What should I do if I’ve been arrested for a crime in Seattle?

Even if you believe you are innocent, it is critical to reach out to a Seattle criminal defense attorney. Speaking to law enforcement without having a lawyer present to advise you can result in errors, criminal charges, and even conviction for crimes you may not have committed.Many people erroneously believe that if they haven’t done anything wrong, they can’t get in trouble with the law. While it is true that every individual is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, do not underestimate the ability of law enforcement to find and prosecute a case. Sometimes it is their way of getting to someone else who did commit a crime, or it could be the result of an honest mistake. Either way, you should have a Seattle criminal defense lawyer on your side.In Washington, as in other jurisdictions, the government has the burden of proving every element of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt. “Reasonable doubt” must be fair and honest doubt arising from the evidence or lack of evidence presented at trial. In other words, the doubt must stem from logic and common sense after careful consideration of all the facts of the case.

What are some examples of defenses to criminal charges?

A skilled Seattle criminal defense lawyer will have a strong understand of the full range of defenses that may be applicable in your case. For example, you may be able to assert a self-defense claim to an assault charge. Other possible defenses to a crime might include entrapment, impossibility, mistake, intoxication, duress, or necessity. The stakes are extremely high in criminal cases, so finding the right Seattle criminal defense attorney to represent you is of the utmost importance.

Seattle Lawyers

Browse By Practice Areas

Find Seattle Attorneys by Practice Area

Sponsored Listings

PREMIUM

Robert Kraft

Lawyer Serving Seattle, WA

(206) 624-8844
Free Consultation

Seattle, WA Attorney with 41 years of experience

The National Trial Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell and Super Lawyers MagazineWashington State Association for Justice and Washington State Bar

View Profile

Free Consultation

View Website View Profile Call Email Lawyer Email Lawyer

PREMIUM

Paul Rundle

Lawyer Serving Seattle, WA

(206) 377-7100
Free Consultation

Seattle, WA Attorney with 28 years of experience

Oregon State Bar

View Profile

Free Consultation

View Website View Profile Call Email Lawyer Email Lawyer

PREMIUM

Andrew May

Lawyer Serving Seattle, WA

(206) 208-1707

Seattle, WA Attorney with 18 years of experience

Superlawyers , University of Maryland, University of Maryland and University of MarylandWashington State Bar Association

View Profile

Contact Now

View Website View Profile Call Email Lawyer Email Lawyer

PREMIUM

Gloria Backus

Lawyer Serving Seattle, WA

(206) 512-3464

Seattle, WA Attorney with 27 years of experience

Counsel on Legal Education OpportunityFederal Court for the Western District of Washington and Washington State Bar

View Profile

Contact Now

View Website View Profile Call Email Lawyer Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer ProfileQ&AResponsive Law

David Neuman

Seattle, WA Attorney

(206) 795-5798

Northern Illinois UniversityFlorida, Illinois and WashingtonPIABAWashington State Bar Association and The Florida BarA Menace to Investors: Non-Attorney Representatives in FINRA Arbitration

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer ProfileQ&A

J.D. Houvener

Seattle, WA Attorney

(800) 849-1913

Seattle UniversitySeattle University and University of WashingtonFederal Circuit and WashingtonAvvoKing County Bar Association and Snohomish County Bar AssociationThe Importance Patents Play in Aerospace, Applying for a #Patent in the EU...

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer Profile

Edward K Le

Renton, WA Attorney

(844) 958-7842

University of Houston - Main CampusUniversity of California - Los AngelesTexas, U.S. Supreme Court, Washington, 5th Circuit and 9th CircuitNational Trial Lawyers Association, American Society of Legal Advocates, Martindale Hubbell, Rue Ratings - Best Attorneys of America...National Brain Injury Trial Lawyers Association, American Association of Justice...Practical Strategies for Handling the Dram Shop Case, Reptile on the Road...

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer ProfileQ&ALII GoldResponsive Law

Timothy John Billick

Seattle, WA Attorney

(206) 494-0020

University of Washington School of LawPurdue University - Purdue University9th Circuit, Federal Circuit and WashingtonThomson Reuters, Thomson Reuters, Thomson Reuters and Thomson ReutersCopyright Association of the USA and King County Bar AssociationAutonomous Vehicle Law Report and Recommendations to the Uniform Law Commission and Growing Washington's Clean Energy Economy A Report to the Washington State Legislature

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer Profile

Emily M. Gause

Tukwila, WA Attorney

(206) 660-8775

Seattle University School of Law and Washington State UniversityWashington and 9th CircuitSuper Lawyers and Washington Association of Criminal Defense LawyersWashington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, King County Bar Association...The Brady Epidemic and "Shaken Baby Syndrome: No Shaking Actually Required"

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer ProfileBlawg Search

Richard Symmes

Seattle, WA Attorney

(206) 682-7975

The University of Denver Sturm College of Law and University of WashingtonColorado and WashingtonExpertiseNational Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys and King County Bar AssociationThe Evolution of Sports Law

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer ProfileResponsive LawSupports the Free Law Project

Stephen H Carpenter Jr.

Seattle, WA Attorney

(206) 357-8434

Georgetown University Law Center and University of Oregon School of LawUniversity of VirginiaOregon, Washington and Federal CircuitLawyers of Distinction, Elite Lawyers and U.S. Military Service AwardsUnited States Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals, United States Army Court of Criminal Appeals...Panel Finds Navy Client "Not Guilty", Interview with Japanese Times Reporter...

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer Profile

David Starks

Seattle, WA Attorney

(206) 397-0399

Seattle University School of LawUniversity of Southern IndianaWashington, Texas and OregonBest Lawyers, Washington Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, Washington Super Lawyers...American Bar Association, Washington State Bar Association...Equal Custody: As published in the King County Bar Association Bulletin, International Travel with Children: Identification Requirements...

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer ProfileQ&A

Ryan Witt

Bremerton, WA Attorney

(360) 792-1000

Gonzaga University School of LawWashingtonMartindale-Hubbell, Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal, Avvo and Kitsap County Hockey AssociationSuquamish Tribal Court Bar Association, Bremerton Municipal Court Practice and Procedure Committee...Vehicles of DUI suspects to be impounded for 12 hours and Legal Wellness

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer ProfileResponsive Law

Matthew J. Yetter

Seattle, WA Attorney

(206) 258-6827

Willamette University College of LawSouthern Utah UniversityWashingtonMarquis Who's Who in American LawTacoma Pierce County Bar Association and South King County Bar AssociationCOVID-19 Update

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Sponsored Listings

PREMIUM

Mark D. Kimball

Lawyer Serving Seattle, WA

(425) 455-9610

Washington Attorney with 38 years of experience

Martindale Hubbell, Martindale, Avvo, Avvo...Center for International Legal Studies and Union Nacional Juristas de Cuba

View Profile

Contact Now

View Website View Profile Call Email Lawyer Email Lawyer

PREMIUM

Travis Moeller

Lawyer Serving Seattle, WA

(206) 622-6562

Seattle, WA Attorney

Washington State Bar Association

View Profile

Contact Now

View Website View Profile Call Email Lawyer Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer ProfileLII GoldResponsive Law

Carrie Fulton-Brown

Seattle, WA Attorney

(206) 512-3464

Seattle University School of Law and University of Washington - Bothell campusSeattle UniversityWashington and Puyallup Tribal CourtLawyers of Distinction, Avvo, Super Lawyer, Super Lawyer...Snohomish County Bar Association, Washington Defender Association...Adult sex offense informational website and Gaining advantage through pre-trial representation in juvenile sex crimes

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer ProfileQ&ALII GoldResponsive Law

Aaron A. Pelley

Seattle, WA Attorney

(888) 896-3313

Willamette University College of LawWashingtonCannabis Law Review, National Trial Lawyer, Thomson Reuters Super Lawyer, National Trial Lawyers...National Cannabis Bar Association and National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws30 Powerful Cannabis Attorneys You Should Know and Impacts of Legalized Marijuana on Firearms Rights

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer ProfileQ&ALII Gold

Gordon Charles Webb

Seattle, WA Attorney

(877) 800-1007

Tulane University School of Law and University of Idaho College of LawSeattle UniversityAlaska, U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, Washington, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Washington, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Washington, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington, U.S. District Court, Southern District of California and 9th CircuitThe American Society of Legal Advocates, Washington State Bar Association, The Canadian Consulate General and Tulane Maritime Law JournalFlorida State Trial Lawyers Association, Seattle King County Bar Association...

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer ProfileQ&ALII GoldBlawg Search

Tom Evans

Seattle, WA Attorney

(800) 732-7258

University of Washington School of LawWhitman College9th Circuit, All State Courts in the Washington State, U.S. Supreme Court and WashingtonSTATE TRIAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION - CHAIR 1998Washington State Bar, American Trial Lawyers Association...Court Sinks Fishboat From Hell

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer ProfileResponsive Law

John Cyr

Tukwila, WA Attorney

(253) 888-5993

Seattle University School of LawGonzaga UniversityWashingtonNational Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys, Avvo, Avvo and Seattle University School of LawWashington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Federal Bar AssociationChallenging the Evidence: Bloodstain Pattern Analysis and Challenging the Evidence: Digital and Multimedia Analysis

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer ProfileResponsive Law

Scott Seeley

Bellevue, WA Attorney

(425) 296-8220

University of Washington School of LawCentral Washington UniversityWashington and United States Patent and Trademark OfficeSuper Lawyers and LexTalk WorldPatent Trial and Appeal Board Bar Association and American Intellectual Property Law AssociationFederal Circuit's Treatment of Alleged APA Violations at the PTAB and Intellectual Property Issues Under The Trans-Pacific Partnership

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer Profile

Jennifer Payseno

Seattle, WA Attorney

(206) 397-0399

Seattle University School of LawSouth UniversityWashingtonThe Best Lawyers in America in the field of Family Law, Washington Super Lawyers, The Best Lawyers in America in the field of Family Law, Washington Super Lawyers...King County Boys & Girls Clubs, South King County Legal Clinic...How Can We Help with the Immigration Detention Crisis?, Lawyers Doing Good...

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer ProfileLII GoldResponsive Law

Erik Kaeding

Kent, WA Attorney

(253) 850-8430

Seattle University School of Law and University of Puget SoundUniversity of WashingtonWashingtonAmerican Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys and National College for DUI DefenseKing County Bar Association, Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers...

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer ProfileResponsive Law

Jason Benjamin

Seattle, WA Attorney

(206) 208-1707

Seattle University School of LawNorthwestern UniversityWashingtonMartindale-Hubbell Lawyers Service, American Institute of Family Law Attorneys, Martindale-Hubbell, Avvo.com...YMCA, Washington State Bar...Kowalewski v. Kowalewski

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer

Claimed Lawyer Profile

Reza Torkzadeh

Seattle, WA Attorney

(888) 380-1148

Thomas Jefferson School of LawUniv of California Irvine9th Circuit and CaliforniaSuperlawyers and BestLawyersNational Safety Council, American Association for Justice...Accidents Happen But Who's Going to Pay the Bills?

View Website View Lawyer Profile Email Lawyer