Michigan Criminal Defense Attorneys
Experienced Criminal Defense. Trial. Appeals. Post-Conviction.
Czarnecki & Taylor PLLC represents people facing criminal charges and serious legal consequences throughout Michigan. From investigation and trial through sentencing, appeal, and post-conviction proceedings, our attorneys provide careful, experienced representation focused on the facts, the law, and the individual client.
No two criminal cases are exactly alike. Effective representation begins with understanding the evidence, the law, the client’s objectives, and the consequences of every available option.
Some cases should be challenged through motions or trial. Others may call for careful negotiation designed to reduce charges, avoid incarceration, protect employment or a professional license, or minimize the long-term consequences of a conviction.
At Czarnecki & Taylor PLLC, we examine the facts and evidence, identify legal and constitutional issues, and work with each client to determine the strategy that makes sense for the individual case.
Criminal Defense Built Around the Individual Case
Cases We Handle
Czarnecki & Taylor PLLC represents clients in a wide range of Michigan criminal matters, from misdemeanor charges through serious felony cases, appeals, and post-conviction proceedings.
Criminal Appeals & Post-Conviction
Michigan criminal appeals, sentencing challenges, ineffective-assistance claims, MCR 6.500 motions, and other post-conviction proceedings.
Serious Felony Defense
Representation in serious felony cases involving substantial potential penalties, contested evidence, witnesses, expert issues, and trial preparation.
Domestic Violence & Assault
Defense of domestic violence, assault and battery, felonious assault, and other assaultive-offense allegations.
Criminal Sexual Conduct
Defense of allegations involving criminal sexual conduct and other serious sex offenses requiring careful factual, evidentiary, and constitutional analysis.
OWI & Drunk-Driving Defense
Representation in first and repeat OWI cases, High BAC offenses, felony OWI, drugged driving, and related license and sentencing issues.
Driver’s License Restoration
Representation in Michigan driver’s-license restoration and OHAO matters following revocation for multiple alcohol-related driving convictions.
Preparation Comes First
We do not believe that effective criminal defense is measured by how aggressive an attorney sounds.
It is measured by preparation.
Preparation means knowing the evidence. It means knowing the law. It means understanding the prosecution’s theory and identifying its weaknesses. It means anticipating what may happen at a hearing or trial rather than reacting to it for the first time in court.
It also means being candid with clients. We discuss strengths as well as weaknesses, explain the available options, and work with the client to determine the course of action that makes sense under the circumstances.
When there is a legitimate issue to litigate, we are prepared to litigate it. When trial is appropriate, we are prepared to try the case. When negotiation offers the client a better path, we are prepared to negotiate from a position informed by the evidence and the law.
Experience From the Trial Court Through Appeal
Czarnecki & Taylor’s experience extends across multiple stages of the Michigan criminal process, including misdemeanor and felony cases, preliminary examinations, motions, evidentiary hearings, trials, plea proceedings, sentencing hearings, criminal appeals, and post-conviction proceedings.
That breadth of experience matters because decisions made at one stage of a criminal case can affect every stage that follows.
A trial attorney should understand how an issue must be preserved for appeal. An appellate attorney must understand what actually happens in a courtroom. An attorney handling a post-conviction case must be able to reconstruct what happened months or years earlier and determine whether a legitimate basis for relief exists.
Our firm’s experience on both the trial and appellate sides of criminal practice allows us to consider those issues together.
Michigan Docket
For in-depth analysis of Michigan criminal appeals, post-conviction remedies, appellate decisions, and criminal procedure, visit Michigan Docket, Czarnecki & Taylor PLLC’s criminal appellate law publication.
Meet Our Attorneys
James E. Czarnecki II
Criminal Defense | Appeals | Post-Conviction
James E. Czarnecki II is a founding partner of Czarnecki & Taylor PLLC whose practice includes criminal litigation, appellate advocacy, constitutional issues, evidentiary hearings, and post-conviction proceedings.
His background includes more than 1,000 criminal matters, serious felony defense, trials, criminal appeals, and challenges involving convictions and sentences.
Read James Czarnecki’s Bio
Genevieve L. Taylor
Criminal Defense | Courtroom Litigation | Current Magistrate
Genevieve L. Taylor is a founding partner of Czarnecki & Taylor PLLC whose background includes criminal defense, courtroom litigation, criminal appeals, and judicial experience as a former magistrate.
Her experience includes preliminary examinations, evidentiary hearings, motions, plea negotiations, sentencing proceedings, trials, and criminal appeals.
Read Genevieve Taylor’s Bio
Selected Criminal Defense and Appellate Results
Czarnecki & Taylor PLLC has represented clients in criminal matters involving trials, dismissals, favorable negotiated resolutions, evidentiary hearings, serious felony charges, criminal appeals, and post-conviction litigation.
Every case depends on its own facts and law, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The examples below illustrate the types of matters our attorneys have handled.
Appeals & Post-Conviction
Representation involving criminal appeals, evidentiary hearings, sentencing challenges, ineffective-assistance claims, and MCR 6.500 proceedings.
Dismissals & Favorable Resolutions
Representation in matters resulting in dismissals, reduced charges, negotiated resolutions, and other outcomes designed to limit the consequences of a criminal prosecution.
Trial & Serious Felony Defense
Experience litigating serious felony cases, contested evidentiary issues, constitutional claims, witness testimony, and criminal trials.
If you are facing criminal charges, believe you are under investigation, have been convicted and are considering an appeal, or need help with a post-conviction matter, contact Czarnecki & Taylor PLLC to discuss your situation.
You do not need to determine the correct legal strategy before contacting us. That is part of our job.
We will review the nature of the matter, explain the available options, and determine whether our firm can assist you.
Talk With a Michigan Criminal Defense Attorney
Czarnecki & Taylor PLLC
59 N. Walnut Street, Suite 200
Mount Clemens, Michigan 48043
(586) 718-2345