Martin Stuart

Top rated Criminal Defense attorney in Denver, Colorado

Stuart & Ward, LLP
Martin Stuart
Stuart & Ward, LLP

Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, White Collar Crimes; view more

Licensed in Colorado since: 1997

Education: University of Denver Sturm College of Law

Selected to Super Lawyers: 2012 - 2025 Selected to Rising Stars: 2009 - 2011
Free Consultation

Stuart & Ward, LLP

140 E. 19th Avenue
Suite 300
Denver, CO 80203 Visit website

Details

Martin Stuart is a co-founder of Stuart & Ward LLP, one of Colorado's leading criminal defense law firms. Mr. Stuart focuses his law practice on criminal defense, and he represents clients and corporate entities throughout the state who are being investigated or have been accused of federal or state felonies. He has experience in high-level defense cases involving healthcare fraud and other white-collar crimes, drug trafficking and conspiracy, sexual assault, homicide, and other violent crimes. Mr. Stuart has practiced law for more than two decades and has tried over 100 jury trials. His trial practice is successful as he has secured acquittals on behalf of his clients in many instances.

As an undergraduate, Mr. Stuart received a Bachelor of Arts from Whittier College in 1993. He then went on to attend the University of Denver College of Law and was awarded his Juris Doctor in 1997. Following graduation, Mr. Stuart joined the Office of the Colorado State Public Defender. After spending five years there, he entered private practice. Stuart & Ward LLP was founded in 2016.

Admitted to practice before all Colorado state courts, Mr. Stuart is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States. A former president of the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, he remains an active participant in that organization as well as several other professional groups. His memberships include the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Colorado Bar Association, the Denver Bar Association, and the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, which is a nonprofit organization that seeks alternatives to mass incarceration. Mr. Stuart was also appointed to the Governor's Sentencing Commission's Task Force on Incarceration, served six years as a member of the Criminal Justice Act Standing Committee for the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, and an Executive Committee member for the Colorado Bar Association Criminal Law Section. 

Areas of Practice

  • Sexual Assaults/Child Pornography Crimes/Sexual Exploitation
  • Drug Crimes
  • White Collar Crimes
  • Civil and Criminal Forfeitures
  • Crimes of Violence/Homicides
  • Both State and Federal Court Criminal Offenses

Practice areas

Criminal Defense, Criminal Defense: White Collar

Focus areas

Criminal Fraud, Criminal Law, Criminal Law - Federal, Drug & Alcohol Violations, Felony, Murder, Sex Offenses

  • 80% Criminal Defense
  • 20% Criminal Defense: White Collar

First Admitted: 1997, Colorado

Professional Webpage: http://mswdenver.com/attorneys/martin-a-stuart/

Bar/Professional Activity:
  • Executive Committee Member, Colorado Bar Association, Criminal Law Section (2018-present), 2023
  • Member, Criminal Justice Act Panel (2003-present), 2023
  • Member, Criminal Justice Act Standing Committee, U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado (2017-2023), 2023
  • Member, Denver Bar Association (2003-present), 2023
  • Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (2003-present), 2023
  • Member, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar (2003-present), 2023
  • Member, Colorado Bar Association (1997-present), 2023
  • Member, Governor's Sentencing Commission Incarceration Task Force (2009-2010), 2010
  • President, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar (2009-2010), 2010
  • Board of Directors, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar (2005-2010), 2010
  • Chair, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Association, Policy Committee (2008-2009), 2010
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
  • Over the past twenty-five years, Martin Stuart has tried over 100 criminal defense jury trials. He has secured significant and meaningful verdicts for his clients including acquittals on serious charges such as first degree murder, forgery, and sexual assault on a child.  Due to the inherently private nature of his criminal defense practice, Mr. Stuart cannot list specific verdicts for specific clients on this website., 2023
Representative Clients:
  • Martin Stuart is a go-to for individuals and corporations in need of Colorado criminal defense representation. As the types of cases that he handles in his practice are confidential and sensitive, he cannot list representative clients at this time., 2023
Transactions:
  • Not applicable, 2023
Special Licenses/Certifications:
  • Expert Witness Qualification. People v. Ahuero, 12CR1562 (Denver County District Court) Qualified as expert witness on criminal defense and defense of felony sexual assaults - October 12, 2021, 2021
  • Expert Witness Qualification. People v. Harmon, 14CR1347 (Larimer County District Court). Qualified as expert witness on criminal defense and defense of felony sexual assaults. February 27, 2024., 2024
  • Expert Witness Qualification. People v. Gonzales, 17M3302 (Weld County, County Court). Qualified as expert witness on criminal defense - August 26, 2022., 2022
  • Expert Witness Qualification. People v. Maher, 12CR2354 (Arapahoe County District Court). Qualified as expert witness on criminal defense and defense of felony sexual assaults., 2022
  • BAR ADMISSIONS: State of Colorado (1997); U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado (2003); U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (2006); Supreme Court of the United States (2007), 2024
  • Expert Witness Qualification.  People v. Harmon, 12CR38 (Freemont County District Court). Qualified as an expert witness on criminal defense - February 14, 2018., 2018
  • Expert Witness Qualification. People v. Gilbertson, 06CR1591 (Arapahoe County District Court). Qualified as an expert witness on criminal defense and defense of criminal felony sexual assaults – January 6, 2016., 2016
  • Expert Witness Qualification. People v. Mendoza, 09CR1576 (Arapahoe County District Court). Qualified as an expert witness on criminal defense – October 9, 2015., 2015
  • Expert Witness Qualification. People v. Quintero-Amador, 13CR259 (Arapahoe County District Court). Qualified as an expert witness on criminal defense – October 21, 2014., 2014
Pro bono/Community Service:
  • Member, Governor's Sentencing Commission Incarceration Task Force (2009-2010), 2010
  • Martin Stuart has a long history of public service as he was a Colorado State Public Defender for six years from 1997-2003. During that time, he served the public in Arapahoe County, Eagle County, Huerfano County, and Jefferson County.  He also completed an internship with the Colorado State Public Defender's Jefferson County and Denver County Offices from 1995-1997., 2003
Honors/Awards:
  • Colorado Super Lawyer - top 100, Super Lawyer Magazine, 2024
  • Denver's Top Lawyers, 5280 Magazine, 2024
  • Colorado Super Lawyer, Colorado Super Lawyers Magazine, 2023
  • Criminal Defense: White Collar, The Best Lawyers in America©, 2024
  • Criminal Defense: General Practice, The Best Lawyers in America©, 2024
  • Denver's Top Lawyers, 5280 Magazine, 2023
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar, The Best Lawyers in America©, 2023
  • Criminal Defense: General Practice, The Best Lawyers in America©, 2023
  •   , AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated Since 2019 (5.0/5.0), Martindale-Hubbell©, 2023
  •     , Rated 10/10, AVVO, 2023
  • Colorado Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2022
  • Denver's Top Lawyers, Criminal Defense, 5280 Magazine, 2022
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar, The Best Lawyers in America©, 2022
  • Criminal Defense: General Practice, The Best Lawyers in America©, 2022
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar, The Best Lawyers in America©, 2021
  • Colorado Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2021
  • Denver's Top Lawyers, Criminal Defense, 5280 Magazine, 2021
  • Criminal Defense: General Practice, The Best Lawyers in America©, 2021
  •    , Denver's Top Lawyers, Criminal Defense, 5280 Magazine, 2020
  •     , Colorado Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2020
  • ., Criminal Defense: White-Collar, The Best Lawyers in America©, 2020
  •    , Criminal Defense: White-Collar, The Best Lawyers in America©, 2019
  •    , Colorado Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2019
  •    , Colorado Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2018
  •    , Denver's Top Lawyers, Criminal Defense, 5280 Magazine, 2018
  •    , Colorado Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2017
  • Denver's Top Lawyers, 5280 Magazine, 2017
  •    , Colorado Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2016
  •   , Colorado Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2015
  •    , Colorado Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2014
  •    , Colorado Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2013
  •    , Colorado Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2012
  •    , Colorado Rising Star, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2011
  •    , Colorado Rising Star, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2010
  •    , Colorado Rising Star, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2009
  • Hoffman Cup Trial Advocacy Champion, University of Denver College of Law, 1996
  • Phi Alpha Theta – National History Honor Society, 1993
Educational Background:
  • University of Colorado School of Law, JD, 1997, 1997
  • Whittier College, B.A. (Phi Alpha Theta, National History Honor Society), 1993
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
  • The process and pitfalls of federal cooperation agreements and proffers: from guidelines to senencing., Lecturer, "Federal Cooperation and Proffers", Criminal Just Act - Federal District of Colorado, 2021
  • How to effectively and successfully defense against allegations of possession and distribution of child pornography., Lecturer, "Defending Child Pornography Cases", Colorado State Public Defender Annual Conference, 2022
  • Seminar on defense strategies for sexual assault cases. , Lecturer, "Challenging the Prosecution Experts in Sexual Assault Cases", Colorado Criminal Defense Bar/Alternate Defense Counsel Seminar - Defending Sexual Assault Cases Seminar, 2018
  • Article co-authored with Megan Bishop. , Co-author, Violating the Victim, Best Lawyers in America, 2023
  •    , Lecturer, "The Nuts and Bolts of Cross-Examination", Denver Public Defender's Office, 2014
  •    , Lecturer, "Sealing Records", Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Association, 2008
  •    , Lecturer, "Evidence in Sexual Assault Cases", Colorado State Public Defender's Annual Conference, 1998
Other Outstanding Achievements:
  • As a former President of the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Association, Martin Stuart has been listed on Wikipedia. He is one of the small number of Colorado lawyers eligible for inclusion on this site. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_Criminal_Defense_Bar  , 2018
  • Martin Stuart formed McDermott Stuart & Ward LLP in 2016 with well known Colorado attorneys Tom Ward and Sean McDermott. Their firm is known locally for its deep experience in criminal defense., 2016
  • Martin Stuart served as Managing Partner of PortmanStuart, LLC, a criminal defense firm in Denver, Colorado from 2011-2016., 2016
  • Martin Stuart formed the Law Office of Martin Stuart, P.C. in 2003 after serving as a Colorado State Public Defender for six years. He practiced criminal defense as a solo practitioner for six years from 2003-2011., 2011
Industry Groups:
  • Criminal Defense

Office location for Martin Stuart

140 E. 19th Avenue
Suite 300
Denver, CO 80203

Phone: 303-832-8888

Selections

14 Years Super Lawyers
3 Years Rising Stars
  • Super Lawyers: 2012 - 2025
  • Rising Stars: 2009 - 2011

Top Lists

Top 100: Colorado Super Lawyers: 2024 - 2025

Additional sources of information about Martin Stuart

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