Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, White Collar Crimes, Personal Injury; view more
Licensed in Maryland since: 1974
Education: The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law
Call today:
301-441-3000
MarcusBonsib, LLC
6411 Ivy LaneSuite 116
Greenbelt, MD 20770-1405 Visit website
Details
The co-founder of MarcusBonsib, LLC, located in Greenbelt, Maryland, Robert C. Bonsib brings more than 45 years of legal experience including over 300 jury trials to a practice that involves a wide variety of criminal defense matters at both the trial and appellate level, including white collar crimes and high-profile state and federal cases. His specific areas of focus include DUI/DWI defense, drug possession, felony narcotics, assault and homicide, sexual offenses and financial crimes. Mr. Bonsib also assists clients who are under investigation by federal grand juries.
After receiving his Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University, Mr. Bonsib attended The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law and was awarded his Juris Doctor in 1974. Prior to entering private practice in 1990, he was an assistant attorney with the Office of the State's Attorney in Prince George's County and then served as an assistant attorney with the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland. Admitted to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia, he is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 4th and District of Columbia Circuits, and the Supreme Court of the United States.
Mr. Bonsib has been recognized in each Top Lawyers edition of the Washingtonian Magazine since 2002. He has been ranked in the "Best Lawyers in American" in the practice areas of both white-collar and non-white collar criminal defense since 2006. MarcusBonsib, LLC is ranked as a "Best Law Firm" by U.S. News & World Report/Best Lawyers. He has been listed by "Super Lawyers" as a top lawyer since 2007 - and has been ranked as one the top 10 Maryland lawyers and one of the top 100 District of Columbia lawyers in 2019 and 2020.
Mr. Bonsib received the prestigious "Heeney Award" presented by the Maryland State Bar Association to an attorney who has exemplified a lifetime of excellence in the field of criminal law.
Mr. Bonsib is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He serves on the Maryland Criminal Pattern Jury Instructions Committee and is serving his 5th, four-year term on the Prince George's County Trial Courts Nominating Commission. He has repeatedly been asked the United States District Court Judges to serve on its United States Magistrate Judge's Selection Committee and is a permanent member of the Judicial Conference for the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Highly regarded by his peers, Mr. Bonsib has received an AV Preeminent* rating from Martindale-Hubbell as well as in The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100. A past president of the Criminal Law and Practice Section of the Maryland State Bar Association, he is an active participant in numerous professional organizations, including the Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys' Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Prince George's County Bar Association.
Mr. Bonsib has presented continuing legal education seminars for the Judicial Institute of Maryland as well as numerous bar associations, prosecutors' offices, criminal defense associations and police organizations. He regularly co-authors a criminal law article for the Prince George's County Bar Association NewsJournal.
*AV Preeminent and BV Distinguished are certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used 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 confidential opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell ratings fall into two categories: legal ability and general ethical standards.
**The Best Lawyers in America® 2010. Copyright 2009 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC
Practice areas
Criminal Defense, Criminal Defense: White Collar, Personal Injury - General: PlaintiffFocus areas
Criminal Domestic Violence, Criminal Law, Criminal Law - Federal, Drug & Alcohol Violations, Felony, Juvenile Delinquency, Misdemeanor, Motor Vehicle Offenses, Murder, Probation, Sex Offenses, Traffic Violations, White Collar Crime
- 50% Criminal Defense
- 40% Criminal Defense: White Collar
- 10% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 1974, Maryland
Professional Webpage: https://www.robertbonsib.com/attorney/robert-c-bonsib/
- Maryland, 1974
- Committee, National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1995 - Present
- U.S. District Court District of Maryland, 1983
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1990 - Present
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1979
- Maryland State Bar Association, Inc., Member, 1985 - Present
- Prince George's County Bar Association, Co-Chair, Federal Practice Committee
- Federal Magistrate Selection Committee, Member
- Member, Maryland Criminal Pattern Jury Instructions
- Prince George's County Bar Association
- U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1983
- Prince George County Bar Association, 1987 - Present
- U.S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit, 1983
- Trial Courts Nominating Commission, Member, 1988 - Present
- Prince George's County Bar Association, Criminal Law Section, Past Chair
- Citizens' Complaint Oversight Panel, Legal Counsel, 1990 - 1995
- Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys Association
- District of Columbia, 1990
- Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys Association, Board of Directors, 1990 - Present
- U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, 1990
- Maryland Criminal Pattern Jury Instruction Committee, Member, 1999 - Present
- Maryland State Bar Association, Criminal Law Section, Past Chair
- ABA Search Warrant Project, Member
- Physician charged with sexual abuse of his daughter was acquitted when, after 1/2 day of cross-examination of the complaining witness, the prosecution announced in open court that it was dismissing the rape and child abuse charges., 2019
- 17 year old client found not guilty of attempted first degree murder. Client was initially charged as an adult. After a successful motion to have the case transferred into the juvenile court and after a trial in the juvenile court, client was found not guilty of attempted murder and weapons offenses, 2019
- Not guilty verdict in Prince George's County homicide prosecution. After the conclusion of the prosecution evidence, the court granted the defense motion for judgement of acquittal and the defendant was found not guilty of murder., 2018
- Not guilty verdict in Baltimore City homicide prosecution. Client was recorded on street surveillance video camera shooting the alleged victim. A self-defense case was presented and the defendant was found not guilty, 2018
- Probationary sentence for Maryland Circuit Court judge charged in federal court with criminal civil rights offense., 2016
- A not guilty verdict was rendered by the Circuit Court for Prince George's County in the trial of a 17 year-old, originally charged in adult court with robbery. After successfully having the matter transferred to the juvenile court, the juvenile was acquitted after a trial in the juvenile court., 2016
- Not Guilty Verdict in 5 count attempted murder case in Calvert County Circuit Court, 2014
- Not guilty verdict after 3 day trial in Prince George's Circuit Court of police officer charged with the use of excessive force and misconduct in officer., 2013
- A young defendant indicted for 1st degree assault and home invasion was only convicted of misdemeanor assault and a lesser form of burglary. He was accused of forcing his way into the home of his girlfriend's former boyfriend and striking the former boyfriend with a baseball bat and swinging the bat at the mother of the former boyfriend. He received a sentence of 60 days., 2015
- Not guilty verdict on all 12 counts in 3 week federal trial in which client was charged with identity theft and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Government also returned approximately six million dollars in seized currency., 2012
- Reduced verdict in 2nd degree murder case. Client charged with second degree murder and prosecution sought 10 year sentence to the Department of Correction. After 2 week trial in Tabolt County Circuit Court client was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and received a sentence in the local detention center., 2014
- Involuntary manslaughter and lesser charges dismissed. After being charged in federal court with involuntary manslaughter for leaving a child unattended in an automobile, the charges against the defendant were dismissed and a lesser charge of leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle was filed against the defendant. After extensive legal briefing, the remaining charge against the defendant was also dismissed by the court., 2016
- After a multi-day jury trial in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, the defendant, who had been indicted for 1st degree assault for allegedly pointing a gun at a police officer resulting in the officer firing his gun at the defendant in what he claimed was self-defense, was convicted of misdemeanor assault and received a time served sentence., 2015
- Dismissal of theft indictment against police officer accused of double dipping, 2014
- Hung jury in first degree felony murder prosecution in St. Mary's County Circuit Court. Two co-defendants previously tried in separate trials had been convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment., 2013
- Reduced verdict in fatal accident. Jury returned not guilty verdict to murder after a week-long trial in the United States District Court, convicting the defendant of the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter for a death that occurred after speed contest that resulting in the death of one of the drivers. The federal prosecutor was seeking a sentence of 20 years to life. The defendant received a sentence of 5 years., 2016
- Probation in multi-thousand pound marihuana distribution conspiracy. The defendant was originally indicted in a multi-defendant federal conspiracy in a count that required a minimum of a ten-year sentence in federal prison. After lenghty negotiations, the government modified its plea offer, however, still sought a multi-year sentence for the defendant. The defendant received a probationary sentence with credit for 60 days served in pre-trial detention., 2015
- Recognized by Superlawyers as one of the top 10 lawyers in Maryland. Ranked #3 in the top 10 list, Superlawyers - Top 10 Maryland Lawyer, 2020
- Recognized by Superlawyers as one of the top 10 Maryland lawyers, SuperLawyers - Top 10 Maryland Lawyer, 2019
- Top Lawyers - Washingtonian Magazine - honored in each edition from 2004 to present, Washingtonian Magazine Top Lawyers, 2019
- Recognized by "Best Lawyers in America" as the Best Lawyer in Criminal Defense, Best Lawyers in America - "Best Lawyer of the Year" in Criminal Defense, 2019
- National Trial Lawyers - Top 100 Lawyers, 2016
- John Adams Award - CJA Panel - U.S. District Court for District of Maryland, 2002
- "AV" Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- Best Criminal Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers in America, 2014
- The Best Lawyers In America - White Collar Criminal Defense, 2005 - present
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
- Presidents Special Achievement Award - Prince George's County Bar Association, 2004
- Who's Who In American Law, 2005 - Present
- Recipient of the Robert C. Heeney Award, Robert C. Heeney Award for Distinguished Career in Criminal Law, Criminal Law Section of the Maryland State Bar Association, 2009
- The Best Lawyers in America - Non-White Collar Criminal Defense - 2005 to present
- Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, B.A., 1971
- Second of a 2 part series discussing the law of severance in the Maryland state and federal courts., The Law of Severance - Part II, Prince George's Bar Newsletter, 2014
- A discussion of the role and responsibilities of a criminal defense attorney, The Other White Hat in the Courtroom - Role of the Criminal Defense Attorney, 2012
- Author, Constitutional Vagueness - Approaching the Outer Limits, Prince Georges County Bar Newsletter, 2016
- Prince Georges County Bar Newsletter, May, 2006, The Other White Hat - Role of Criminal Defense Attorney
- Federal Sentencing Guidelines - Part I, Prince George's County Bar Newsletter, May, 2002
- Federal Sentencing Guidelines - Part II, Prince Georges County Bar Newsletter, September, 2002
- Prince Georges County Bar Newsletter, August, 2002, Yours, Mine or Ours - The Law of Constructive Possession
- Prince George's County Bar Association Newsletter, December, 2004, Federal Proffer Letter Agreements
- Prince George's County Bar Newsletter, May, 2003, Statements Against Penal Interest
- Prince George's County Bar Newsletter, October, 2002, Exposing the "Field Interview"
- Prince George's County Bar Newsletter, January, 2004, Speedy Trial Under Rule 4-271
- Prince George's County Bar Newsletter, February, 2004, Maryland v. Pringle - What It Says and What It Doesn't
- Trial of a Criminal Case, Maryland Judicial Institute, 2006 - 2009
- Maryland Professionalism Course, Maryland State Bar Association, 2004 - 2006
- Alan Goldstein Criminal Law Seminar, Prince Georges County Bar Association, 2009
- Criminal Law Section Council CLE - Maryland State Bar Conference, Maryland State Bar Association, 2002
- Bankruptcy Fraud, Prince Georges' County Bar Association and Federal Bar Association, 2004
- Columbus School of Law, Catholic University of America, Appellate Advocacy Moot Court Judge, 2004
- Conducting Effective Cross-Examination, Alan Goldstein Criminal Law Seminar, 2009
- Federal Bar Association, 2009 - Present, Grand Jury Practice Seminar
- Instructor, The Conduct of a Criminal Trial, Maryland Judicial Institute, 2005
- Instructor, The Conduct of a Criminal Trial, Maryland Judicial Institute, 2007
- Presenter, Role of the Criminal Defense Attorney, Prince Georges County Criminal Investigators School, 2016
- Instructor, The Conduct of a Criminal Trial, Maryland Judicial Institute,, 2009
- Presenter, Proffer Agreements - Tips & Pitfalls, Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys Association, 2015
- Author, Authenticating Cell Phone & Social Media Evidence, Prince George's County Bar Newsletter, 2016
- Author, Uncorroborated Confessions - When Saying I Did It Is Not Enough, Prince Georges County Bar Association Newsletter, 2016
- Author, Expert & Lay Expert Testimony, Prince George's County Bar Newsletter, 2015
- The law of constructive possession in Maryland - first of 2 part article., Constructive Possession - Part I, Prince George's County Bar Newsletter, 2013
- Author, Coram Nobis & Laches, Prince George's County Bar Newsletter, 2015
- The law of constructive possession in Maryland - second of a 2 part article., Constructive Possession - Part II, Prince George's County Bar Newsletter, 2013
- The Bill of Particulars - use of a bill particulars after new Court of Appeals case expanding use of the bill of particulars., The Bill of Particulars, Prince Georges County Bar Newsletter, 2014
- Voir Dire in Maryland - A discussion of those questions required and thoughts regarding the use of voir dire in criminal cases., Voir Dire - Recent Cases, Prince George's Bar Newsletter, 2014
- The Proffer Letter in cooperation negotiations with the prosecution. Pitfalls and other cautions., Proffer Letters - Cooperation with the Prosecution, 2014
- Conflict of Interest issues in representation of different clients whose interests may overlap., Conflict in Representation of Multiple Clients, Prince George's Bar Newsletter, 2014
- First of 2 part series of the law of severance of defendants and counts in Maryland state and federal courts., The Law of Severance - Part I, Prince George's Bar Newsletter, 2014
- Maryland State Bar Association "Heeney Award" for a lifetime achievement of excellence in the field of criminal law, 2009
Office location for Robert C. Bonsib
6411 Ivy Lane
Suite 116
Greenbelt, MD 20770-1405
Phone: 301-441-3000
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