Martin A. Stuart

– Partner –

Martin Stuart’s practice is devoted to representing clients accused of crimes in Colorado state and federal courts. Mr. Stuart defends professionals, corporations, and others facing criminal investigations and allegations, although his practice focuses on white-collar fraud, health care fraud, sexual crimes, violent crimes, and drug conspiracies. Over the past twenty-three years, Mr. Stuart has tried over 100 jury trials securing acquittals in both state and federal courts on charges ranging from first-degree murder to theft of trade secrets to child abuse to sexual assaults. Mr. Stuart has also testified on numerous occasions as an expert witness on ineffective assistance of counsel claims.

Mr. Stuart’s professional experience includes serving as president of the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, an appointment to the Governor’s Sentencing Commission’s Task Force on Incarceration, chairing the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar’s Policy Committee, and currently chairing the Colorado Bar Association’s Criminal Law Section Executive Committee.

Mr. Stuart received his law degree from the University of Denver and began his legal career in 1997 as a Colorado State Public Defender, then in 2002 as a solo practitioner, from 2011-2015 he was a managing partner with PortmanStuart, LLC, and in 2016 formed McDermott Stuart & Ward LLP along with Sean McDermott and Thomas Ward.

Mr. Stuart has represented clients in most jurisdictions across Colorado, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, in the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, and in the United States Supreme Court.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

McDermott Stuart & Ward LLP (2016 – present)

PortmanStuart, LLC (2011 – 2016)

Law Office of Martin Stuart, P.C. (2003 – 2011)

Office of the Colorado State Public Defender (1997 – 2003)

Expeditors International – El Segundo, California (1993 – 1994)

EDUCATION

• University of Denver College of Law (1997)
• Whittier College, B.A. (1993)

BAR AND COURT ADMISSIONS

• U.S. Supreme Court (2007)
• Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals (2006)
• U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado (2003)
• State of Colorado (1997)

HONORS/DISTINCTIONS

• Listed Under “Best Law Firms” Tier 1 in Criminal Defense: General Practice, The Best Law Firms in America© (2023)
• Listed Under “Best Law Firms” Tier 1 in Criminal Defense: White-Collar, The Best Law Firms in America© (2023)
• Listed Under “Best Law Firms” Tier 1 in Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, The Best Law Firms in America© (2023)
• Listed Under Colorado Criminal Defense: White-Collar, The Best Lawyers in America©  (2019 – present)
• Listed Under Colorado Criminal Defense: General Practice, The Best Lawyers in America© (2021 – present)
• DUI/DWI Defense, The Best Lawyers in America^© (2024-present)
• AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell (2019 – present)
• 10/10 Rating, AVVO
• Colorado Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine (2012 – present)
• Top Lawyers in Colorado-Criminal Law, 5280 Magazine (2017 – 2018, 2020 – present)
• Colorado Super Lawyers Rising, Super Lawyers Magazine (2009 – 2011)
• Hoffman Cup Trial Advocacy Champion, University of Denver College of Law (1996)
• Phi Alpha Theta – National History Honor Society (1993)

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• Executive Committee Member, Colorado Bar Association Criminal Law Section (2018-present)
• Chair, Executive Committee Member, Colorado Bar Association Criminal Law Section Executive Committee (2020-2021)
• President, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Association (2009 –2010)
• Chair, Policy Committee, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Association (2008 –2009)
• Board of Directors, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Association (2005 –2010)
• Member, Criminal Justice Act Panel (2003 – present)
• Member, Criminal Justice Act Standing Committee (2017 – present)
• Member, Governor’s Sentencing Commission Incarceration Task Force (2009 – 2010)
• Member, Denver Bar Association (2003 –present)
• Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (2003 – present)
• Member, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Association (2003 – present)
• Member, Colorado Bar Association (1997 –present)

EXPERT WITNESS QUALIFICATIONS

• People v. Harmon, 12CR389 (Fremont County District Court); qualified as an expert witness on criminal defense – February 14, 2018
• People v. Gilbertson, 06CR1591 (Arapahoe County District Court); qualified as an expert witness on criminal defense and defense of criminal felony sexual assaults – January 6, 2016
• People v. Mendoza, 09CR1576 (Arapahoe County District Court); qualified as an expert witness on criminal defense – October 9, 2015
• People v. Quintero-Amador, 13CR259 (Arapahoe County District Court); qualified as an expert witness on criminal defense – October 21, 2014

PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

• Presenter, “Challenging the Prosecution Experts in Sexual Assault Cases,” Colorado Criminal Defense Bar/Alternate Defense Counsel Seminar – Defending Sexual Assault Cases Seminar (2018)
• Presenter, “The Nuts and Bolts of Cross Examination,” Denver Public Defender’s Office (2014)
• Presenter, “Sealing Records,” Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Association (2008)
• Presenter, “Evidence in Sexual Assault Cases,” Colorado State Public Defender’s Annual Conference (1998)