James W. Burdick

James W. Burdick specializes in complex criminal litigation and is widely regarded as a preeminent expert in trials, post-sentencing matters, forfeiture litigation, and in representing health care professionals in criminal licensing, disciplinary, and other administrative matters. Mr. Burdick was a member of the Michigan Board of Medicine for seven years, and has prosecuted and defended cases ranging from murder to money laundering, racketeering to Medicaid and Medicare fraud, and virtually everything in between. He has maintained a widely varied practice involving both state and federal trials and appeals since 1968, and regularly lectures to criminal defense and healthcare groups. Since 1990, Mr. Burdick has been Counsel to the nationally recognized securities, business, personal injury and criminal law litigation firm of Hertz Schram P.C. Mr. Burdick also has extensive experience in habeas corpus and other post-judgement proceedings in state and federal court, as well as appellate and interlocutory proceedings. He has been successful in obtaining freedom for a number of wrongly convicted defendants, some of whom were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

From his representation of the chief suspect in the Jimmy Hoffa disappearance in the 1970s, to his successful defense against first-degree murder charges in the "Jenny Jones Murder Trial," Mr. Burdick is no stranger to high-profile cases, and has received wide acclaim for his efficient mastery of media relations, to the great benefit of his clients.

Because of his unique experience and insights, Mr. Burdick has been tapped as a regular legal analyst for various television stations and shows, and has been a frequent guest on Geraldo, Larry King Live, Good Morning America, HBO Undercover, Dateline NBC  and other national television shows.

Mr. Burdick has been licensed to practice in Michigan since 1968, in California since 1976, in the United States Supreme Court and in federal courts in Michigan, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, New York, Hawaii and others.

He received his Law Degree from the University of Michigan in 1968, and was immediately persuaded to join the Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney's Office as an assistant prosecutor, successfully prosecuting hundreds of criminal cases, including special prosecutions and grand jury investigations.

Mr. Burdick is a frequent author and lecturer, and is currently working on an extensive compendium of police, prosecution and judicial excesses, Loss of Innocence: The American System of Injustice.