Caroline M. Butler

Caroline Butler is a relentless criminal defense attorney who fights for people facing the full force of the criminal legal system. She represents individuals charged with serious felony offenses—including robbery, drug distribution, and sex crimes—and is known for her strategic, aggressive defense both in and out of the courtroom.

Caroline understands firsthand that the criminal system is not always fair. Too often, it punishes poverty, overlooks context, and fails to deliver justice for those it targets most harshly. She fights to ensure her clients’ rights are respected and their voices heard.

At Coates, Battle, & Tyree, Caroline handles high-stakes criminal cases as well as civil matters like protective orders and contract disputes. Previously, she served as an Assistant Public Defender in Fredericksburg, where she defended hundreds of clients—many facing life-altering charges—with compassion, skill, and unwavering resolve.

Caroline earned her law degree from American University Washington College of Law, where she focused on criminal law and international human rights. Her legal experience spans continents, including work in Ghana and Senegal. While abroad, she collaborated with grassroots organizations to promote access to justice, expose systemic inequities, and advocate for the rights of underserved communities—experience that continues to inform her work in U.S. courtrooms today.

Clients come to Caroline when they feel like the system is stacked against them—and they stay because they know she will fight for them at every step.