NACDL - National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Life Member Directory
Life members are attorneys who have made an extraordinary commitment to support the work of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. By supporting NACDL at the highest dues level, they are accorded a lifetime membership as long as they continue to meet the standards for NACDL membership. In addition, they are listed in this special expanded life member directory, including bio and photograph, and receive a special award in recognition of their support for NACDL’s work.
Former President, Academy of Florida Trial LawyersFormer Chairman, Assn. of Trial Lawyers of Amer./Natl. Coll. of AdvocacyFormer Chairman, ATLA Criminal Law Section; Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers
Education
Undergraduate: Florida State University, Bachelor of Science, 1970
Law School: South Texas College of Law , Juris Doctor, 1973
Bar Information
11th Cir., US Ct. of Military Appeals, US Supreme Ct.
Justin Rosas received his JD from the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law and became a state court public defender in Medford for the next six years, eventually practicing almost exclusively in cases with mandatory minimum sentences. He currently is a criminal defense lawyer based in Medford, Oregon. Since 2013, he has run the Law Office of Justin Rosas and practices throughout southern Oregon in both state and federal courts. Mr. Rosas is a member of the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) panel and has tried more than 50 cases to a jury. He is a member of the faculty of the Trial Skills College (hosted by Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association), has served as chair of the State Professional Responsibility Board (SPRB), and has prosecuted bar violations against prosecutors for the Oregon State Bar (OSB). He is active in the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) and the National Criminal Defense College (NCDC). In his free time, he loves running marathon distance or longer races and is a huge fan of University of Kentucky Wildcats basketball.
Michael Robert Rosas prides himself in representing individuals and businesses in criminal and administrative prosecutions and investigations in New Jersey and New York. He is a trial attorney and has tried federal and state criminal matters, as well as civil matters, successfully to verdict. He has tried criminal matters ranging from DWI charges to Murder.
Michael is Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Criminal Trial Attorney.
Most recently, in 2023, Michael obtained acquittals for two different clients in two separate trials each charged with attempted murder.
In 2022, Michael obtained an acquittal in a murder trial in New Jersey Superior Court. He has tried cases in both New Jersey federal and state courts, New York criminal court, and civil trial courts.
Michael gained significant trial experience while serving as an Assistant District Attorney for the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office in New York City. Afterwards, Mr. Rosas further developed those trial skills by serving as appointed counsel in Mercer County, New Jersey, and in Monmouth County, New Jersey for those charged with murder and other violent criminal offenses.
Subsequently, Michael was appointed to the federal Criminal Justice Act (“CJA”) Panel for the District of New Jersey.
In 2018, Michael was appointed by the New Jersey Supreme Court to serve on the District Ethics Committee for Middlesex County (DEC VIII) for a four-year term. The District Ethics Committee acts as the investigative and prosecutorial arm of the Supreme Court in discharging the Court’s constitutional responsibility to supervise and discipline New Jersey attorneys. Committee members are responsible for conducting investigations and hearings in order to determine both the facts and the law surrounding grievances related to possible violations of attorney ethics rules or the law. In 2024, Michael was once again appointed to serve on the committee.
Michael also has experience handling criminal tax matters and defends business owners who are the target of criminal investigations. Michael holds a M.B.A. (Master of Business Administration) from Rutgers University. His professional and educational experience allow him to counsel clients who are charged with financial crimes.
Michael previously served as a partner of the law firm Rosas & Cirigliano. He started his career at a boutique Newark, New Jersey law firm where he handled criminal and civil rights matters in State and Federal court. He counseled various clients, including municipal clients, through the business investigation and internal investigation process. With this experience, Michael represents individuals employed by the government, such as teachers, police officers, firefighters, and other government employees facing criminal charges. Michael has represented politicians, doctors, lawyers, accountants and other professionals in criminal and quasi-criminal proceedings.
Former Director, Missouri Assn. of Criminal Defense LawyersRecipient, Atticus Finch Award, Outstanding Criminal Defense Lawyer (2004)Recipient, Charles M. Shaw Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy (2004)Fellow, American Coll. of Trial LawyersListed, Best Lawyers in America
Education
Undergraduate: University of Missouri at Columbia, , 1979
Law School: California Western School of Law, , 1983
Bar Information
East. Dist. of MO, West. Dist. of MO, South. & Cent. Dist. of IL, West. Dist. of MI, 5th Dist. of TX
Past-President, Arthur T. Vanderbilt AICOfficer, Past-President Assn. of Criminal Defense Lawyers of NJCriminal Trial Law Instructor, NJ Inst.for CLE. Board Certified as a Criminal Trial Attorney by NJ Supreme Ct. and the Natl. Board of Trial Advocacy
Education
Undergraduate: Seton Hall University, , 1983
Law School: Whittier Law School, 1986
Bar Information
NJ US Dist. Ct., E. & S. US Dist. Cts., 3rd Cir. US, US Supreme Ct.
Speaker, Advice of Counsel Defense in Criminal Cases (2017); D Magazine Best Lawyers under 40; Co-Author: Criminal Considerations in Civil Cases: What Civil Lawyers Should Know about the Fifth Amendment (2013)Co-Author: ERISA Litigation Manual, American Bankers Association (1996)Author: Caveat Employer, What You Say Can Hurt You (Pension Management Magazine, 1996)
United States Supreme Court, Texas, Illinois, All federal courts in Texas, N.D. Illinois, D. Colorado, Court of Federal Claims, 7th Circuit, 5th Circuit
Former First Vice-President and Director, NACDL Former Chair, Criminal Law Committee, State Bar of FloridaBoard Certified Criminal Trial & AppellateRecipient, Robert C. Heeney Award, NACDL (1988) Recipient, Tobias Simon Pro Bono Service Award (1997), Chief Justice, Florida Supreme Ct.Recipient, The Steven M. Goldstein Criminal Justice Award (2002)Recipient, Joseph W. Du Rocher Award, (2002) Listed, Best Lawyers in America
Education
Undergraduate: Spring Hill College, , 1955
Law School: Georgetown University Law Center, 1957
Cir. Ct. Judge, Liberty, MO Past President, Missouri Assn. of Criminal Defense LawyersPast President, NACDL (1985-86)Past President, Clay County Bar Assn.
I have represented individuals in state and federal courts since 1993 in a wide range of civil and criminal matters including complex federal white collar criminal prosecutions, multi-defendant federal conspiracy cases, federal and state gang-related prosecutions, and federal and state death-penalty matters. These include SEC and FDIC matters as well as investigations and habeas corpus petitions.
President, Kern County Bar Assn.(2010)Life Member, California Attorneys for Criminal JusticePresident,Criminal Defense Section (2003-2004)Member, Board of Directors Kern Co. Bar Assn.Certified Specialist, Criminal Law, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization (1995-Present)
Education
Undergraduate: University of California Davis, , 1978
Graduate: University of California Berkeley, , 1981
Law School: University of California Berkeley, 1981
Former Member, Board of Directors, NACDLLife Member, Florida Assn. of Criminal Defense LawyersPast Chairman, Criminal Law Section, Florida Bar Assn.Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer, State Bar of FloridaMember, Trial Bar, US District Ct. for the Mid. and South. Dists. of FLMember, United States Supreme CourtMember, Criminal Procedure Rules Committee of the Florida Bar
Education
Undergraduate: Marietta College, Bachelor of Arts, 1975
Law School: Northern Illinois University Law School, Juris Doctorate, 1978
Former Asst. US Attorney, Northern Dist. of Alabama(1971-1976) Former Special Asst. US Attorney, Dist. of SouthDakota Member, Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Assn. Fellow,American Board of Criminal Lawyers Life Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers His criminal defense practice consists of trial and appellate work instate and federal courts. Born in Mobile, Alabama, Mr. Salterreceived his B.S. degree from Auburn University in 1968. He earnedhis J.D. degree (Summa Cum Laude) from Cumberland School of Law in1971, where he was Law Review Associate Editor. He served as Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District ofAlabama(1971-76); and Special Assistant United States Attorneyin the District of South Dakota (1974). He was a member of theU.S. Attorney General’s Atlanta “Satellite Office†of theMiami Strike Force (1976-77).I have lectured for theAttorney General Trial Advocacy Institute in Washington D.C. I received the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory highest accolade; an AV rating in 1996. He is a Life Member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and a Fellow in the American Board of Criminal Lawyers. He is a Member of the Bars of the following: State of Alabama; U.S.Supreme Court; 5th and 11th Circuits Courts of Appeals;and, the United States District Courts for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Alabama.
I have appeared in United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Louisiana, Arizona, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida, Middle and Eastern Districts of Tennessee, Northern District of Georgia, Southern District of Ohio, and Southern District of West Virginia; and various State Courts outside the State of Alabama.
AND: *2021 Mid-South Super Lawyers
*2020 Mid-South Super Lawyers
2019 Mid-South Super Lawyers
2018 Mid-South Super Lawyers
2017 Mid-South Super Lawyers
2013 Alabama Super Lawyers
2012 Alabama Super Lawyers
2011 Alabama Super Lawyers
Education
Undergraduate: Auburn University, B.S., 1968
Law School: Cumberland Law School, JURIS DOCTOR, 1971
Undergraduate: Adams State University, BA, 2012, Summa Cum Laude
Graduate: –
Law School: Vermont Law School, JD, 2016, Magna Cum Laude
Bar Information
U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, & D.C. Circuits and the U.S. District Court for the Northern & Western District of Texas, the Eastern & Western District of Wisconsin, the Northern, Central & Southern Distr
President, GACDLMember, American Board of Criminal LawyersMember, American College of Trial LawyersAuthor, "Eleventh Circuit Criminal Law Handbook", Lexis-Nexis (2016), "GA Criminal Law Case Finder", Lexis-Nexis (1996, 2016), "Federal Criminal Law Digest", James Publishing Co. (2000), "The Money Laundering Control Act of 1996: Will Attorneys be Taken to the Cleaners?" GA Bar Journal, (1996)
Founding Partner, Sarafa Zellan PLLC, New York, NY (2024-Present); Deputy General Counsel, Select Equity Group, L.P., New York, NY (2014-2024); Founding Member, Sarafa Law LLC, New York, NY (2006-2014); Partner, Zuckerman Spaeder LLP, New York, NY (2004-2006); Senior Associate, Brafman & Ross, PC, New York, NY (1999-2004); Assistant Federal Public Defender, Houston, TX (1997-1999); Law Clerk, Hon. Carolyn Dineen King (USCA 5th Cir.) (1996-1997); Law Clerk, Hon. Jerry Buchmeyer, (USDC N.D. TX) (1995-1996)
Member, Board of Directors, NACDLAsst. Prosecuting Attorney, Wayne Co.Asst. Attorney General, State of MichiganBoard of Directors, Criminal Defense Attys. of MichiganFaculty, CDAM/Cooley Law School, Trial Skills CollegeLecturer, DNA, shaken baby syndrome, cross exam, and demonstrative evidence
