Hard Hitting Aggressive Representation. We Defend Serious Criminal Cases Worldwide.Hard Hitting Aggressive Representation. We Defend Serious Criminal Cases Worldwide.
Michael Waddington is a criminal defense lawyer and best-selling author that defends cases in military courts worldwide. He also defends military personnel who are under investigation and have not yet been charged. Mr. Waddington specializes in defending serious criminal cases including sex crimes, war crimes, violent crimes, and white-collar crimes.
He has been reported on and quoted by hundreds of major media sources worldwide and has provided consultation services to CNN Investigative Reports, 60 Minutes, Katie Couric, ABC’s “Nightline,” the BBC, German Public Television, CNN, CBS, the 2010-2012 Golden Globe-winning TV series “The Good Wife,” and various other international media outlets.
Michael & his law partner, Alexandra, wrote two of the leading textbooks on cross-examination, Pattern Cross-Examination for Sexual Assault Cases: A Trial Strategy & Resource Guide, and Pattern Cross-Examination of Expert Witnesses, published by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL). Both of these books are used by criminal defense lawyers across the United States (civilian and military).
Mr. Waddington’s book, Kick-Ass Closings: A Guide to Giving the Best Closing of Your Life, is the #1 rated book on closing arguments. It has been an Amazon bestseller since it was published in 2018. The book contains nearly 500 pages of Mr. Waddington’s best closings and hundreds of outstanding arguments made by the nation’s top criminal defense lawyers.
Michael Waddington Court Martial AttorneyHe is the author of the bestselling book, The Art of Trial Warfare. (Click here to view the book on Amazon). He appeared in a major CNN documentary, “Killings at the Canal” and some of his cases have been the subject of books and movies. These include the Academy Award-winning documentary “Taxi to the Dark Side” (view trailer), the 2019 feature film, “The Kill Team,” (and the 2013 documentary by the same name), the books “The ‘Good Soldier’ on Trial,” “Strike & Destroy,” and Brian De Palma’s “Redacted.” (De Palma also directed “Scarface” and “Carlito’s Way”) In 2020, he published his first novel, Battlemind, a military legal thriller. Click here to view on Amazon.
Mr. Waddington teaches trial advocacy across the United States. In 2019, for the fourth year in a row, he lectured at the National Trial Lawyers Summit, where he shared the stage with legendary attorneys F. Lee Bailey (one of OJ Simpson’s lawyers), Benjamin Brafman (Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer), Mark Geragos (who defended Michael Jackson, Chris Brown, and other celebrities), Mark O’Mara (George Zimmerman’s lawyer), and Roy Black (who defended William Kennedy Smith & Rush Limbaugh), to teach cutting-edge trial techniques to attorneys from across the USA.
Mr. Waddington gave two lectures at the NACDL’s 2017 National Sex Crime Conference in Las Vegas, NV. One of his lectures, Defending a Military Client Charged With Sexual Assault, was tailored to winning sex crime cases in military courts.
Mr. Waddington was a featured speaker at the 2020 NACDL Forensic Science Conference (via Zoom due to Covid-19). In his lecture, he taught lawyers how to Cross-Examine the Prosecution’s Forensic Experts. He also lectured at the 2017 NACDL Forensic Science Conference in Las Vegas. His topic, Using Forensic Science to Create Reasonable Doubt in Sexual Assault Cases, focused on impeaching rogue sex assault examiners (SANEs & SAFEs) using cutting-edge research and medical textbooks. He also taught techniques to expose forensic psychologists and psychiatrists who testify about junk science, such as “Counterintuitive Victim Behavior” and “Tonic Immobility.”
He is a Life Member of the NACDL and a Fellow of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers (ABCL), the most prestigious group of high-profile criminal lawyers in the world. The ABCL is the equivalent of the “NFL Hall of Fame,” but for criminal lawyers. Requirements for admission include having at least ten (10) years of criminal trial experience. Attorneys must have tried at least fifty (50) major felony cases to verdict and won at least thirty-five (35), at least five (5) of which being capital or life sentence cases.
From 2013-2021, Mr. Waddington wrote chapters in the American Bar Association (ABA) annual book, “The State of Criminal Justice.” This annual publication examines major issues, trends and significant changes in the criminal justice system and is one of the cornerstones of the ABA’s Criminal Justice Section’s work. This publication serves as an invaluable resource for policy-makers, academics, and students of the criminal justice system. In 2016, he published Trial Warrior’s Book of Wisdom: A Compilation of Quotes for Success in Law and Life.
In July 2018, Michael Waddington was appointed to co-chair the Military Law Committee of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL). Their duties include training and advising military defense lawyers, both military and civilian, from across the United States. The committee also serves as a liaison with policymakers on issues of military justice reform.
Practice areas
Mr. Waddington handles serious and high profile criminal cases worldwide. He has tried jury trials on 3 continents and provides services as a trial consultant in serious criminal cases.
22 years, 3,000 cases
Languages spoken
Spanish, French, English
Gonzalez & Waddington LLC
15800 Pines Blvd, Suite 3101
Pembroke Pines, FL, 33027
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
GA | Active Member in Good Standing | 2006 | 04/17/2022 |
SC | Good Standing | 2005 | 03/07/2013 |
NJ | Active | 2000 | 03/31/2022 |
PA | Active | 2000 | 03/15/2022 |
Award name | Grantor | Date Granted |
---|---|---|
The Art of Trial Warfare 2 years on Bestseller List | Amazon.com | 2016 |
Quilly Award | National Academy of Best Selling Authors | 2013 |
Army Commendation Medal | U.S. Army | 2006 |
Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy | Army Judge Advocates General's Corps (JAG) - Criminal Law Advocacy Course | 2003 |
Army Achievement Medal | U.S. Army | 2003 |
Global War on Terrorism Medal | U.S. Army | 2002 |
Honors in Trial Advocacy - Integrated Trial Advocacy Program | Temple University - James E. Beasley School of Law | 1999 |
Army Service Ribbon | U.S. Army | 1993 |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Partner | Gonzalez & Waddington, LLC | 2006 - Present |
Assistant U.S. Attorney | Department Of Justice - - Special Assistant US Attorney (SAUSA) | 2004 - 2005 |
Lawyer | Army Judge Advocate General Corps | 2001 - 2006 |
Legal Counsel | GN Diamond | 2000 - 2001 |
Legal Clinical | Philadelphia Public Defender | 1999 - 1999 |
Legal Intern | US Army Department Of Defense | 1999 - 1999 |
Research Assistant | Temple University Beasley School Of Law | 1997 - 2000 |
Legal Intern | Philadelphia District Attorney's Office | 1997 - 1998 |
Clerk | Sharlock Repcheck & Mahler, P.C. | 1996 - 1997 |
Clerk | Gismondi & Margolis, P.C. | 1995 - 1996 |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
American Board of Criminal Lawyers | Fellow | 2013 - Present |
National Academy of Best Selling Authors | Member | 2013 - Present |
National Association of Court Martial Lawyers | President | 2010 - Present |
American Bar Association | Member | 2009 - Present |
National Association of Military Defense Lawyers | Founding Member | 2006 - Present |
State Bar of Georgia | Member | 2006 - Present |
South Carolina Bar Association | Member | 2005 - Present |
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers | Member | 2002 - Present |
Pennsylvania State Bar Association | Member | 2000 - Present |
New Jersey State Bar Association | Member | 2000 - Present |
Georgia State Bar Association, Military Law Section | Member | 2006 - 2007 |
Augusta Bar Association | Member | 2006 - 2007 |
Augusta Bar Young Lawyers Section | Member | 2006 - 2008 |
South Carolina Bar, Military Law Section | Member | 2005 - 2007 |
American Bar Association, Litigation Section | Member | 2004 - 2006 |
Publication name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers | Pattern Cross-Examination of Expert Witnesses: A Trial Strategy & Resource Guide | 2020 |
For Sale on Amazon | Battlemind: A Military Legal Thriller | 2020 |
Amazon.com | Kick-Ass Closings: A Guide to Giving the Best Closing Argument of Your Life | 2018 |
American Bar Association publication | Book: The State of Criminal Justice 2018 | 2018 |
Amazon Publishing | Trial Warrior’s Book of Wisdom: A Compilation of Quotes for Success in Law and Life | 2017 |
American Bar Association publication | Book: The State of Criminal Justice 2017 | 2017 |
American Bar Association publication | Book: The State of Criminal Justice 2016 | 2016 |
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers | Book: Pattern Cross-Examination for Sexual Assault Cases: A Trial Strategy & Resource Guide | 2016 |
Amazon Publishing | Book: The Art of Trial Warfare: Winning at Trial Using Sun Tzu's The Art of War | 2016 |
American Bar Association publication | Book: The State of Criminal Justice 2015 | 2015 |
ABA publication | Book: The State of Criminal Justice 2014 | 2014 |
CreateSpace, Inc. | Book: Google+ for Business Owners | 2013 |
Lawyer Marketing Series | Book: Google+ for Lawyers: A Step by Step User's Guide | 2013 |
CelebrityPress | Book: Dare to Succeed | 2013 |
American Bar Association publication | Book: The State of Criminal Justice 2013 | 2013 |
Amazon Publishing | Book: Upgrade Your Army Discharge: A Brief Legal Guide | 2011 |
New Jersey Lawyer Magazine | Courts Martial: Process and Procedure | 2007 |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
National Trial Lawyers: Trial Lawyers Summit | 2016 | |
Evaluating Truthfulness | 2016 | |
NACDL Seminar Defending the Unthinkable: Zealous Advocacy in Sexual Assault and Child Victims Cases | 2013 | |
National Association of Trial Lawyers: Trial Lawyers Summit | 2013 | |
NACDL Seminar DWI Means Defend With Ingenuity: "Winning at Every Level" | 2011 |
NACDL Sex Crime Defense Seminar: Confronting the Mob Mentality - Defending Sex Cases | 2011 | |
NACDL Advanced Criminal Law Seminar | 2010 | |
NACDL Criminal Defense Midwinter Seminar | 2006 | |
US Army JAG School Criminal Law Advocacy Course | 2003 | |
US Army JAG School Tax Course | 2002 | |
US Army JAG School Basic Course | 2001 | |
Temple University - James E. Beasley School of Law | JD | 2000 |
Duquesne University | BA | 1997 |
Universidad de Alicante, Spain | N/A |
Conference name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
National Trial Lawyers Summit | Appealing to Diverse Juries Without Building Walls | 2017 |
National Trial Lawyers Summit | A Trial Warrior’s Journey | 2017 |
NACDL Forensic Science Conference in Las Vegas | Using Forensic Science to Create Reasonable Doubt in Sexual Assault Cases | 2017 |
National Trial Lawyers Summit | The Art of Trial Warfare | 2016 |
CLE Conference | Dealing With the Media: Protecting the Rights to a Fair Trial | 2013 |
Army Defense Lawyer CLE Conference | Attacking Witness Credibility & Rules of Evidence | 2006 |
DoD Federal Police Officer Training Program | Federal Criminal Procedure | 2005 |
National Defense Lawyer CLE Conference | Witness Impeachment | 2004 |
National Military Lawyer CLE Conference | Urinalysis Defense: Defending a Drug Use Case | 2003 |
IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program | Income Tax Prep | 2002 |
Case name | Outcome |
---|---|
Naples Italy Navy Court Martial for Sexual Assault | NOT GUILTY OF ALL CHARGES. |
United States v. TSgt at Travis Air Force Base, CA | Not guilty of All Charges |
United States v. SGT at Fort Bliss, TX | All charges dismissed after Article 32 |
United States v. MSG M. at Fort Sam Houston, TX - El Salvador | Not guilty of All Charges |
United States v. Petty Office G - Rota Navy Base, Spain | Not Guilty Of All Charges |
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Ernesto Gapasin, Military law Attorney on Oct 1, 2011
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I endorse this lawyer. Mike is one of the best in the business. I had the opportunity to work with him on a court-martial in Japan. The accused was an officer charged with 16 offenses under the UCMJ. This officer was acquitted of all charges and their specifications. It was great working with Mike.
Timothy Bilecki, Criminal defense Attorney on Jan 1, 2010
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I have had the pleasure of personally working with Mr. Waddington, he is an aggressive and fearless trial lawyer who provides outstanding representation to his clients. He has the experience, dedication and backbone to take on the toughest cases and win. His case results speak for themselves.
Joseph Candito, Business Attorney on Oct 21, 2021
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. An ethical and competent attorney.
David Sherrill, Military law Attorney on Feb 6, 2020
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Our military personnel fights hard every day. Its good to know we have people fighting to defend them. Therefore, I give Michael my full endorsement.
Justin Schiks, Military law Attorney on Jan 13, 2020
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Robert Capovilla, Military law Attorney on Oct 15, 2019
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
The best military defense attorney in the business. Hard working, talented, honest, and at the very top of his game. If I needed a military defense attorney, I would call Michael.
Mickey Williams, Military law Attorney on Sep 28, 2019
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Mike's got a fantastic reputation in the military justice community. He's a great lawyer, great author, and a great guy.
Daniel Webb, Unknown Attorney on Aug 9, 2019
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Todd Wells, Criminal defense Attorney on Oct 31, 2018
Relationship: Other
Michael is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community.
Scottie Leming, Military law Attorney on Mar 1, 2018
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this attorney, who provides so generously to the AVVO community and gives sound legal advice.
Rahul Aggarwal, Unknown Attorney on Feb 28, 2018
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
An excellent lawyer who treats clients with patience, care, understanding, and utmost professionalism - an even better person and I wholeheartedly recommend for future services.
Robert Wolf, Military law Attorney on Jan 25, 2018
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Tim Curtin, Unknown Attorney on Sep 26, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Todd Bresney, Military law Attorney on Sep 17, 2017
Relationship: Other
I endorse this lawyer.
Joey Tellez, Military law Attorney on Aug 29, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Oscar Ramirez, Military law Attorney on Jun 19, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Mr. Waddington is professional, bright and finds creative solutions to complex legal problems. I endorse this lawyer.
Patrick Barry, Military law Attorney on Jun 14, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Andrew Nickolaou, Military law Attorney on Jun 12, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Fiza Syed, Military law Attorney on Apr 26, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Gary Anderson, Military law Attorney on Apr 11, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer's work. Michael Waddington has demonstrated a high level of talent and devotion to his clients. I would not hesitate to recommend him.
Gail Barsky, Military law Attorney on Mar 29, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. This lawyer has proven to be hard-hitting and extremely aggressive. You want this lawyer on your side.
Alexander Kraff, Unknown Attorney on Mar 13, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse Michael S. Waddington
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