Jeff Gorman is a respected and active member of the Florida Bar and is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. After moving to the Treasure Coast five years ago Mr. Gorman worked for the State Attorney for the 19th Judicial Circuit where, during his tenure, he performed more felony trials to a jury verdict than any other prosecutor. Jeff Gorman left the Office of State Attorney to run for State Legislature in 2008 and is still an active member in Treasure Coast political organizations. Since 2008, he has been an advocate on behalf of business, criminal defense and personal injury clients.

Mr. Gorman, the first in his family to attend college, studied electrical engineering at the University of Maryland at College Park. While studying engineering Jeff Gorman was pulled toward another stronger passion. Jeff Gorman pursued a legal career. In 1996 he graduated Penn State’s Dual Degree Program with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. After graduation Mr. Gorman started his legal career at the law firm of Dickstein, Shapiro, Morin & Oshinsky, in Washington, DC. From 1996 until 1998, Jeff Gorman was placed in charge of prosecuting hundreds of cases all over the United States under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act or ‘ERISA.’ During that time Jeff Gorman honed early skills in Federal litigation and negotiating debts owed to major labor unions. more…

	Criminal Defense Attorney/Lawyer: Stuart, Martin County, FL Being arrested, charged or under investigation can be traumatic, whether it’s for a misdemeanor or felony crime. There’s a lot of uncertainty associated with this – what will the end result be? How will your future be affected? How will your family and loved ones be impacted by this? more…
	Personal Injury Attorney/Lawyer: Stuart, Martin County, FL An experienced personal injury lawyer knows how to build and negotiate your case with an insurance company, and, if necessary, how to take your case to trial. While it is possible to negotiate your claim with an insurance company yourself, insurance companies will typically do everything to get the lowest possible settlement. more…
	Family Law, Divorce Attorney, Stuart, Martin County, FL You are entitled to receive fast and effective solutions that restore your peace of mind. You need a knowledgeable, determined and compassionate Stuart Florida divorce lawyer who will explain your legal rights in easy-to-understand terms. more…

In the United States, criminal defense lawyers deal with the issues surrounding an arrest, a criminal investigation, and criminal charges of the present or the past. It’s important to note that an arrest simply means there is reasonable suspicion a person committed a crime. An arrest does not necessarily mean that a criminal charge has been formally stated by the court. Criminal defense lawyers also deal with the substantive issues of the crimes with which his or her clients are charged. Criminal defense lawyers may also stop charges from ever being filed. This is done when someone knows he or she is being investigated or is arrested. The person suspect hires a criminal defense lawyer to perform his or her own investigation and when evidenced presented to the court or prosecutor negates the investigation or charge that is about to be filed the charges do not get filed by the prosecutor.

In the United States criminal defendants are entitled to the presumption of innocence until prosecutors prove each essential element of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Serious crimes (e.g. felonies) in the United States are tried to juries of twelve people and the jury must be unanimous in its verdict to either convict or acquit the defendant. A split in the jury is often called a “hung jury” and may result in a retrial of the defendant. Criminal defense lawyers actively pursue their client’s cause through all stages of a criminal prosecution.

Criminal defense lawyers in the United States who are employed by governmental entities such as counties, state governments, and the federal government are often referred to as public defenders or court appointed attorneys. These are often fresh law school graduates seeking to gain quick courtroom experience. It is the job of a criminal defense lawyer to advocate for their client. Rather than formulating an opinion of guilt or innocence, a criminal defense lawyer must instead determine if the laws were followed in conjunction with their client’s charge. A considerable aspect of this work requires the criminal defense lawyer to have a clear understanding of the United States Constitution. Specifically, the Fourth Amendment protects against unlawful searches and seizures while the Fifth Amendment governs the right to remain silent so one does not become “a witness against himself.” All of the Amendments to the United States Constitution are guaranteed to the criminal accused via the Fourteenth Amendment. Thus, a criminal defense lawyer must understand each of these rights. Initial work on any criminal case involves review of the charges and the police reports that led to them with a watchful eye toward a Constitutional violation. Early stages of a criminal case usually require a preliminary hearing or grand jury process to determine if there exists probable cause for the case to continue. A violation of the Fourth or Fifth Amendment could result in evidence being inadmissible at trial. Accordingly, a criminal defense lawyer often spends a considerable amount of time reviewing all documentation to determine if the case can be won on Constitutional Grounds.

Should there not be Constitutional violations, much of the work of a criminal defense attorney then turns to negotiation. Often a criminal defense lawyer works to arrange a deal or plea bargain that permits their client to admit guilt to a lesser offense or that results in an agreed upon sentence should the accused plead guilty.

The process of becoming a Criminal defense attorney is similar any other legal practice area. Individuals looking to become a criminal defense lawyer will need to complete their undergraduate degree and enroll in law school. While in law school it is advised that individuals find work experience in the criminal law field. This experience can help further legal knowledge in the criminal law field and add valuable experience to a students resume. After graduating law school and passing the bar exam it is suggested that graduates apply to law firms or establishments specializing in criminal law.