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.
Five Years, Board of Directors, NACDLPast President, Member Board of Directors, Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Assn.Vice Chair, OR PD Services Commission 15 yearsTwelve Years, OR CJA Panel RepresentativeNine Years, 9th Cir. CJA Representative to Defender Services Advisory GroupListed, Best Lawyers in AmericaListed, Oregon Super Lawyers: 2016 listed Top 25 Women
Education
Undergraduate: Robert D. Clark Honors College, 1979
Law School: University of Oregon School of Law, 1983
Bar Information
Fedl. Dist. Ct. OR, ND CA, AZ, 9th Cir. US Supreme Ct.
Jessica C. McElfresh of McElfresh Law, Inc. has worked in cannabis law and policy and criminal defense since 2010. She represents clients in state and federal court for offenses including homicide, arson, embezzlement, and weapons charges. Seventy-five percent of her cases have resulted in dismissals, no charges filed, or reductions to misdemeanors or infractions. Jessica represents people facing discipline or loss of state and local licenses, particularly in the cannabis industry.
Jessica has unique experience with the crime-fraud exception to attorney-client privilege and the duties of an attorney under investigation or facing criminal charges. She gained this experience after being charged with several felonies alongside medical cannabis clients in 2017 in a case that garnered national attention. Jessica also lectures on the ethical considerations in a cannabis practice, including conflicts of interest, business partnerships with clients, and withdrawal from representation.
Outside of her law practice, Jessica is an advocate for cannabis and broader drug policy reform. She is an advisory board member for A New PATH, an organization dedicated to promoting therapeutic rather than punitive drug policies. Jessica served as a consultant for the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Northern California about how Proposition 64 affects criminal justice reform and individual rights. She is a proud member of the International Cannabis Bar Association’s Professional Responsibility and Ethics Committee.
Jessica grew up in San Diego and graduated summa cum laude from Scripps College before attending the University of San Diego School of Law on a Dean’s Honor Scholarship. She has spoken at conferences and taught continuing legal education classes for organizations and law schools including the National Cannabis Industry Association, International Cannabis Bar Association, State of Cannabis, California NORML, San Diego County Bar Association, and University of San Diego School of Law. Jessica serves as an Executive Editor to the Real Property Journal of the California Lawyers Association. Her publications include “Attorney Ethics and Cannabis: Conflicts of Laws, Conflicts of Interest, and Attorney-Client Privilege for Cannabis Practitioners” (CLA Real Property Journal Vol. 38, No. 4 2020).
Education
Undergraduate: Scripps College, B.A., 2005
Law School: University of San Diego, J.D., 2009
Bar Information
Southern, Central, Eastern, and Northern Districts of California; Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals; Supreme Court of the United States
Former Chair, Indiana Public Defender Council President, Indianapolis Bar Assn. (2007)Fellow, American Coll. of Trial LawyersListed, Best Lawyers in America
Education
Undergraduate: Indiana University, BA, 1977
Law School: Indiana University, Indianapolis, JD, 1980
Abram “Abe†McGull is the founder of the McGull Law Firm that focuses upon personal injury claims and criminal defense. Prior to establishing his private practice of law, McGull was an Assistant United States Attorney with United States Department of Justice and a Commander in the United States Navy for 21 years. During his tenure with the Department of Justice, McGull served as a resident legal advisor in Iraq and Qatar. His service with the Department of Justice earned him the State Department Meritorious Honor Award for his creative and strategic diplomacy in northern Iraq. As a naval officer, McGull earned the distinguished Bronze Star for his outstanding duty performance as the chief of media operations in Baghdad, Iraq, and other service-related missions during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). McGull has considerable municipal experience as the formerly elected Mayor of Pleasant Valley, Missouri and he presently serves as a city council member in Springfield, Missouri. McGull earned his law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Louisiana State University and Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Education
Undergraduate: Louisiana State University - 1983
Graduate: Southern University - Baton Rouge - 1987
Law School: University of Missouri - Kansas City - 1992
Thomas "Tom" J. McHugh has thirty-five years as an AUSA and as an ADA, and has a reputation for intelligence, hard work, honesty, fairness, and competition. Respected by the defense and prosecutorial bars alike, his full spectrum perspective carries weight in the legal community. His experience includes Federal and State Corporate Compliance, Capital Crime, Drug Crime, Forfeiture, White Collar, Real Estate/Mortgage/Bank, Ponzi/Investment Crime.
Education
Undergraduate: London School of Economics, Post Grad studies,
Graduate: University of Florida, Bachelor of Arts, 1972
Law School: St. Mary's University, Juris Doctor, 1978
Bar Information
Western District of Texas, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of the United St
Past President Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers ,Member of the National College of DUI Defense , Graduate of the Trial Lawyers College
Life Member of NACDL, Life Member/Board of Directors of GACDL Member, Member of National College for DUI Defense, Founding Member of the Georgia Innocence Project, Past President of the Pataula Circuit Bar Assn.
Education
Undergraduate: University of Georgia, , 1992
Law School: Georgia State University College of Law, , 1995
After graduating from The American University in Washington, D.C. in 1994 with a Bachelor's in Criminal Justice, Lawrence michael Meltzer, Esquire attended nova Southeastern University School of Law and received in JD in 1999. After graduating from law school he practiced civil law until 2001 when he was offered the position of Assistant State Attorney in the Broward County State Attorney's office in the field of criminal law.
In 2003, Mr. Meltzer was promoted from Assistant State Attorney in the County Court to Felony Prosecutor. He took part in over 45 felony trials and in 2005 he was raised to a Special Unit Prosecutor in the Secual Battery Unit where he prosecuted and tried capital sexual offenders.
Mr. Meltzer left his position in 2005 and began defending those accused of driving under the influence and criminal traffic offenses. In September of 2005 Mr. Meltzer was hired as a lead trial counsel for the Broward offices of The Ticket Clinic, a Law Firm.
After 6 years Mr. Meltzer met Steven Bell in the court room as they were going against each other. After realizing each others passion for the law it became clear that both attorneys had the same vision of what a lawyer's core value should be. Together they started Meltzer & Bell, P.A.
Education
Undergraduate: The American University in Washington, D.C., Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice, 1994
Law School: Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Broad Law Center, Juris Doctorate, 1999
Treasurer, NACDL (2003)Secretary, NACDL (2002)Board of Directors, NACDL (1995-2001)Fellow, American Board of Criminal Lawyers Member, ABA (Criminal Justice Section Council, 2000-2004)Member, Colorado Criminal Defense BarFounder and Publisher, TalkLeft: the Politics of Crime, (TalkLeft.com)
Education
Undergraduate: University of Michigan, B.A., 1971
Law School: University of Denver College of Law, J.D., 1973
Bar Information
1974: CO, U.S. District Court, CO and 10th Cir. Court of Appeals; 1981: NY state courts and U.S. Supreme Court
Lecturer, Canadian Bar Assn. on Sentencing Guidelines in the US (1993)Member, Special Council to the Commission Investigating the Los Angeles Riots (1992)Listed, Southern CA Superlawyer, (every year through present); Best Lawyers of America in the specialties of white collar and non-white collar crime (1987-present)Co-author, "Controlled Substance Offenses," West's California Criminal Law (1995)
National Criminal Defense Coll., Mercer Law Sch. (1987)Recipient, President's Commendation Award, NACDLMember, Colorado Criminal Defense BarFellow, Litigation Counsel of AmericaFellow, American Board of Criminal Lawyers, Board of Governors, Vice President
Education
Undergraduate: University of Arkansas, , 1979
Law School: University of Arkansas School of Law , 1982
Life member , Legislative Coordinator WV, NACDL (1995-Present)Legal Committee, N.O.R.M.L.President & Founder, Eastern Panhandle Criminal Defense Lawyer Assn.Listed, Best Lawyers in America (2007-2017)Listed,voted Best Criminal Defense Attorney, Martinsburg Journal (2005- 2016) Listed, Virginia - West Virginia Super Lawyers (2008-2016) Co-Author, "The Criminal Trial Start to Finish", (published 2005)life
Education
Undergraduate: Radford College, , 1978
Law School: West Virginia University, JD, 1981
Bar Information
Supreme Court of the United States - northern &Southern Districts of West Virginia
Natl. CJA Panel Representative for the N. Dist. of TXFormer Chairman, Criminal Justice Section, Dallas Bar Assn., American Board of Trial Advocates, AdvocateFormer Chairman, Computer Fraud Comm. of ABA Litigation SectionPresident's Commendation, NACDL (1979)
