Joseph A. Bugni

United States Federal Public Defender Joseph Bugni is the single most KICKASS LAWYER I’ve ever had!!! Trust me, I’m the guy who knows court appointed lawyers better than most! I read about the website; AVVO and instantly knew that I had to write a brief letter about the most impressive man and lawye...r I’ve ever met! Most lawyers, (especially court appointed ones) totally suck!!! How do I know? I’ve (sadly) been incarcerated for over 27 years and, in turn, I have been appointed lawyers at least ten times and accordingly, I’ve come to realize the difference between good, average, or bad lawyers… Over time my time, those lawyers easily found their way(s) into the following rating system: 4 = were completely incompetent. 3 = were below-average and just went through the (bare minimum) motions. 2 = were actually good. And 1 = Joe Bugni was unconditionally FANTASTIC on every possible level! Granted, I’m a screw up and a man who will never get out of prison … BUT, I’m also far from obtuse and in turn, from my first ever meeting with Joe, I was made to know, (not just ‘feel’) that I had been appointed one of the most sincere, direct, honest and competent human beings within the system. And, throughout my entire legal proceedings (and beyond) Joe proved to not only be extremely thorough, but also surprisingly thoughtful, in what we both knew was a no-win legal predicament that I was facing. You see, with most of us who are in county jails, (especially those of us who cannot afford bail) and who are essentially ‘stuck’ for many months within one of the most aggravating, frustrating, confusing, depressing, and worrisome real life situation(s) imaginable, it’s the court appointed attorney who ends up being an all-important lifeline to answers, the free world, and help … but most fail to realize that! Not Joe! At my very first meeting with him, he started off our relationship with the words, “What can I do to help you??” “Is there anyone I can call for you??” “How do you want me to go about your defense??” And, over an entire spring, summer, and fall and to present date, Joe has never veered away from being THAT person I first met. (We’ve known each other for just under a year now … My legal stuff is long over … and still, to date, he continually asks if he can do anything to help me!) … And in turn, beyond being an exceptional lawyer, he’s a hell of a human being! Bottom line, Joe Bugni rocks!!! – And if your organization/website has an extra trophy, or award, laying around somewhere, you need to award, or at least recognize, this man … He’s that exceptional of a public defender, lawyer, father, man, friend and human being!!

I was lucky enough to be assigned Mr. Joseph "Bugs" Bugni as my federal public defender, after getting released on a signature bond I had a meeting with Mr. Bugni my mother and myself , he explained my whole situation to my mother and myself in terms we could understand. My mom was a wreck about the ...whole thing but the confidence and knowledge Mr. Bugni brought to the table put both of us at ease. My mother was relived to find out that my public defender actually cared about his clients and wants them to have a better life regardless of past mistakes. He told me the process wasn’t going to be easy it was going to be hard work for both him and I. Which is true he found a way for us to submit new evidence to the prosecution that would greatly help my case. He even got me assigned a Michigan federal public defender so I could get deposed in Michigan and tell my side of the story. When Mr. Bugni told me about my charges and what kind of game plan we needed, he told me we have to "pitch THE perfect game" which included clearing my previous misdemeanor and enrolling in classes all while maintaining my full time job. He had high demands for me but I also demanded a lot from him, we both met the demands of each other and the results speak for themselves. Mr. Bugni told me if I could keep my nose clean and stay in school it would show I was a positive member of society and that my sentence could be greatly reduced or even a very slim chance of it being dismissed. I followed his advice to a "T" he even gave me a book to read that he thought would help me get through this rough time, and it did. After almost two years I got a call from Mr. Bugni informing me that "we did it!", "we pitched the perfect game" and that the USADA had dismissed all charges. Because my track record over the past two years was really good and that to put me in jail would not benefit anyone. None of this could have been possible without Mr. Bugni advising me and fighting for me. In closing I cannot wait for Mr. Bugni to open a private practice because I would love to have such an amazing person but even better lawyer on retainer.

Atty's Joe Bugni and Peter Moyers defended my son Kurt who was a stage IV cancer patient. They took the time to get to know Kurt, not just the man on paper, but the heart and soul of the man headed back to prison possibly for the last time. "The System" failed my son and these two dedicated men who... worked tirelessly to prevent his last few months being spent behind bars. I have never made excuses for my son's mistakes. Always reiterated my belief that God gave us choices and if we made the wrong one we had to face the consequences., Kurt was not a violent man, he never hurt anyone, he was a thief. Eight months in jail prior to sentencing should have been enough for a man being given little medical attention and no cancer treatment when tests had proven the cancer was going to take his life. "The System" failed to see the diligence, compassion and humanity in a compassionate release fought for by these two men. Prison was ordered and the next 9 months of my son's life will haunt me for as long as I live. Atty's Bugni and Moyers were finally granted a hearing for a compassionate release. Too late, Kurt passed away 13 days before the scheduled hearing. To me, his mother, Atty's Bugni and Moyers were like family. Two compassionate men that did not just end this case with Kurt's death. Although I had never met them, they stayed in touch with me and traveled on their own time and a long distance to attend Kurt's service. I will be forever grateful for the love and calming their presence gave me.

There aren't enough good things my husband and I can say about Joe. During such a tumultuous time in our lives, his trusted counsel, his confidence, his tenaciousness, and most importantly his friendship were key to keeping us focused and grounded. After having consulted with several of Madison's... top notch defense lawyers, we knew to listen to our instincts and retain him. It wasn't the high regards that those other lawyers held him in, but rather the way he could put all our worries at ease and the instant connection we forged with him on a personal level. It was obvious to everyone from the beginning how passionate he was about our case and that he truly cared for the well being of our marriage/family even beyond the final sentencing. Thanks to Joe's hard work and making good on promises, a huge weight was lifted; we won with the best outcome and our family can now move on. There are no regrets in his representation and we are grateful to have gained a life long friend.

If you are reading this review, more than likely you are in need of a criminal attorney. Also, you have added pressure to select counsel within a limited window that can be life changing. Our family found ourselves in this situation and highly recommend Joe Bugni. Joe's knowledge and effectiveness a...t applying criminal law, professional and approachable demeanor, desire to help his clients from a legal and emotional well-being standpoint, and feedback the family received from other highly rated criminal attorneys who held him in high regard are a few of the reasons we chose Joe. Not only was Joe accessible, he went above and beyond to make sure not only our son but the family could reach him any time. He understood the anxiety and tremendous stress people experience during this process. Based on our personal situation, we received the best outcome because of Joe's demonstrated high caliber abilities to write motions/briefs/legal documents, sensitivity and understanding what needs to happen from start to finish, preparedness for each courtroom appearance, and commitment to go the distance.