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.
GIFFORD LAW is an Oklahoma City law firm with a specialty in federal criminal practice, federal pardons, military law, Native American law, and Civil Rights. He is the 2025 winner of the Clarence Darrow Award, a member of the NACDL's Strike Force (10th Circuit), on the Board of Directors for both the Oklahoma Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, the ACLU (Oklahoma), and an Advisory member (Okla.) for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. He also serves as a tribal court judge on eight tribal courts throughout Oklahoma.
- Former federal prosecutor for over a decade leading complex investigations ranging from White Collar to Indian Country to Human Trafficking; - Colonel (retired), Army Reserves with prior active duty experience in a combat zone and in the war crime trials at Guantanamo Bay. - Tribal member and judge for eight tribal courts; - former Part-time Municipal Court Judge;  - Chair, Okla Bar Assoc's Criminal Law Section; OBA Board of Governors; Chair, Military & Vet Law Section (2012-2014) - Adjunct Law Professor at the University of Oklahoma College of Law, - Okla. Bar Association's Criminal Law Section's Professional Advocate of the Year (2013); Justice Cardozo Award (2016) -Cherokee Nation Medal of Patriotism
Education
Undergraduate: Southwestern College, B.A., 1993
Graduate: U.S. Army War College, M.S., 2015
Law School: University of Oklahoma College of Law, J.D., 1996
Bar Information
U.S. Supreme Court, Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit Court of Appeals
For 20 years, Marci LaBranche has handled high-stakes criminal investigations and trials, as well as complex civil litigation in both state and federal court. She also assists with all manner of collateral consequences that can arise from being accused of a crime. Marci is known for her perseverance and ability to quickly learn and assess even the most complex of cases.  She is the rare trial attorney who practices in the areas of both civil and criminal litigation. Â
In her criminal practice, Marci has won acquittals for her clients in both state and federal court.  She has handled white-collar matters defending individuals charged with offenses including securities fraud, insider trading, tax fraud, and violations of FDA laws and regulations, as well as all manner of drug crimes and crimes against persons, including sexual assaults. Â
Marci has represented professionals from all business sectors who are facing either the possibility of a criminal charge or regulatory action or have been formally charged. She has defended individuals at every stage of criminal proceedings, from the inception of a criminal investigation through indictment and trial. Marci also defends against governmental forfeiture actions.
In addition to her courtroom practice, Marci advises clients in proceedings and hearings with various government agencies and educational institutions, including Title IX hearings, professional licensing matters, SEC enforcement actions and FINRA litigation.Â
Education
Undergraduate: University of Kansas, B.A. English, 1996
Listed in The Best Lawyers in New York, New York magazine and Best Lawyers in America Listed as giving One of the 10 Greatest Summations of the Past 100 Years, "In the Interest of Justice" by Prof. SiedemannLecturer, Trial Advocacy, Harvard Law Sch.Member, Board of Directors, White Collar Crime ReporterFormer Special Asst., US Department of JusticeAsst. Dist. Attorney, NY County
Founding Member, 3rd Cir. Bar Ass'n; Board of Governors; President, 2015-2016; Co-Author, "Federal Appellate Procedure: Third Circuit Practice Guide" (Thomson / Lawyers Coop, 1996); Criminal Appeals chapter, PBI Third Circuit Practice Manual (3d ed. 2016); Fellow, American Academy of Appellate Lawyers; Listed, Best Lawyers in America, since 1997; SuperLawyers, PA, since 1995 [Lawyer of the Year, 2013 - Appellate, Eastern Pennsylvania]; Rbt. C. Heeney Award, NACDL, 2015; Former Prof. of Law, Villanova Univ. & Whittier Coll.Â
Education
Undergraduate: Haverford College, B.A., 1971
Law School: Yale Law School, J.D., 1975
Bar Information
Supreme Court of U.S.; All federal circuits; U.S. Tax Court
Past President, NACDL Recipient, NACDL Robert C. Heeney Award Past President, New York State Assn. of Criminal Defense Lawyers & New York Criminal Bar Assn. Recipient, Outstanding Practitioner Awards, NYSACDL, New York State Bar Assn., Criminal Justice Section & New York Criminal Bar Assn. Former Chair, NYS Commission on Judicial ConductPast Co-Chair, NACDL, White Collar CommitteePast Co-Chair, Ethics Advisory Committee
Past President, NACDL (1994-1995)Trustee, Foundation for Criminal Justice (2005)Past President, TCDLA. (1992-93)Fellow: International Academy of Trial Lawyers (1997-Present); American College of Trial Lawyers (1991-Present)Member, American Board of Criminal Lawyers (1987-Present)Recipient: Robert C. Heeney Award, NACDL (1991); Outstanding Criminal Defense Lawyers Award, State Bar of Texas (1991); John Henry Faulk Award, ACLU (1999); Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Hall of Fame (2002)
Education
Undergraduate: Tulane University, , 1965
Law School: University of Texas School of Law, 1968
Jacqueline Goodman is a private practice attorney focusing exclusively on criminal defense. She is the Past-President of NACDL’s California affiliate, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (CACJ) and current Chair of the CACJ Foundation. As a Board Member of NACDL, Jacqueline serves on the Membership, Corrections, and Women in Criminal Defense Committees. She has been the co-chair of NACDL's Sex Crimes Defense Seminar since 2015. With a background in psychology from California State University, Long Beach, she received her J.D. from Western State College of Law and is certified as a criminal law specialist by the State Bar of California, and a member of the Massachusetts Bar.
Recipient, Public Service Award, Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University (2000)Teacher, "Federal Habeas Corpus" at DePaul University College of Law
Education
Undergraduate: Columbia University, , 1985
Law School: Northwestern University School of Law , 1989
Member, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Assn.Member, Board of Directors, Dallas CDLA (2006-2007)Member, State Bar of Texas Criminal Justice Sec.Member, Dallas Bar Assn., Criminal Law Sec.Board Certified, Criminal Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Education
Undergraduate: Stephens College, , 1979
Law School: University of Texas School of Law , 1984
Daniella Gordon represents businesses and individuals in internal investigations and proceedings in state and federal court. Ms. Gordon has unique experience in the area of construction litigation and procurement, and has represented businesses and individuals in connection with investigations into alleged false claims. Ms. Gordon has successfully tried a range of criminal and civil matters.
Ms. Gordon received a J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law – Camden, and a B.A. in Philosophy from Connecticut College. She is a graduate of the Trial Practice Institute of the National Criminal Defense College. Early in her career, Ms. Gordon worked with renowned criminal defense and civil rights attorney, William Buckman, Esq. She also worked in Philadelphia as an attorney for one of the largest construction litigation law firms in the Mid-Atlantic region, and later became a partner in a regional law firm.
In addition to serving on the Board of Directors for NACDL, Ms. Gordon serves as a Trustee of the Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey. She is the immediate past Chair of the Construction Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association. She is also Chair of the Legal Redress and Criminal Justice Committees of the Southern Burlington County branch of the NAACP.Â
Steve Graham has been an attorney since 1995. He got his start after graduating working briefly in King County as a prosecutor. From there he moved to Ferry County, Washington and served as that county's elected prosecutor from 1998 to 2002. Steve Graham started his own firm in 2002 and has been doing criminal defense work ever since. He has two associate attorneys and they work throughout the state of Washington. His office handles a variety of state and federal criminal charges, and also assists college students in fighting university expulsion cases across the northwest. Mr. Graham has done approximately 200 jury trials. He is licensed in both the Eastern and Western District of Washington, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. In his spare time, Steve Graham hikes throughout the east coast.Â
Education
Undergraduate: –Western Connecticut State University, 1992
Jeffrey T. Green is a partner in Sidley Austin’s Washington, D.C. office. He focuses on criminal defense and contested litigation matters, primarily in the fields of financial fraud and corruption, antitrust law and intellectual property issue. Jeff has been involved with the pro bono representation of non-profit organizations and court-appointed criminal defendants, serves as Chair of Sidley’s Pro Bono Committee and co-chairs NACDL’s Amicus Committee. Jeff Green also co-instructs Sidley’s Supreme Court Practicum at the Northwestern University School of Law, now in its eleventh year. The Practicum offers students the chance to draft petitions to the Court seeking review, research and draft merits briefs in cases before the Court, participate in moot courts for pending cases on the merits, and attend guest lectures by distinguished outside speakers. Jeff earned an A.B. degree from Cornell University (with distinction), an M.A. from the University of Texas at Austin (with honors), and a J.D. from the University of California, Davis School of Law (King Hall).Â
Partner (former), Leritz, Plunkert & Bruning, P.C.Lead Attorney (former), Capital Litigation, MO State Public Def. Chief Trial Attorney, St. Louis County Public Defender OfficeMember, MO Assn. of Criminal Defense Lawyers 2006 Charles M. Shaw Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy, Missouri Assn. of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Education
Undergraduate: Truman State University, , 1982
Graduate: St. Louis University, , 1987
Bar Information
Eastern & Western US Dist. Ct. of MO, Western US Dist. Ct. of IL, US Sup. Ct., MO Ct. of Appeals
Member, Board of Directors, NACDL (2007-2009) Law Clerk, AZ Supreme Ct. & AZ Ct. of AppealsRecipient, Outstanding Advocate Award, Public Counsel Law Ctr. (1999)
Education
Undergraduate: Arizona State University, B.A. Economics, 1984
Law School: University of Arizona College of Law , J.D. with honors, 1987
Former Member, Executive Comm., NACDLFormer Member, Board of Directors, NACDLCo-Chair, Lawyers Assistance Strike Force, NACDLCo-Chair, NACDL Long Range Planning CommitteeCouncil, ABA Criminal Justice Section
Education
Undergraduate: University of Missouri, , 1963
Law School: University of MIssouri Law School, 1966
Rod J.A. Gregory is a partner of the law firm of Davidson Gregory and has been practicing law since 1990. Mr. Gregory was born in Edmonton and raised in Kelowna, British Columbia. Mr. Gregory received his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law Degree from the University of Alberta and was called to the Alberta Bar in 1990.Practicing criminal law mainly in Alberta, Mr. Gregory has worked on cases in Ontario, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories. His area of specialty is narcotics, wiretap, conspiracies, firearms, sex crimes. Â
