Peter E. Quijano

Peter Enrique Quijano has over 40 years of experience as a criminal defense attorney, with 25 years of specialization as a federal criminal defense attorney. Mr. Quijano has tried over 120 felony cases to verdict, initially as a New York City public defender, defending against the most serious charges. In over 80 trials to verdict in state court, Mr. Quijano had acquittals on over 80% of the most serious offenses.

Mr. Quijano is widely respected by federal judges and prosecutors. He is one of only 30 lawyers selected by the judges of the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York to receive the distinction of “Learned Counsel,” recognizing his ability to represent defendants facing the death penalty. In over 50 death penalty eligible cases that Mr. Quijano has handled, not one has resulted in a Department of Justice authorization to seek the death penalty at trial. In the nearly 100 homicide cases handled by Mr. Quijano in the state and federal courts, only one client has received a sentence of life without parole. In recognition of his accomplishments, Mr. Quijano was admitted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in America.

Mr. Quijano has also been selected by the judges of the Southern District of New York to sit on the Diversity Subcommittee of the Southern District of New York Defender Services Committee, a panel composed on United States District Court Judges and four criminal defense attorneys to address the need for increased diversity within the Criminal Justice Act Panel of the Southern District of New York. Mr. Quijano has also been selected by the federal judges of the Southern District of New York as a member of the United States Magistrate Judges Merit Selection Panel, which screens and makes recommendations regarding applicants seeking an appointment as a United States Magistrate Judge and current United States Magistrate Judges seeking re-appointment. In addition, Mr. Quijano has been named by the judges of the Southern District of New York as co-director of a mentoring program to prepare experienced state criminal defense practitioners for federal practice and possible membership to the Criminal Justice Act Panel; a very selective federal court appointment program is designed to increase diversity within the Panel. The program was co-drafted by Mr. Quijano and is expected to serve as a model for federal districts nationwide.

Recognized by his peers as an authority in the area of criminal defense, Mr. Quijano has served as a frequent guest lecturer on trial tactics and advocacy, as well as federal criminal issues and principles at numerous law schools, including: Columbia University Law School, Fordham University Law School, Brooklyn Law School and New York Law School. Mr. Quijano has also served as a speaker at continuing legal education courses for various bar organizations on numerous federal criminal subjects, including federal sentencing and United States Sentencing Guidelines, and the changes in federal sentencing following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in U.S. v. Booker. Mr. Quijano is also the co-creator of the Federal Practice Institute; an annual, intensive 3-day seminar given by the New York County Bar Association, designed to introduce experienced state criminal defense practitioners to federal the Federal Practice Institute, Mr. Quijano moderates the day-long seminar on federal . Quijano has defended many high profile cases involving extensive media coverage. He has also served as a frequent guest commentator on MSNBC and Court TV (now known as TruTV).

Mr. Quijano received his Bachelor of Science degree from New York University and was the recipient of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Honor Scholarship. Mr. Quijano attained his Juris Doctor degree from the Catholic University of America School of Law in Washington, D.C.

Born in Washington, D.C. to a Colombian family with a history in Colombian politics, Mr. Quijano is completely fluent in Spanish.