Michael P. Hanle
Top rated Criminal Defense attorney in Birmingham, Alabama
Jaffe, Hanle, Whisonant & Knight P.C.
Practice areas: Criminal Defense, White Collar Crimes, DUI-DWI; view more
Licensed in Alabama since: 1996
Education: Southern University Law Center
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2011 - 2025 Call today:
205-208-7931
Free Consultation Jaffe, Hanle, Whisonant & Knight P.C.
2320 Arlington Ave SBirmingham, AL 35205 Visit website
Details
A partner at Jaffe, Hanle, Whisonant & Knight, P.C., Michael P. Hanle dedicates his practice entirely to criminal defense, focusing particularly on litigation. Mr. Hanle represents clients throughout the State of Alabama who have been accused of criminal offenses. He handles a variety of cases ranging from drug offenses and white collar crimes to capital murder and practices in both federal and state courts.
Mr. Hanle began his career by attending Louisiana State University, where he earned an undergraduate degree with honors in business. He then went on to attend the Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and was awarded his Juris Doctor with honors in 1991. In the same year, Mr. Hanle became admitted to practice in Louisiana. In 1995, he was admitted to practice in Alabama.
Mr. Hanle is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts of the Northern, Southern and Middle Districts of Alabama as well as before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. In order to forge professional relationships and better his practice, Mr. Hanle holds membership in organizations such as the Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and the Greater Birmingham Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and has served as President of both organizations. He gives back to his community by performing pro bono work on behalf of Project Homeless Connect, Homeless Court and the Birmingham Bar Association's Volunteer Lawyer Program.
Highly regarded by his fellow professionals, Mr. Hanle has earned a number of accolades throughout his career. He was first selected as a Super Lawyer in 2011 and has continued to achieve that recognition through 2024. From 2014 to 2017, he earned the President's Award from the Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. He has also received numerous Merit Award from ACDLA as a result of exceptional representation in the courtroom. Mr. Hanle received the Beddow Award from the Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association in June 2021, a Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in the field of Criminal Defense. Throughout his lifetime, Mr. Hanle has defended the unpopular and difficult case, sought to change the direction of criminal justice through his efforts as Chair of the ACDLA Legislative Committee, and in his volunteer service to those in the underprivileged and homeless community through pro bono representation. In addition, Mr. Hanle has received a 10.0 "Superb" peer-review rating through Avvo.
Practice areas
Criminal Defense, Criminal Defense: White Collar, Criminal Defense: DUI/DWIFocus areas
Arrest & Arraignment, Assault & Battery, Criminal Domestic Violence, Criminal Fraud, Criminal Law, Criminal Law - Federal, DUI/DWI, Drug & Alcohol Violations, Expungement, False Accusations, Felony, Misdemeanor, Motor Vehicle Offenses, Murder, Probation, Sex Offenses, Tax Evasion, Theft, Traffic Violations, White Collar Crime
- 50% Criminal Defense
- 40% Criminal Defense: White Collar
- 10% Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI
First Admitted: 1991, Louisiana
Professional Webpage: http://www.rjaffelaw.com/attorneys/michael-patrick-hanle/
- Louisiana, 1991
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Alabama, 2009 thru present, 2009
- Greater Birmingham Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2010 Past President, Member 1998 - Present, 1998
- Alabama, 1995 thru present, 1995
- U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1998 thru present, 1998
- Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association - Vice President, 2015 - 2016; President Elect, 2016-2017; President, 2017-2018; Chair, Legislative Committee, 2013-2024; Co-chair, Death Penalty Seminar Planning Committee, 1999
- Alabama State Bar Appointed Counsel and Indigent Representation Committee, Member 2018- to present; Co-chair, 2024
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Alabama, 1996, 1996
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Alabama, 2009 thru present, 2009
- Alabama Pattern Jury Instructions Committee, 2015
- On February 23, 2012, Judge Tommy Nailed granted the defense's Motion for Judgment of Acquittal at the conclusion of the State of Alabama's presentation of evidence and testimony. Judge Nail acquitted Gabe Watson on the charge of capital murder finding the State of Alabama failed to present legally sufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt Gabe Watson intentionally killed his wife during their honeymoon in Australia. The acquittal came following 9 days of testimony, including a very lengthy Daubert hearing following which Judge Nail prohibited the State from present evidence of "tests" conducted on the dive site in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Gabe Watson was represented at trial by Brett Bloomston, Michael Hanle, and Joe Basgier., 2012
- Client was charged with discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle and attempted murder. The incident arose out of an ongoing problem between my client and the grandfather of his child. The incident was captured on video from a convenience store which was played by both the State and defense on numerous occasions. The victim came across as disingenuous and combative during his direct testimony. He was frustrated and argumentative during a scathing cross examination. After a 3 day trial the jury returned a verdict of guilty to the discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle charge but found the client not guilty of attempted murder. Case was tried with Brett Knight, partner JHWK., 2024
- Client was accused of sexually abusing his biological daughter in a 7 count indictment in St. Clair County, Alabama. The case was tried before a jury for 4 and included 8 witnesses for the State, including the victim, her best friend, a SANE nurse, and child forensic examiner. After a vigorous cross-examination of the victim, the State’s case began to fall apart. The jury deliberated for over 7 hours before returning a not guilty verdict on all 7 counts. Case was tried with co-counsel Jeffrey Dummier of Dummier & Young., 2024
- Client was charged with possession with intent to distribute in excess of 500 grams of methamphetamine in United States District Court. The Government’s star witness was serving an 30 year federal sentence for drug charges and 99 years for Alabama trafficking charges. His testimony was so unbelievable following cross examination, that the Government recalled the ATF Case Agent in an effort to rehabilitate their own witness but failed miserably. After a 3 day trial the week before Christmas, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty of all charges. The case was tried with Brett Knight, partner JHWK., 2024
- Client charged with capital murder and facing the death penalty for the death of his girlfriend’s 18 month old child. The State presented the testimony of numerous medical and professional witnesses who detailed the heinous nature of the child’s death. After 10 days of trial, the jury returned a sentence of life without the possibility of death, sparing the client’s life. , 2023
- Client charged with brutal stabbing death of his 23 year old son. After 4 days of trial, the jury deliberated for 90 minutes before returning a not guilty verdict., 2024
- Client charged with capital murder in Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court. After 5 day jury trial, jury returned not guilty verdict on capital murder and intentional murder. Client convicted of felony murder and spared a sentence of life without the possibility of parole., 2023
- Jury trial on capital murder charge. Client convicted of lesser included offense of felony murder and avoided a life without the possibility of parole sentence., 2023
- Client charged with elder abuse - financial fraud totaling over $6 million dollars. Sentenced to less to time served plus community corrections., 2023
- Client charged with possession of obscene materials. Received a reverse split and probation., 2021
- Jury trial on public corruption charges., 2022
- Birmingham Bar Association, Volunteer Lawyer Program, Criminal Defense, 2010 - 2019, 2019
- Project Homeless Connect and Homeless Court, Birmingham, AL, 2010 - 2019
- The Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association bestows a Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence for Criminal Defense. This exceptional honor is named for Roderick Beddow and is given to a member who has exhibited a lifetime commitment to the practice of criminal defense. Throughout his lifetime, Mr. Hanle has defended the unpopular and difficult case, sought to change the direction of criminal justice through his efforts as Chair of the ACDLA Legislative Committee, and in his volunteer service to those in the underprivileged and homeless community through pro bono representation. , Roderick Beddow Lifetime Award, Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2021
- Awarded for exceptional service to the general membership of the organization., President's Award, Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2019
- President's Award, Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2011 - 2015
- Merit Award, Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2014 - 2015
- Pro Bono Award, Young Lawyers Section, Louisiana State Bar Association, 1995
- Southern University Law Center, 1991
- Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, B.A., Major: Business, 1986, 1986
- Case Law Update, ACDLA
- Presentation to members of ACDLA on the issue of voir dire in felony cases. Using the Colorado Method, developed by the College of Capital Voir Dire in Boulder, Colorado, I integrated techniques used in capital death penalty cases for use in Alabama felony cases. , Presenter, Rethinking The Colorado Method: Voir Dire In Felony Cases, ACDLA Annual Meeting and Summer Seminar, Legal, 2023
- Alabama Sentencing Standards, ACDLA
- Criminal Defense Attorney
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- Super Lawyers: 2011 - 2025
