlanta)
- Firm
- Al Johnson Attorney At Law
Edwin M. Saginar
Alpharetta, GA
- Bar #
- 622200
- Admitted
- 1969 · 57 yrs
- Law school
- University of North Carolina
George L. Williams, Jr.
Warner Robins, GA
- Bar #
- 761800
- Admitted
- 1970 · 56 yrs
- Law school
- University of Alabama
Stephen H. Harris
Savannah, GA
- Bar #
- 331500
- Admitted
- 1971 · 55 yrs
- Law school
- University of Georgia
- Firm
- Stephen H. Harris Attorney At Law LLC
Eric N. Welch
Marietta, GA
- Bar #
- 746900
- Admitted
- 1971 · 55 yrs
- Law school
- Mercer University-W. George L.s.
- Firm
- Eric N. Welch PC
Michael E. Garner
Phenix City, AL
- Bar #
- 285800
- Admitted
- 1972 · 54 yrs
- Law school
- University of Georgia
- Firm
- Attorney At Law
J. Wayne Pierce
Duluth, GA
- Bar #
- 579250
- Admitted
- 1972 · 54 yrs
- Law school
- Duke University
- Firm
- J. Wayne Pierce Pa
Kenneth C. Fuller
Griffin, GA
- Bar #
- 280250
- Admitted
- 1973 · 53 yrs
- Law school
- University of Georgia
Walter B. Harvey
Jefferson, GA
- Bar #
- 335550
- Admitted
- 1973 · 53 yrs
- Law school
- University of Georgia
- Firm
- Harvey & McCormack
Donald L. Lamberth
Montezuma, GA
- Bar #
- 431950
- Admitted
- 1973 · 53 yrs
- Law school
- Mercer University-W. George L.s.
Raymond Harold Stein
Atlanta, GA
- Bar #
- 677950
- Admitted
- 1973 · 53 yrs
- Law school
- Cumberland L.s./samford
James Charles Watkins
Lawrenceville, GA
- Bar #
- 740450
- Admitted
- 1973 · 53 yrs
- Law school
- Emory University
R. David Botts
Atlanta, GA
- Bar #
- 069950
- Admitted
- 1974 · 52 yrs
- Law school
- University of Georgia
Robert P. Hoyt
Cumming, GA
- Bar #
- 373150
- Admitted
- 1974 · 52 yrs
- Law school
- Emory University
- Firm
- Robert P Hoyt PC
Douglas N. Peters
Decatur, GA
- Bar #
- 573575
- Admitted
- 1974 · 52 yrs
- Law school
- University of Georgia
- Firm
- Peters Rubin & Sheffield Pa
John E. Pirkle
Hinesville, GA
- Bar #
- 580850
- Admitted
- 1974 · 52 yrs
- Law school
- Mercer University-W. George L.s.
Wallace W. Rogers, Jr.
Canton, GA
- Bar #
- 613486
- Admitted
- 1974 · 52 yrs
- Law school
- University of Georgia
- Firm
- Burns Smith Law PC
Carl A. Veline, Jr.
Warner Robins, GA
- Bar #
- 726850
- Admitted
- 1974 · 52 yrs
- Law school
- John Marshall (atlanta)
- Firm
- Carl A. Veline Esq
Harrison W. Kohler
Atlanta, GA
- Bar #
- 427725
- Admitted
- 1975 · 51 yrs
- Law school
- Emory University
Nicholas A. Lotito
Atlanta, GA
- Bar #
- 458150
- Admitted
- 1975 · 51 yrs
- Law school
- University of Virginia
- Firm
- Lotito & Kirschenbaum
William M. Moran
Atlanta, GA
- Bar #
- 521850
- Admitted
- 1975 · 51 yrs
- Law school
- University of Georgia
- Firm
- Michael Moran & Associates LLC
Charles C. Murphy, Jr.
Atlanta, GA
- Bar #
- 530062
- Admitted
- 1975 · 51 yrs
- Law school
- University of Tennessee
- Firm
- Vaughan & Murphy
Wilmer Parker, III
Atlanta, GA
- Bar #
- 563550
- Admitted
- 1975 · 51 yrs
- Law school
- University of Alabama
- Firm
- Knight Palmer
Edward Donald Tolley
Athens, GA
- Bar #
- 714300
- Admitted
- 1975 · 51 yrs
- Law school
- University of Georgia
- Firm
- Cook & Tolley LLP
Daryl J. Walker
Savannah, GA
- Bar #
- 731625
- Admitted
- 1975 · 51 yrs
- Law school
- John Marshall (atlanta)
- Firm
- Daryl J Walker Law Firm
Joe D. Whitley
Atlanta, GA
- Bar #
- 756150
- Admitted
- 1975 · 51 yrs
- Law school
- University of Georgia
- Firm
- Womble Bond Dickinson (us) LLP
Gerald P. Word
Carrollton, GA
- Bar #
- 776375
- Admitted
- 1975 · 51 yrs
- Law school
- Emory University
Douglas G. Andrews
Savannah, GA
- Bar #
- 018950
- Admitted
- 1976 · 50 yrs
- Law school
- Emory University
- Firm
- Doug Andrews Law
Palmer H. Ansley, Jr.
Flowery Branch, GA
- Bar #
- 020250
- Admitted
- 1976 · 50 yrs
- Law school
- Emory University
- Firm
- Law Office of Palmer H Ansley Jr
Anthony L. Cochran
Atlanta, GA
- Bar #
- 172425
- Admitted
- 1976 · 50 yrs
- Law school
- Northwestern University, Il
- Firm
- Smith Gambrell & Russell LLP
Norman J. Crowe, Jr.
Sylvester, GA
- Bar #
- 198450
- Admitted
- 1976 · 50 yrs
- Law school
- Mercer University-W. George L.s.
- Firm
- Attorney At Law
Donald C. English
McDonough, GA
- Bar #
- 248875
- Admitted
- 1976 · 50 yrs
- Law school
- Woodrow Wilson College of Law
- Firm
- Southern States Police Benevolent Assn
Floyd H. Farless
Rome, GA
- Bar #
- 255125
- Admitted
- 1976 · 50 yrs
- Law school
- Cumberland L.s./samford
- Firm
- Attorney At Law
Leonard L. Franco
Atlanta, GA
- Bar #
- 272675
- Admitted
- 1976 · 50 yrs
- Law school
- Woodrow Wilson College of Law
- Firm
- The Franco Law Firm PC
Craig A. Gillen
Atlanta, GA
- Bar #
- 294838
- Admitted
- 1976 · 50 yrs
- Law school
- Emory University
- Firm
- Gillen Lake & Clark LLC
Gary G. Grindler
Great Falls, VA
- Bar #
- 312650
- Admitted
- 1976 · 50 yrs
- Law school
- Northwestern University, Il
Ralph J. Hunstein
Monroe, GA
- Bar #
- 378494
- Admitted
- 1976 · 50 yrs
- Law school
- Woodrow Wilson College of Law
- Firm
- Ralph J Hunstein & Associates
Charles M. Taylor, II
Union Point, GA
- Bar #
- 699688
- Admitted
- 1976 · 50 yrs
- Law school
- Massey Law College
Scott N. G. Childress
Alpharetta, GA
- Bar #
- 124425
- Admitted
- 1977 · 49 yrs
- Law school
- Woodrow Wilson College of Law
- Firm
- The Man With the Axe
William Osborne Cox
Savannah, GA
- Bar #
- 192681
- Admitted
- 1977 · 49 yrs
- Law school
- University of California College of Law San Francisco
- Firm
- William O. Cox Attorney
Harry D. Dixon, Jr.
Savannah, GA
- Bar #
- 223375
- Admitted
- 1977 · 49 yrs
- Law school
- University of Georgia
- Firm
- Donnie Dixon Attoney At Law LLC
Bruce Steven Harvey
Atlanta, GA
- Bar #
- 335175
- Admitted
- 1977 · 49 yrs
- Law school
- University of Georgia
Lloyd Dan Murray
Richmond Hill, GA
- Bar #
- 531955
- Admitted
- 1977 · 49 yrs
- Law school
- John Marshall (atlanta)
- Firm
- Lloyd D. Murray Sr. Attorney At Law
R. Stephen Roberts
Decatur, GA
- Bar #
- 608838
- Admitted
- 1977 · 49 yrs
- Law school
- Atlanta Law School
- Firm
- R. Stephen Roberts PC
Charles R. Sheppard
Evans, GA
- Bar #
- 641938
- Admitted
- 1977 · 49 yrs
- Law school
- University of Georgia
- Firm
- Attorney At Law
Peter J. Anderson
Lexington, VA
- Bar #
- 017837
- Admitted
- 1978 · 48 yrs
- Law school
- Dickinson School of Law
Jake Arbes
Atlanta, GA
- Bar #
- 021012
- Admitted
- 1978 · 48 yrs
- Law school
- New York University
Roland R. Castellanos
Marietta, GA
- Bar #
- 116112
- Admitted
- 1978 · 48 yrs
- Law school
- University of Georgia
Roger L. Curry
Marietta, GA
- Bar #
- 202475
- Admitted
- 1978 · 48 yrs
- Law school
- Atlanta Law School
- Firm
- Roger L Curry P.c.
A. Jack Fishman
Atlanta, GA
- Bar #
- 261982
- Admitted
- 1978 · 48 yrs
- Law school
- Woodrow Wilson College of Law
- Firm
- A Jack Fishman Attorney At Law PC
Victor Hawk
Augusta, GA
- Bar #
- 338650
- Admitted
- 1978 · 48 yrs
- Law school
- Cumberland L.s./samford
- Firm
- Hawk Law Group
Barry M. Hazen
Atlanta, GA
- Bar #
- 341350
- Admitted
- 1978 · 48 yrs
- Law school
- University of North Carolina
- Firm
- Barry Hazen PC
Daniel B. Kane
Atlanta, GA
- Bar #
- 406375
- Admitted
- 1978 · 48 yrs
- Law school
- John Marshall (atlanta)
- Firm
- Daniel Kane PC
Irby Allen Meadors
Atlanta, GA
- Bar #
- 500150
- Admitted
- 1978 · 48 yrs
- Law school
- Atlanta Law School
David E. Morgan, III
Abbeville, GA
- Bar #
- 522250
- Admitted
- 1978 · 48 yrs
- Law school
- Woodrow Wilson College of Law
- Firm
- Morgan Law Services
J. Brown Moseley
Bainbridge, GA
- Bar #
- 526475
- Admitted
- 1978 · 48 yrs
- Law school
- John Marshall (atlanta)
- Firm
- Hall Booth Smith PC
Vernon S. Pitts, Jr.
Lithonia, GA
- Bar #
- 581294
- Admitted
- 1978 · 48 yrs
- Law school
- Emory University
Ranking reflects the public record only (court-record activity + years admitted, active good standing). It is not a rating of competence, not a recommendation, and not legal advice. Confirm any attorney's current standing and fit before hiring.
Verify before you hire
Whoever you pick, confirm their record first. The Georgia attorney lookup shows official license status and admission year, and Georgia disciplinary actions lists the 1,483 attorneys currently disbarred or suspended of record. Every record links back to the official source.
Other practice areas in Georgia
Frequently asked questions
How are these criminal defense attorneys ranked?
By the objective public record, not by who pays. Attorneys with a verifiable federal court footprint surface first, then by years admitted, and only attorneys in active good standing are listed. None of this is a rating of skill or a paid placement — it is a summary of the official record from the State Bar of Georgia and federal court dockets.
How do I verify a Georgia criminal defense attorney's license?
Open any listing to see their official license status, admission year, and disciplinary standing, or search a specific name or bar number on the Georgia lookup page. The record comes straight from the State Bar of Georgia.
Is this a lawyer referral service?
No. We do not take referral fees and we do not sell placement. This is a public-record directory ordered by objective court-record signals. Always confirm a lawyer's current standing and fit for your matter directly before hiring.
Data sources & last updated
- Licensing roster & status: State Bar of Georgia. Roster reconciled against the ABA resident-active benchmark below.
- Resident-attorney benchmark: ABA National Lawyer Population Survey 2024.
- Data on this page as of 2026-06-13 (last roster ingest).
This site republishes official public records and is not legal advice, a lawyer referral service, or a consumer reporting agency. Information here may not be used to make decisions about employment, tenancy, or credit (FCRA). Records are shown as published by their official sources and may contain errors or be out of date; consult the linked official source to verify. To correct or dispute a record, contact the licensing authority of record.