Practice Areas: Criminal Defense; view more
Licensed in Arizona since: 1994
Education: University of San Diego School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2021 - 2025 Call today:
480-656-7301
Orent Law Offices PLC
11811 N Tatum BlvdSte 3031
Phoenix, AZ 85028-1632 Visit website
Details
The founder of Orent Law Offices, PLC, Craig Orent devotes his entire practice to criminal defense matters. Located in Phoenix, he represents clients in the greater metropolitan area and throughout Arizona. Mr. Orent has been certified as a specialist in criminal law by the Board of Legal Specialization of the State Bar of Arizona, and he has been admitted to practice in Arizona since 1994. He is also admitted to practice in California and Massachusetts and before various federal courts, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.
Mr. Orent provides aggressive and effective representation to people who have been charged by the state or federal government with having committed felonies or misdemeanors. His cases have included drug possession and trafficking, robbery, homicide, driving under the influence of alcohol, weapons offenses, embezzlement, racketeering, sex offenses, assault, and arson, among many other types of charges. Mr. Orent has been able to help his clients be acquitted or see their charges reduced or dismissed, and his successful track record has earned him a great deal of acclaim from his colleagues, including an AV Preeminent* peer review rating through Martindale-Hubbell and a 10.0 “Superb” peer review rating through Avvo.
Mr. Orent has also been named to The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100, and his other honors include recognition from the National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys and the invitation-only American Society of Legal Advocates. He graduated magna cum laude in 1984 from Roger Williams University in Rhode Island with degrees in political science and administration of justice. Mr. Orent then went on to pursue his legal education at the University of San Diego School of Law, and in 1987, he was awarded his Juris Doctor.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Criminal DefenseFocus areas
Arrest & Arraignment, Assault & Battery, Criminal Domestic Violence, Criminal Fraud, Criminal Law, Drug & Alcohol Violations, Expungement, False Accusations, Juvenile Delinquency, Murder, Sex Offenses, Theft
- 100% Criminal Defense
First Admitted: 1987, California
Professional Webpage: https://www.orentcriminallaw.com/blog/attorneys/craig-orent/
- National College for DUI Defense
- California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (CACJ)
- Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice, Former Board of Director
- Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice
- American Bar Association
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1991 – Present
- DUI – Hung Jury 4-2 for Not Guilty, case dismissed State v. JS DUI, BAC .178
- Charges not filed State v. DO Allegations of Sexual Assault (Pre-charge)
- Jury Trial – guilty of lessor (non-homicide) offense State v. LR Capital First Degree Murder, Armed Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Kidnapping
- Outcome: case dismissed at trial State v. SA DUI, car accident, hospitalization
- Jury Trial – hung jury; later plead guilty to Manslaughter State v. MC First Degree Murder
- Jury Trial – Not Guilty State v. JD et.al. Capital First Degree Murder
- Jury Trial – Not Guilty State v. RJ Sexual Assault, Kidnap, Aggravated Assault
- Not Guilty at Jury Trial State v. M DUI (.095)
- State v. SB - Assault captured on video - Directed Verdict during trial (Not Guilty)
- Outcome: Dismissed before trial State v. LE Theft with video footage of event
- Jury Trial – guilty lessor offenses: Manslaughter State v. HN First Degree Murder (3 counts)
- Not Guilty Verdict at trial State v. LW Felony DUI. Client facing mandatory minimum (because of prior felony record) of six years prison.
- Jury Trial – Not Guilty State v. BL Capital First Degree Murder
- Jury Trial – Not Guilty State v. JP Attempted First Degree Murder
- Assault & Criminal Damage: Not Guilty State v. MW Assault & Criminal Damage
- Dismissed on day of trial as Jury arriving Dismissed prior to trial Conspiracy (F2), Illegal Control Of Enterprise (F3), & Possession Of Marijuana (F2)
- Jury Trial – guilty of lessor offense: Manslaughter State v. JO Second Degree Murder
- Outcome: Dismissed on day of trial as Jury arriving State v. OP Theft
- Jury Trial – Hung Jury, case dismissed by District Court Judge United States v. CE Unlawful Possession of a Short Barrel Shotgun
- Jury Trial – Not Guilty United States v. AG Obstruction of Judicial Proceeding
- Given the nature of representation (Criminal Defense), names cannot be provided, but Craig has successfully represented police officers, lawyers, professional athletes, media personalities, and business executives.
- State Bar Certified Criminal Law Specialist, 2019
- Certified Criminal Law Specialist
- Craig routinely communicates with people facing criminal charges who cannot afford private counsel and provides them with insight, preliminary advice, and general assistance.
- Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, Randall Reilly Publishing, 1984
- Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, Randall Reilly Publishing, 1984
- Avvo, the national lawyer rating service, rates Attorney Orient a 10.0/10.0 for “superb.”
- American Jurisprudence Award (AmJur) – Conflict of Laws, Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Thomson Corporation), 1986
- American Jurisprudence Award (AmJur) – Civil Procedure, Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Thomson Corporation), 1986
- Clients Choice Award- Criminal Defense – Avvo
- North Valley MagazineTop Lawyer, 2012 – 2014
- Litigation Counsel of America – LCA “Proven Trial Lawyers”
- “10 Best” DUI Attorneys – American Institute of DUI Attorneys
- Invited to be Lifetime Charter Member – Rue Ratings Best Attorneys of America
- Nationally Ranked Superior DUI Attorney – The National Advocacy for DUI Defense
- The Nation’s Top One Percent Attorneys – National Association of Distinguished Counsel
- Selected to The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Trial Attorneys
- Fellows of the American Bar Foundation (ABF), is an honorary organization of attorneys, judges, law faculty, and legal scholars whose careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the community and to the highest principles of the legal profession. Membership in the Fellows of the ABF is limited to one percent of the lawyers admitted to practice in the United States and to a limited number of lawyers in jurisdictions outside the United States. All of its members are nominated by their peers and elected by the Board of the American Bar Foundation. Webpage, Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, Fellows of the American Bar Foundation (ABF), 2017
- Membership into the National Criminal Justice Honor Society
- Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges (1984 ed.)
- Selected by public magazine as one of top criminal defense lawyers., Top Lawyer, East Valley, East Valley Magazine, 2013
- (2014 to present) Selection is "[b]ased on a peer-reviewed nomination, the Executive Board selected you because of your demonstrated record of high achievement, excellent legal skills, and a well-earned reputation for integrity." Arizona's Finest Lawyers, Arizona's Finest Lawyers, Arizona's Finest Lawyers, 2018
- (2012 to present) AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer's peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards. Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™, the gold standard in attorney ratings, have recognized lawyers for their strong legal ability and high ethical standards for more than a century., AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell, 2018
- (2012 to present) Selected by public magazine as one of the top Criminal Defense Attorneys., Top Lawyer, North Valley, North Valley Magazine, 2018
- The Marquis Who’s Who Top Professionals series recognizes outstanding listees in their specific fields. Our features contain biographical details of professionals that have achieved a high level of recognition and achievement in their chosen profession. The Marquis Who’s Who Top Lawyers selection process is a comprehensive and detailed attempt to produce a list of professionals that have demonstrated achievement in the field of law. Our process involves many factors, including an assessment of a professional’s years of service and unique contributions. This, combined with a comprehensive interview of the professional, allows us to make an appropriate decision regarding inclusion in Top Lawyers. The mission of Marquis Who’s Who is to deliver a high-quality product to its listees so that they may receive the recognition they deserve. Inclusion in the Top Professionals series is an honor limited to individuals who have demonstrated leadership and achievement in their industry and occupation., Marquis Who’s Who Top Lawyers, Marquis Who’s Who, 2017
- Roger Williams College (University), Administration of Justice and Political Science (magna cum laude), top honors in Administration of Justice by the school faculty, 1984
- The Sooner the Better: Jencks Material of Hearsay Declarants in Pretrial Hearings, The Liberty Legend, National Association of Federal Defenders, 2003
- Model United Nations Security Council at Duquesne University Roger Williams College Faculty, 1983
- Beware Of Unknown Court Policies: What You Don't Know About Ex Party Communications Between Judge and Jury Can Hurt You, The Defender, Arizona Attorneys For Criminal Justice, 2000
- Beware Of Unknown Court Policies: What You Don't Know About Ex Party Communications Between Judge and Jury Can Hurt You, The Defense, Maricopa County Public Defender's Office, 2000
- The Defender, Arizona Attorneys For Criminal Justice, The Victims Bill of Rights- An Equal Protection Problem? 1997
- 1997, The Defense, Maricopa County Public Defender's Office, The Victims Bill of Rights- An Equal Protection Problem?
- “Federal Victims’ Rights: Dormant No More, Speaker/Presenter, Member National Conference of Lawyers and Corporate Fiduciaries, 2000-2006, National Seminar for Federal Defenders, San Antonio, Texas
- “Federal Victims’ Rights: Dormant No More, Speaker/Presenter, National Seminar for Federal Defenders, San Antonio, Texas
- “An Ethics Roundtable Discussion”, Presented at the Federal Public Defender’s Office, Speaker/Presenter, Federal Public Defender’s Office
- Federal Public Defender’s Office, Presenter/Speaker, “Stones in Our Pathways: Handling Capital Habeas Cases in the District of Arizona,” “Victims’ Rights”
- Federal Public Defender’s Office (Phoenix), Speaker/Presenter, “Stones in Our Pathways: Handling Capital Habeas Cases in the District of Arizona,” “Victims’ Rights”
- Statewide Criminal Defense Organization, Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justices (AACJ), Speaker/Presenter, “Issues in Victims Rights: Challenges to Victims’ Rights Laws”, Statewide Criminal Defense Organization
- Law (Criminal Defense)
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2021 - 2025
Certificates and credentials
Criminal Law
