Michael Austin Stewart

I am extremely satisfied with my decision to retain Michael Stewart as my criminal defense attorney. From the outset, his office demonstrated exceptional attentiveness to my needs and concerns. Michael provided not only strong legal representation but also genuine emotional support during a difficult... time. His approachable and respectful demeanor within the court system was evident, as he appeared to be well-regarded by both peers and court personnel alike. Although the case initially presented significant challenges, Michael remained persistent and committed throughout the process. His dedication ultimately led to the best possible outcome, one we had hoped for but wasn’t certain at the start. I am deeply grateful for his expertise and perseverance, and I would highly recommend him to anyone in need of a skilled and compassionate defense attorney.

As someone who went through a couple of lawyers before finally finding Mike Stewart, I can tell you that Mike stands heads and shoulders above the rest. The best lawyers are going to be busy and Mike is no exception, however, his ability to focus on your case and prepare for trial is second to none.... Having never been involved in the “criminal justice” system before (at age 50!), I was unsure how things worked and what to expect. Mike is well known in Pierce County for his ability to advocate and negotiate with the State to achieve the best outcome for his clients. Mike reviewed the charge (Assault 2, DV) and my statement (do yourself a favor and ALWAYS document your recollection of events immediately following any incident involving the police) and agreed to represent me. Immediately, he started putting the wheels in motion to move it forward to trial, as he actually listened to me and knew I wanted to take it to trial, since I was innocent of the charge levied against me by the State. Trust me, not all criminal lawyers are criminal trial lawyers. Some specialize in plea bargains only. If you are truly innocent, do not work with anyone other than Mike, he is THAT good! At his recommendation, he suggested that I hire an investigator, someone who uncovered additional details that corroborated my statement and, at the same time, started to both dismantle the “victim’s” statement to the police as well as uncovering things that witnesses saw and said that were never documented by the police in charge of the State's "investigation". When he had enough information from me and my investigator, he asked me again if I was prepared to go all the way to trial, knowing that once he asked the State to let him and my investigator interview the “victim”, the State would be reluctant to dismiss the charge or take a plea. He let me make the decision, as every lawyer is obligated to do, and we went forward with the “victim” interview. During the interview, Mike skillfully questioned the “victim”, based on my statement and the details uncovered by my investigator, and got this person to admit to several criminal acts in front of the State that, at the same time, also exonerated me. We didn’t get to complete the victim interview, unfortunately, as Mike had already driven a truck right through the victim’s story. Within two weeks of the first interview, during which Mike kept the pressure on the State to produce the “victim” again for another round, the State agreed to dismiss the charge against me. Whether you are guilty or a crime or not, do not let the State dictate all the terms of your case and, most importantly, the outcome of it. On top of his legal skill, Mike and his staff (I mainly worked with Brianna) are responsive, easy to talk to, and make sure you are their top priority when it matters the most (Courts move painfully slow so have patience!). As I said in the beginning, Mike is a busy lawyer and, as a result, has to switch context and clients on a daily basis. But he was always ready to go to battle with the State on my behalf when it mattered and achieved a great outcome for me. Do yourself a favor, call Mike and let him and his team deal with the nuances of the law and the “criminal justice” system and achieve the right outcome for you, based on the facts and the law.

Accused of assault? In Washington State you are guilty til proven innocent in any DV type case. Just a fact from my experience. The constitution has been thrown out the window, I do not know why. The deck is stacked against you when you walk in for arraignment, the public defender does not defend you..., just the truth. I looked for a long time for an attorney. Read Micheal’s reviews, seemed too good to be true. Met with him. He represented me and the DV was dismissed. The reviews are accurate. Micheal Stewart is the most professional, positive, driven and motivated attorney I have ever seen. If you need help call him. There is no better attorney in the Tacoma area.