Jonathan Scott Smith is a top rated former prosecutor with over 30 years experience aggressively fighting for people and achieving successful results. His practice is devoted to litigation, and concentrates in medical malpractice and general personal injury (representing the injured parties), and criminal defense (all types of criminal cases). He has represented judges and their families; lawyers; law students; law enforcement officials; and courthouse employees. Mr. Smith has the highest peer ratings for legal skill and professional ethics (AVVO 10.0 Superb and Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent).
Columbia Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney
Columbia DUI Lawyer
TESTIMONIALS
?I've hired Mr. Smith twice now. He is always professional and was successful in both of my cases. When we left the courthouse after my last case, I told him, ?I don't know if any of your clients ever told you this, but you're worth every penny?.
M.M. ? Columbia, MD
?I feel very fortunate indeed to have had Jonathan Scott Smith represent me during my successful 2008 criminal trial in Howard County Circuit Court. Jonathan handled my case from start to finish. I was particularly impressed with his professionalism, candor, attention to detail and relationships within the legal community. In the courtroom Jonathan's skill, experience, preparation and passion carried the day when the jury returned a verdict of not guilty.?
D.D. ? Columbia, MD
? Over 30 Years of Courtroom Experience
? Former Prosecutor
? Author of Criminal Law Books for Lawyers
? Lectured and Trained Prosecutors
? Highest Rating for Legal Ability and Professional Ethics
Top-Rated Attorney
Mr. Smith's extensive trial experience ? and track record of successful results ? has earned him the recognition of his peers and clients:
? Maryland Super Lawyer.
? ?10.0 Superb? as a litigation attorney by AVVO.
? ?AV-Preeminent?*? Peer Rating by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory.
? ?Client's Choice Award? by AVVO, based on average client reviews of 5 stars ? the highest client review possible.
? 2012 Top Rated Lawyer by The American Lawyer magazine and Martindale-Hubbell.
These are the highest ratings possible for legal skill, ethical practice, a lawyer's years in practice, disciplinary history, professional achievements and industry recognition.
Jonathan Scott Smith has been in private law practice since 1984. Since that time, he has handled successfully a wide variety of criminal cases in Maryland district courts and circuit courts. He has tried hundreds of criminal cases to verdict, including numerous criminal jury trials, throughout the Baltimore and Washington Metropolitan areas. Mr. Smith has handled a full range of criminal cases, including an extensive number of drunk driving and other serious traffic cases; thefts; assaults; handgun charges; murder; rape and other sexual offenses; physical and sexual child abuse; burglaries; robberies; drugs and narcotics; and domestic violence. In addition, he has represented juveniles at intake conferences and in juvenile court.
Jonathan Scott Smith also has handled successfully hundreds of Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) hearings arising out of motor vehicle violations. These include hearings involving suspension, revocation, and reinstatement of driver's licenses; drunk driving cases in which the motorists refused to take alcohol (breath or blood) tests; and drunk driving cases in which alcohol tests were taken with a result in excess of the legal limit.
Jonathan Scott Smith was employed as a prosecutor (Assistant State's Attorney for Baltimore County) from 1980 to 1984. He prepared and prosecuted thousands of felony and misdemeanor criminal cases. This included an extensive number of jury and non-jury trials in Maryland district courts and circuit courts.
As a prosecutor in the circuit court, Mr. Smith prepared and tried a wide range of criminal cases. He was responsible for handling all aspects of criminal cases. Mr. Smith personally handled an extensive number of criminal jury trials. The charges included murder (including death penalty), rapes and other sexual offenses, armed robberies, burglaries, kidnappings, extortion, embezzlement, thefts, assaults, and drug offenses. He tried numerous non-jury trials as well. Mr. Smith prosecuted cases involving mandatory sentences and death penalty proceedings, and handled felony charge screenings; grand jury proceedings; and preliminary hearings.
As a prosecutor in the district court, Mr. Smith handled all aspects of thousands of cases until their conclusion, including an extensive number of non-jury trials. The cases included drunk driving and other serious traffic cases, thefts, assaults, drug possession, handgun charges, violation of probation hearings, and bail hearings.
? Career Prosecutor Course, National College of District Attorneys
Graduate, 1983
? University of Baltimore School of Law
J.D., With High Honors, 1979
? University of Baltimore
B.A., With High Honors, 1977
? Court of Appeals of Maryland
? United States District Court for the District of Maryland
? United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
? United States Supreme Court
? Author, Maryland Criminal Procedure: Forms and Analysis (Second Edition), West Group (published June, 1995; Library of Congress #95-76883).
? Author, Maryland Criminal Procedure Forms, Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Company (published April, 1988; Library of Congress #87-83520).
? ?The Status of the Defense of Diminished Capacity in Maryland Criminal Cases,? M.T.L.A. Trial Rptr., Vol. 4, No. 1 (Spring, 1982).
? Comment, State and Local Legislative Powers: An Analysis of the Conflict and Preemption Doctrines in Maryland, 8 U. Balt. L. Rev. 300 (1979).
? Presenter, ?Case Preparation and Use of the Trial Notebook,? Hon. James Macgill American Inn of Court, Columbia, Maryland (1992).
? Lecturer, ?Charging Documents,? University of Baltimore School of Law and Hoffberger Center for Professional Ethics Program: ?Criminal Procedure: A ?How To' with an Emphasis on Ethics,? Baltimore, Maryland (1990).
? Lecturer, ?Finding Weaknesses in the Prosecution's Case,? Maryland State's Attorneys' Association, Basic Trial Advocacy Course, Marriottsville, Maryland (1989).
? Faculty Advisor, Career Prosecutor Course, National College of District Attorneys, Houston, Texas (1983).
? Faculty Advisor, Maryland State's Attorneys' Association, Trial Advocacy Training Program, Port Deposit, Maryland (1983).
? Lecturer, ?Case Preparation, Interviewing Witnesses and Using a Trial Notebook,? Trial of Major Cases Seminar, Maryland State's Attorneys' Association, Frederick, Maryland (1983).
? Hon. James Macgill American Inn of Court (President: 1996-97)
? Maryland Association for Justice
? Maryland State Bar Association
? Howard County Bar Association
? Who's Who in American Law
? Who's Who in Practicing Attorneys
? Who's Who in the World
? Who's Who of Emerging Leaders in America
? Who's Who Among Rising Young Americans
? 2,000 Notable American Men
? Men of Achievement
Columbia Maryland Personal Injury Lawsuit Attorney
