Michael Stewart

Bar / Professional Activity

• Board Member of Greentrike, the head of the Children's Museum of Tacoma and the Children's Museum at JBLM. For more information on this organization, see these links below: https://greentrike.org/ https://greentrike.org/about/staff-board  , 2025
• Sports Lawyers Association, Member
• National Trial Lawyers Association, Member
• Washington State Bar Association, Member, 1994 to Present
• Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association, CLE Committee, 1995 to Present
• Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member, 2000 to Present
• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers - Member, 2025
• Pierce County Ethics Commission - Chair Appointed by the Pierce County Council as a member of the Commission. Elected by the members of the Commission as the Chair., 2025
• Pierce County Minority Bar Association - Member, 2025
• Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association - Member, 2025

Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)

• In defending Mr. Doan, Mike Stewart presented a portrait of a devoted family man and respected community member, emphasizing his decades-long friendship with the victim and the absence of any definitive evidence linking him to the shooting. Through diligent investigation and the support of numerous community members, Stewart demonstrated that the state’s case was built on speculation rather than proof—ultimately leading to the complete dismissal of all charges. Here is a link to the article: https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/crime/article236613568.html, 2018
• Federal Felony Drug and Guns Crimes: Clyde McKnight In representing Mr. McKnight in federal court, Mike Stewart navigated one of the first major post-pandemic jury trials in the Western District of Washington, addressing extensive drug and firearm allegations arising from a multi-agency investigation. Despite the government’s portrayal of McKnight as a career offender, Stewart worked to ensure his client’s rights were fully protected through rigorous pretrial litigation, evidentiary challenges, and advocacy that preserved crucial appellate issues in a high-profile federal prosecution. https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/pr/leader-seattle-drug-distribution-ring-sentenced-13-years-prison https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/seattle-man-sentenced-13-years-prison-drug-trafficking-ring-case/LZ6ZR64ZEFDRJPJQRBZUJC4DII/, 2021
• Seattle Shooting Case Dismissed:  Bryce Hardy   In defending Mr. Hardy, Mike Stewart undertook a highly publicized case involving a fatal shooting in Seattle’s Westlake light rail station, where the prosecution alleged multiple eyewitness identifications and prior altercations. Later appealed. https://apnews.com/general-news-88d414dcd6ec475ba9aab917a1c0066c  https://www.king5.com/article/news/crime/westlake-station-shooting-suspect-held-on-2-million-bail/281-23b8d9ba-627d-47cc-8dd2-c674ea46e427, 2019
• Niklas Nelson - Murder Case Dismissal In representing Mr. Nelson, Mike Stewart successfully challenged the state’s narrative in a complex and emotionally charged case, demonstrating that the tragic shooting was accidental rather than criminal. Through detailed forensic analysis and strategic advocacy, Stewart exposed critical inconsistencies in the prosecution’s theory—leading to the full dismissal of all charges against his client. http://thenewstribune.com/news/local/crime/article239137513.html, 2020
• Federal Gang-Linked Drug Trafficking:  Shawn Ellis In representing Mr. Ellis, Mike Stewart took on a complex federal case arising from a two-year multi-agency investigation into alleged gang-linked drug trafficking. Amid extensive evidence and public scrutiny, Stewart focused on safeguarding his client’s constitutional rights and mitigating sentencing exposure, securing a term below the government’s request in one of Washington’s largest Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force prosecutions. https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/wa-man-gang-linked-drug-trafficking https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/pr/drug-distributor-caught-massive-amounts-fentanyl-and-meth-well-firearms-body-armor-and https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2025/02/20/drug-distributor-caught-massive-amounts-fentanyl-and-meth-well-firearms, 2024
• First Degree Murder Reduction:  Raul Alberto Lozano Lucas In representing Mr. Lozano Lucas, Mike Stewart brought to light the years of abuse and trauma that preceded the tragic confrontation, framing the shooting as an emotionally charged response to a lifetime of pain rather than a calculated act. Through a careful presentation of mitigating evidence, Stewart secured a plea agreement that reduced the charge from first-degree to second-degree murder, resulting in a significantly lower sentence than originally sought by the state. https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/docs-teen-shot-killed-uncle-at-family-party-over-rape-allegation https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/crime/article297325429.html, 2024

Videos

• Arguing before of the Supreme Court this year, 2025

Representative Clients

• Michael Stewart argued that the State used the same act—pointing a gun while yelling—to convict Owen Ray of both second-degree assault and felony harassment, so under the Freeman double-jeopardy framework the offenses were the same in law and fact and one must be vacated. He distinguished a prior Court of Appeals case as involving separate acts, emphasized there was no direct threat to kill, and pointed to legislative changes that made harassment overlap with assault to show cumulative punishment wasn’t intended. https://tvw.org/video/washington-state-supreme-court-2025061147/, 2025
• Cherise Ashley Denholm - Vehicular Homicide case in the news. Mike Stewart emphasized the critical distinction between intent and tragedy, demonstrating that her actions—though devastating—stemmed from a mental health crisis rather than malice. Through compassionate advocacy and careful presentation of psychological and medical evidence, he secured a sentence far below the state’s recommendation in a case marked by extraordinary emotional and legal complexity. Here are a couple news links to the publicized case: https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/crime/article294378699.html http://spokesman.com/stories/2022/aug/12/why-dont-you-just-kill-yourself-former-911-dispatc/?amp-content=amp, 2024
• Representing Another Attorney in Criminal Court Felony Fleecing:  Dominiqué Louise Eng Jinhong. In defending Ms. Jinhong, Mike Stewart confronted complex allegations involving estate management, fiduciary duties, and family conflict, emphasizing her longstanding legal career and the procedural flaws in the state’s case. Through careful review of the civil record and presentation of appellate issues, Stewart brought to light critical due process concerns and protected his client’s right to a fair and unbiased proceeding. https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2020/10/07/attorney-charged-felony-fleecing-silverdale-grandmothers-estate/5901028002/, 2020
• Highly Publicized Murder Case:  Tameron Nelson Rodriguez In representing Mr. Rodriguez, Mike Stewart demonstrated that the fatal shooting stemmed from an act of defense rather than aggression, emphasizing the victim’s prior threats, history of violence, and the defendant’s youth and intent to protect his brother. Through careful presentation of evidence and mitigating factors, Stewart secured a sentence well below the standard range—recognizing both the unique circumstances of the confrontation and Rodriguez’s potential for rehabilitation. https://www.yahoo.com/news/altercation-led-deadly-gunfire-pierce-175400384.html https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/crime/article303212216.html http://thenewstribune.com/news/local/crime/article277223638.html, 2024

Pro bono / Community Service

• Pierce County Ethics Commission - Chair Appointed by the Pierce County Council as a member of the Commission. Elected by the members of the Commission as the Chair.
• Board Member of Greentrike, the head of the Children's Museum of Tacoma and the Children's Museum at JBLM.
• Fircrest Baseball & Soccer, Volunteer Assistant Coach
• Tacoma Children's Museum, Board Member
• Rotary International, 2004 to 2015
• Department of Pediatrics Courtroom Preparation for Doctors, Madigan Army Medical Center, 2016 to Present

Educational Background

• University of Washington - Bachelor of Arts, 1987-1991
• Washington, 1994

Scholarly Lectures / Writings

• This was a presentation through the Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association., Presenter and Creator, Criminal Law: an Ethical Minefield, Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association, Legal, Criminal Justice, 2017

Honors

• America's Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys, America's Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys, 2022
• Lead Counsel Rated, Thomson Reuters
• Certificate of Appreciation, National Association of Legal Secretaries
• Rated Attorney, Lead Counsel
• Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys, National Trial Lawyers, 2021

Awards

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Avvo Client's Choice Award: This award is granted to attorneys with at least 5 reviews with 4+ stars in a given year on Avvo.com

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Notable: This award is granted to attorneys who have been reviewed by their peers, with an average peer review score below 3.0.