Windy R. Ortega

Windy Ortega graduated cum laude from Charlotte School of Law with a Juris Doctorate and is a member of the Maryland Bar.  While attending law school, Ms. Ortega participated in the school’s Civil Rights Clinic where she fought against police misconduct.  Ms. Ortega led a nation-wide project banning the use of prosecutorial releases which, in effect, took away a criminal defendant’s right to sue for any civil wrongs committed upon him or her by police and others.  In her practice, Ms. Ortega continues to protect the rights of her clients and remains active in the fight against prosecutorial and police misconduct. 

Currently, Ms. Ortega is representing criminal, family, and personal injury clients in the greater Baltimore area.  She prides herself in being a fierce litigator, and fighting for the best outcome for her clients.  Ms. Ortega prepares for each case as if it is going to trial, aggressively preparing from the onset.  Sometimes all the preparation gets the case dismissed, and if not, she is no stranger to the courtroom. 

Ms. Ortega is in the Maryland District Courts as often as she is in the Circuit Courts for Baltimore City, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Harford, and Howard Counties.  Whether her client is charged with felonies or misdemeanors, Ms. Ortega takes the same passionate and detail oriented approach to helping her clients get the best possible outcome in their case. Her clients often refer to her as respectful, compassionate, attentive, and creative in her practice.

Ms. Ortega handles a wide range of criminal cases from assaults and child abuse to drug possession and handgun cases.  She also defends clients who have been charged with serious traffic offenses, such as DWI/DUI and driving while suspended. 

Ms. Ortega enjoys giving back to the community by representing indigent juveniles and adults referred to her by the Office of the Public Defender when it has a conflict.  Ms. Ortega also assists as a coach for the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law’s national mock trial team.  Ms. Ortega enjoys helping these future lawyers learn how to effectively strategize and litigate criminal and civil cases.

In 2016, Ms. Ortega’s peers selected her as a Rising Star for demonstrating excellence in the practice of law. This is an annual honor that is limited to no more than 2.5 percent of attorneys throughout Maryland. Ms. Ortega has continued to be selected as a Rising Star since 2016, receiving the recognition in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.

Prior to forming Ortega Law, LLC with her husband, Joshua Ortega, Ms. Ortega worked under highly experienced Maryland criminal defense attorneys, who helped her develop essential skills in representing all types of defendants in criminal matters at both the state and federal level. Ms. Ortega also interned for the Honorable Marcus Z. Shar in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City.