Meet Our Attorneys
Trial experience. Appellate insight. A shared commitment to your case.
Czarnecki & Taylor PLLC represents clients in Michigan criminal defense, appeals, and post-conviction matters. Founding partners James Czarnecki and Genevieve Taylor bring complementary experience to the decisions that matter.
Two Complementary Legal Strengths
James brings a practice grounded in criminal trials, appellate litigation, constitutional issues, and post-conviction relief. Genevieve combines criminal and civil litigation experience with service as a magistrate in two courts.
Together, they examine the record, test legal arguments, and consider the practical choices facing each client. Their work spans investigation, negotiations, motions, hearings, trials, sentencing, and appellate review.
The Founding Partners
Get to know the experience behind the representation.
Founding Partner
James E. Czarnecki II
Criminal Defense · Criminal Appeals · Post-Conviction Relief
James Czarnecki has built his career around Michigan criminal law. He has extensive criminal defense experience, representing clients in matters ranging from misdemeanor and traffic offenses to homicide, criminal sexual conduct, attempted murder, armed robbery, weapons offenses, controlled-substance charges, and federal crimes.
His practice extends from trial courts to the Michigan Court of Appeals, Michigan Supreme Court, and federal courts. He represents clients in direct appeals and post-conviction proceedings, including motions for relief from judgment.
Trial and appellate advocacy
James investigates the facts, challenges evidence, develops the record, and evaluates how trial decisions may affect later review. His courtroom experience includes jury trials, evidentiary hearings, suppression motions, and sentencing proceedings. His first trial after law school involved an attempted-murder charge and resulted in an acquittal.
In People v. Gonzalez-Raymundo, 308 Mich. App. 175 (2014), James obtained a new-trial order following an evidentiary hearing and defended that order on appeal. The Court of Appeals issued a published decision affirming relief in a case involving the right to an interpreter and meaningful participation in a criminal trial.
Explore selected trial and appellate results ↗
Career and constitutional work
James began his legal career working on criminal appeals. He later spent nearly ten years at a Detroit-area law firm, where he became head of the criminal department. He also served as a cooperating attorney with the ACLU in litigation concerning the right to appointed appellate counsel.
During law school, he gained experience with the State Appellate Defender Office, Federal Defender Office, and Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. Those placements gave him exposure to state and federal defense, appellate practice, and prosecution.
Education and professional background
Wayne State University Law School
Juris Doctor, 2004; Editor-in-Chief, Moot Court program.Wayne State University
B.A., Political Science, and B.S., Criminal Justice, 2001.Recipient of Wayne State’s first undergraduate criminal-justice research grant. His community-policing research was presented at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Member, Macomb County Bar Association.
Bar admissions
State Bar of Michigan
United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
Founding Partner
Genevieve L. Taylor
Criminal Defense · Civil Litigation · Judicial Experience
Genevieve Taylor brings experience in criminal defense, civil litigation, family law, divorce, child custody, probate, and federal court litigation. Her work across these areas informs her approach to cases that affect a client’s family, finances, profession, and future.
She serves as a magistrate in two Michigan courts. That experience includes evaluating evidence, applying court rules and statutes, and managing courtroom proceedings.
Litigation and appellate collaboration
Genevieve has represented clients facing misdemeanor, traffic, and serious felony charges. Her criminal practice includes motions, evidentiary hearings, preliminary examinations, sentencing, and other contested proceedings.
She works closely with James Czarnecki on criminal appeals and post-conviction matters, helping review the record and develop legal and factual issues. Her trial-court experience adds another perspective on how an issue arose and how it should be presented on review.
Her civil practice has included state and federal litigation, divorce, custody, parenting-time disputes, and probate matters. Earlier in her career, she interned with Dickinson Wright and worked as a gaming supervisor, gaining experience in litigation, management, and resolving disputes.
Public and community service
Genevieve’s service includes the Lakeview Public Schools Board of Education, treatment-court programs, and work to improve criminal defense representation. She is a former president of Macomb Community Drug Courts.
Her professional activities and affiliations have included:
Macomb County Bar Association and the Indigent Criminal Defense Panel.
The Swift & Sure Program in Macomb County Circuit Court.
The Criminal Law and Animal Law Sections of the State Bar of Michigan.
The task force to implement constitutional standards in Macomb County’s public defense system.
Education
Cooley Law School
Juris Doctor, 2008
University of Michigan
B.A., Mathematics, 2003
Bar admissions
State Bar of Michigan
United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
Let’s Discuss Your Case
Tell us where your case stands and what you need help addressing. Contact our office to discuss a criminal charge, an appeal, or post-conviction representation.