David L. Donnan
  • Appeals & Appellate, Criminal Law, Juvenile Law
  • Washington
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Biography

David Donnan is an experienced advocate who has successfully represented clients in the trial and appellate courts of Washington and California. David’s success in the state and federal courts over the past 30 years has been a testament to the skills and insight he can provide in your legal representation. As a result, David was recognized as a Super Lawyer in 2006 by Washington Law & Politics and as an Outstanding Mentor in 2011 by the King County Bar Association, Young Lawyer Division.

David previously served as the Executive Director of the Washington Appellate Project, one of the leading appellate public defense agencies in the United States, for more than fifteen years representing indigent clients appealing criminal convictions, involuntary civil commitments and the terminations of parental rights. Under David’s direction the office represented thousands of clients and led challenges to discrimination in the criminal justice system and pushed for the progress development of the criminal law in Washington. The right to privacy has also been a particular area of focus as the government becomes more intrusive in our lives and businesses.

David has lectured regularly on new case law and specific areas of concern including prosecutorial misconduct, the right to privacy, search and seizure, and the improper use of character evidence. David’s work with the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys and specifically its legislative committee and as a director with the Washington Defender Association has also been recognized. David was a recipient of the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyer's Certificate of Appreciation in 1998 and 2004 for his work on legislative committee and caselaw updates.

David has handled many significant appellate cases over the years including the first challenges to the three-strikes laws, and recent challenges to the use of secretive special inquiry proceedings used to circumvent the warrant requirement,

Practice Areas
    Appeals & Appellate
    Civil Appeals, Federal Appeals
    Criminal Law
    Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
    Juvenile Law
Additional Practice Area
  • Constitutional Law
Fees
  • Free Consultation
    Call for a Free Initial Consultation
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Washington
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Languages
  • English
Professional Experience
Director
Washington Appellate Project
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Staff Attorney
Snohomish County Public Defender Assoc.
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Attorney
Pitkin & Bellows
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Supply Officer
U.S. Navy
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Education
California Western School of Law
J.D.
Honors: With Honors
Activities: Executive Editor of the California Western International Law Journal and a regional finalist in the National Moot Court Competition
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Awards
Outstanding Mentor
King County Bar Association, Young Lawyer Division
Super Lawyer
Washington Law & Politics
Certificate of Appreciation
Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
1998, 2004
Professional Associations
Washington State Bar
Member
- Current
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Washington Defender Association
Board of Directors
-
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Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Board of Governors
-
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Speaking Engagements
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel, Appellate Judges' Spring Program
2004
Search and Seizure - State Caselaw Update, Suppressing Evidence: Delivering the Knockout Punch
2008
Hot Topics, Outside of the Box: Different Resources for Developing Appellate Issues
2011
Criminal Caselaw Update, 2014 Joint Contractor CLE
2014
Contact & Map
Seattle, WA, USA
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