Skip to main content

Carl Santos Cansino

Criminal defense Attorney at Milledgeville, GA

5.0   29 reviews

also known as Carl S. Cansino

About Carl

Learn Carl’s areas of practice.

4
Practice areas
  1. Criminal defense
    80%

    20 years, 600 cases

  2. Government
    10%

    18 years, 4 cases

  3. Family
    8%

    20 years, 100 cases

  4. Other
    2%

Located in historic downtown, Milledgeville, Georgia, The Cansino Law Firm’s representation reaches Central Georgia and throughout the State. Our goal is to find the best solution for each individual client. Our lawyers strive to maintain high standards of excellence and ethics both in and out of the courtroom. Our services are client-centered, with our attorneys and staff working diligently to maintain these relationships. It is our policy to engage in frank and frequent communications with our clients, beginning with the initial consultation and lasting throughout our representation. 

The Cansino Law Firm has extensive experience representing individuals in virtually all aspects of the law. The primary focus areas of The Cansino Law Firm are criminal defense, domestic relations, child delinquency, child deprivation, and general civil litigation.

 

Carl practices in the area of Criminal Defense in both State and Federal Courts and General and Civil Litigation. Before establishing The Cansino Law Firm in 2004 he was an Assistant District Attorney in the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit for seven years. 

Carl has been recognized by The National Trial Lawyers as a Top 100 Trial Lawyers in the area of Criminal Defense. He also has been recognized as a Top 10 Lawyer in Georgia by the National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys. He serves on the Executive Committee of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (GACDL) and holds the office of Regional Vice President. Carl's colleagues in the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit, which is Georgia's largest Judicial Circuit by number of counties, has elected him to serve as a representative to the State Bar of Georgia where Carl serves as a member of the Board of Governors. State Bar President, Buck Rogers has appointed him to serve on the SOLACE (Support of Lawyers – All Concern Encouraged) committee and the MLAP (Military Legal Assistance Program). He also serves by Appointment as the Municipal Court Prosecutor for the City of Milledgeville. 

Carl also serves as Chairman to the Department of Law's Advisory Committee on Consumer Protection. A position in which he was appointed by Governor Sonny Perdue and reappointed by Governor Nathan Deal. 

Carl has represented many high profile cases at both the State and Federal level including some with significant media coverage. In addition to success at the trial level, Carl has numerous appellate cases reported and errant decisions by the trial court successfully reversed. 

Carl is active in the community. He serves as a Board Member for the Twin Lakes Public Library. His firm has also partnered with Lakeview Primary School as a Partner in Education. 

Carl received his law degree from Atlanta's John Marshall Law School and received his undergraduate degree from the Florida State University and is admitted to practice in all the State Court of Georgia as well as the US District Court for the Middle District of Georgia.

Photos and videos

View more
Licensed for 26 years
State DC
Status Good Standing
Acquired 2018
Updated 06/08/2022
State GA
Status Active Member in Good Standing
Acquired 1996
Updated 05/03/2023

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

Contact Carl

The Cansino Law Firm, LLC
1501 N. Jefferson Street
Milledgeville, GA, 31061

Reviews

5.0 / 5.0
  29 customer reviews
5 Star
 
100%
4 Star
 
0%
3 Star
 
0%
2 Star
 
0%
1 Star
 
0%
Posted by anonymous | September 26, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Speeding Ticket Resolved Satisfactorily
Called with less than a week before court appearance. I was out of state, attorney took the case and resolved it satisfactorily.
Posted by Trey | August 2, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Client
Mr. Cansino was great to work with. He was very upfront and professional through the whole process. I’m confident I would not have gotten the same plea with out him on my side. I would definitely recommend.
Posted by Trinity | July 9, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Over and above!
I found myself in a horrible position that had me viewing the worst. Mr. Cansino met with me and immediately put me at ease. There was no time when I felt ignored or unsure of the approach we would take in my case. Mr. Cansino took my case seriously and truly spoke to me as a person and not just a file number. That went a long way. I felt I had a friend through this and not some stranger. I was able to reach out and speak to him when needed. Due to his efforts and diligence, he discovered just cause to have my case dismissed and I am certain that without his expertise that other attorneys would’ve missed this. I recommend Mr. Cansino to anyone seeking an attorney that cares and has the experience to do it and do it right.
Read less
Posted by anonymous | June 13, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Money Well Spent
Carl Cansino is the most reputable lawyer in the area which is why I hired his firm to handle my case. He works quickly and efficiently, The firm is very responsive and keeps you up to speed throughout the entire process. I was happy with the light sentence we worked out with the court and Mr. Cansino was later successful in getting my probation terminated early.
Read less
Posted by Eric | February 1, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
King of law
I would recommend this firm to anyone who need legal counseling because I think they are the best in the middle Georgia area very honest people and also very professional to the T if u hire this firm you can’t wrong no matter what you’re out come may be but I can arest a sure u will get the best results from your situation Cansino Law Firm to the front
Read less
Posted by anonymous | April 30, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Always get a lawyer
Mr. Cansino and his staff were wonderful during my case. They kept me updated and shared everything they had as discovery with me. I didn’t have to worry about a thing, even though I did, because he handled it all. All I simply had to do was show up to court. Sometimes it may seem like it is just best to plead guilty and settle, or whatever your case requires, but I definitely recommend getting a lawyer. And if you have a drug charge, Mr. Cansino is your guy considering he used to be a prosecutor of that sort of thing so he knows exactly what the prosecution will look at and go after.
Read less
Posted by Clinton | March 26, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
saved my bacon,twice
If your looking for an lawyer,Mr. Cansino is a great lawyer.He is respectful ,easy to talk to and he gets results.
Posted by anonymous | March 14, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Great service!
Carl and his team were very helpful in my case. He was there every step of the way and ensured that everything was crystal clear. I would recommend him to others.
Posted by Paul | March 14, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Review of Mr. Cansino
Mr. Cansino clearly has an excellent understanding of the law and was able to hit the ground running with our son's case. He is professional, pragmatic, experienced and very effective and someone who has obviously found and followed his life's intended purpose. Extremely good and pleasant to deal with under unpleasant circumstances.
Read less
Posted by Lisa | February 27, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Extremely Effective, Professional, Attentive and Thorough
I retained Mr. Cansino's services to defend charges my son was facing in Baldwin County. He promptly met with my son at the county jail and then consulted with me on possible strategies and outcomes. He and his team were sensitive, patient and extremely thorough when answering our questions throughout the process. Mr. Cansino was accessible to speak with even outside of office hours. He was in sync with us in moving the case along as quickly as possible. He took a methodical approach to next steps in our case and considered all options, keeping us informed along the way. He is clearly well respected in the community and very knowledgeable about the court process in Baldwin County. His experience proved extremely valuable in the outcome of our case.
Read less
Posted by anonymous | February 23, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
I love Carl and Jenny!!
Carl accomplished getting my dui thrown out and saved me a lot of money. I would definitely recommend him or hire him again.
Posted by Diane | October 15, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
excellent
This man has done a awesome deed for my son every time i needed him.I thank God for him.
Posted by Allen | October 8, 2015
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Georgia Law Regarding a Municipal Election
Carl Cansino was recommended to me by friends familiar with the court system in Milledgeville. I am a candidate for city office in nearby Sparta, GA. The incumbent mayor and council members hired their friends to supervise the election without consideration of all challengers' concerns about balloting security and voter fraud. The incumbents' vote to use paper ballots instead of electronic voting machines for election day and for advanced voting heightened our ballot security concerns. The city attorney did not address our concerns and the incumbents would not give good reason why paper ballots would be used instead of electronic voting machines that were used in past city elections. Use of paper ballots opens the door to spoiling ballots, stuffing ballot boxes, etc. Five other challengers on the ballot joined me in seeking legal help to satisfy our concerns of possible fraud involving the use of paper ballots. Because advanced voting was to begin in just 14 days from the first time I spoke to him about the case, Carl went right to work on researching our options and concluding that an injunction was needed to remedy our concerns before voting began. He researched and concluded that Georgia law did not allow use of paper ballots unless the use of electronic machines was "impossible and impracticable". The incumbents had given no viable explanation of why they decided to use paper ballots. Carl used the Georgia law pertaining to elections to build from scratch an argument for injunction and request for a hearing before a Superior Court Judge. The hearing was granted within 24 hours of filing and the Judge ruled in our favor, ordering city officials to use electronic voting machines and not to use paper ballots for advanced and election day voting. The 90-minutes' hearing was guided by Carl Cansino's expert presentation. Clearly the Judge wanted the facts and the law argued, and Carl was very impressive. His witness questioning was on target and left little doubt of the truth, which supported his argument. His closing left no doubt that the law supported our case. The Judge was concise in her ruling, pointing out that the law supported cause for injunction and the order to use voting machines. As a longtime (now retired) editor, publisher & owner of two weekly newspapers for 30 years, I knew enough about law to believe we (the challengers/plaintiffs) had a chance at getting some kind of help with our ballot security concerns, but the ruling we received was my wildest dream come true. Carl built this case from initial phone call to Judge's ruling in only nine days. Unbelievable the job he did. In the future, I will use Carl Casino for my legal work. Thanks Carl. You guaranteed a fair election in Sparta, GA.
Read less
Posted by anonymous | August 11, 2015
Dog Bite Case
Carl Cansino was very professional and accurate with all information regarding the case. He presented the case in a timely manner, informing us during all the procedures that needed to be followed. He was supportive, fair and knowledgeable, I would hire him again.
Posted by J.X.B | August 11, 2015
Can't thank him enough!!
Five stars are not enough to rate Mr. Cansino. He is by far a ten star guy. Mr. Cansino represented me and I must say I can't thank him enough for his effort to prove my innocence. At the time I was a juvenile, and didn't see any chance of winning my case. However, Mr. Cansino saw otherwise. He appealed and I was set free. And for that I will forever be grateful for his service.
Read less
Posted by Kendrick | August 11, 2015
The best Attorney Ever!!
Mr. Cansino represented my son and my wife and I was very pleased with the outcome. He went above and beyond during my son's case. He and his staff are very professional and were always available. Mr. Cansino is well respected in the community and came highly recommended.
Posted by LaTonia | August 11, 2015
An Attorney that goes above and beyond for his clients!!
Oh my, I can write a book about how great Mr. Cansino is. He represented my juvenile son when he faced charges stemming from an incident at school. Mr. Cansino waisted no time in collecting evidence and statements that were very beneficial to my son's case. Whenever I called to ask for an appointment or just to speak with him, he was always available. And believe me, I called a lot. He kept us informed of everything that was going on and always assured us that he was fighting hard for our son. I can honestly say that Mr. Cansino truly fought hard for my son. However, we all know that the scales of justice are not always equal. The judge didn't see the case through the eyes of Mr. Cansino and my son was sentenced to spend a year in juvenile detention and 4 years on probation. My life crumbled before my eyes. However, the great Cansino was not pleased with that decision and quickly decided that we were going to appeal. To make a long story short, he filed the appeal with the Court of Appeals in Atlanta, and six months later he was calling me to say that my son was coming home, with credit for time served and only had 6 months of probation. But that's not all. Because of Mr. Cansino's decision to appeal, the documents that were used in my son's case can no longer be used. So now every juvenile that enters the courtroom of Baldwin County will be judged fairly. Because of Mr. Cansino's perseverance, my son's case set the precedence for future juvenile cases in Baldwin County. Because of Mr. Cansino, my son's case was referenced in several law journals. Because of Mr. Cansino's belief in my son's innocence, he was set free 6 months early and now his juvenile case is sealed. If you want an attorney who will literally fight for you to the end, then Attorney Carl Cansino is your guy. I am honored to have had him represent my son, and I will most definitely use him again if necessary.
Read less
Posted by Ronald | August 1, 2015
a man that stands by his word
Mr. Cansino help me out alot I was looking at alot of prison time and had some serious charges got two of them drop and got me rsat and while in rsat I had some issues where they wouldn't release me so Mr. Cansino got the da and judge on it and got me home to my family. I highly recommend him to anyone that need some help with charges they are fighting if you want to win he the BEST IN MIDDLE GA
Read less
Posted by anonymous | July 31, 2015
Case dismissal
I was provoked and got into a fight with my ex-best friend who's manipulative. He got me into a trap and called the police for "stalking him". Mr. Cansino was able to get my charge for a misdemeanor dismissed after I showed him all my evidence (phone call records and email correspondence between my ex-friend and I). He spoke to the DA and judge. He told me not to worry about anything and just concentrate on doing well in school. He gave me good advice on what I should and should not do to prevent further trouble. He said he would try to convince the judge to consider my side of the story, which he did. I highly recommend this lawyer.
Read less
Posted by anonymous | February 14, 2015
Excellent Attorney!!
Our son was charged with a felony offense while in college. We hired Carl Cansino with the recommendation of several attorneys in the Atlanta area. Carl took a very proactive approach to the case. He hired an excellent private investigator to collect evidence to support the case. Carl was very responsive to the numerous questions we had along the way and kept us informed of the status of the case. He thoroughly explained our options. He was able to get the charges reduced to a misdemeanor offense with probation. We would highly recommend Carl!
Read less
View less reviews

Cost

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer

Contact for Details

Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

  • Solicitor
  • Milledgeville Municipal Court
  • 2006 - Present
  • Attorney at Law
  • The Cansino Law Firm, LLC
  • 2004 - Present
  • Assistant District Attorney
  • Ocmulgee District Attorney's Office
  • 1998 - 2004
  • Attorney at Law
  • James W. Hurt & Associates
  • 1996 - 1998
View all work experience

Education

  • John Marshall Law School (Georgia)
  • JD
  • 1995
  • Florida State University
  • BA - Bachelor of Arts
  • 1992
  • Florida State University
  • AA
  • 1990

Legal Cases

  • In the Interest of J.B.
  • Conviction Reversed
  • Nurse accused of Sexual Assault on Patient
  • Defendant Acquitted
  • Satellite TV repairman accused of Felony Animal Cruelty
  • Defendant Acquitted
View all legal cases

Associations

  • National Trial Lawyers
  • Top 100 Lawyers
  • 2013 - Present
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Member
  • 2008 - Present
  • Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Sustaining Member
  • 2004 - Present
  • Ocmulgee Bar Association
  • Member
  • 1998 - Present
  • Baldwin County Bar Association
  • Past President
  • 1998 - Present
View all associations

Languages Spoken

  • Tagalog

Honors and Awards

  • Top 100 Trial Lawyers
  • National Trial Lawyers Association
  • 2013
  • Georgia Department of Law-Office of Consumer Protection
  • Georgia's Governor Sonny Perdue and Nathan Deal
  • 2006

Publications

Speaking Engagements

  • Georgia College & State University
  • Practice of Law
  • N/A

Attorney endorsements

Received (12)
Given (18)
Endorse Carl
Criminal defense Attorney | Mar 31
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I fully endorse this lawyer. Carl is very talented and knowledgeable, and he has excellent judgment."
Criminal defense Attorney | Oct 15
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. As a former Assistant District Attorney, his mastery of criminal procedure is unmatched. His demeanor and personality are at once professional and friendly."
Criminal defense Attorney | Sep 22
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Carl is a tireless advocate for his clients! I highly recommend him to anyone finding themselves in need of a strong defense attorney."
Litigation Attorney | Jun 27
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I have worked alongside Carl since 1998. He is a well respected and extremely knowledgeable attorney with a great deal of trial experience."
Criminal defense Attorney | Jun 26
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I have been a criminal defense lawyer in Atlanta for 32 years. During that time I have seen young lawyers come on the scene and rarely are they as compelling in their work as Carl Cansino. Carl is always truly prepared with the law and confident enough in his skills to argue the toughest issues in his clients defense with amazing success. I endorse this lawyer and take pride knowing that he is a member of the bar where I practice. LDWolfe"
Criminal defense Attorney | Jun 26
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. He is honest and hard working. He has proven helpful to me because he not only knows the law, but he understand how the system works."
Criminal defense Attorney | Jun 10
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Mr. Cansino is an excellent attorney who is highly respected among his peers, clients, and community. His zealous advocacy for his clients separates him from many of the attorneys in this state. He goes the extra mile not only for his clients but for his colleagues as well. I highly endorse this lawyer."
Criminal defense Attorney | Jun 10
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. Carl is well-respected and an effective criminal defense lawyer."
Criminal defense Attorney | Jun 08
Relationship: Other
"I have known Carl for many years and he is an experienced and able advocate for his clients. He is active in Bar activities and his community, and his experience as a former prosecutor is invaluable to his criminal defense clients. I am glad to endorse Carl Cansino."
Criminal defense Attorney | Apr 16
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I knew Carl when I was in Milledgeville. He has a great reputation for standing up for his clients and he zealously fights for their rights. I'm happy to endorse Mr. Cansino and urge you to consider him for any legal concerns you may have."
Criminal defense Attorney | Mar 10
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"Carl has always been straightforward and honest in his dealings with me. I've heard nothing but good things from the people who have hired him."
Criminal defense Attorney | Aug 06
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Mr. Cansino is an excellent attorney. His advice is thorough and helpful, and his clients always speak highly of him. He treats his clients with respect, and he is excellent on his feet in front of a jury or judge."
View more endorsements
Social Security & Disability
Criminal defense
Criminal defense
Employment and labor
Criminal defense
Criminal defense
Contracts and agreements
Litigation
Litigation
Criminal defense
Criminal defense
Criminal defense
Criminal defense
Criminal defense
Criminal defense
Criminal defense