Michael J. Diamondstein
Top rated Criminal Defense attorney in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Practice Areas:
Criminal defense,
White collar crimes,
Dui-dwi,
Assault & battery,
Drug & alcohol violations,
Sex offenses,
Tax
Education Qualification:
Widener University – Delaware Law School
Practice Areas:
Criminal defense,
White collar crimes,
Dui-dwi,
Assault & battery,
Drug & alcohol violations,
Sex offenses,
Tax
2 Penn Center, Suite 900, 1500 JFK BoulevardPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, 19102
First Admitted: 1996, Pennsylvania
Professional Webpage: https://michaeldiamondstein.com/attorney-profiles/michael-j-...
Bar/Professional Activity:
- U.S. District Court, District of Columbia, 2024
- Member, Montgomery County Bar Association, 2025
- Pro Hac Vice, Howard County Circuit Court, State of Maryland, 2023
- Master, Philadelphia Criminal Inn of Court, started in 2013, Founding Member, 2025
- Member, Philadelphia Bar Association, Criminal Section, 2018
- Member, Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, 2024
- Lifetime Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, 2024
- Pro Hac Vice, U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania, 2022
- Federal Criminal Law Committee, EDPA since 2018, 2023
- Member, Pennsylvania Bar Association, 2023
- Pro Hac Vice, U.S. District Court, Maryland, 2016
- Pro Hac Vice, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, 2018
- Pro Hac Vice, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, 2012
- Pennsylvania, 1996
- U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, 1997
- Supreme Court of the United States, 2014
- Pro Hac Vice, U.S. District Court, Delaware, 2017
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri, 2018
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 2001
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania, 2012
- Pro Hac Vice, State of Delaware, 2018
- New Jersey, 1996
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 2000
Transactions:
- Negotiated the issuance of the first same sex marriage license in the history of Pennsylvania by Montgomery County Register of Wills. http://michaeldiamondstein.com/press_release/montco-will-not-deny-same-sex-marriage-licenses/, 2013
Special Licenses/Certifications:
- Certified to handle Capital Cases in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 2025
- P.A.D.I Advanced; Nitrox; and Wreck Diver, 2004
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Elected Judge of Elections, Montgomery County, Lower Merion, District 13-3, 2024
- Celebrity guest for the inaugural Vincera Foundation Fundraiser, 2017
- Volunteer, Friendship Circle, 2020
- Goalie coach for the Lower Merion Bulldogs Squirts Ice Hockey Team, 2016
Honors/Awards:
- You can watch the argument at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zbwI3Up8rs. The case argument begins at the 1:37 mark., Argued in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Commonwealth v. Alkiohn Dunkins, 2021
- Profiled as a 5 star attorney by Surburban Life Magazine., 5 Star Attorney, Suburban Life Magazine, 2019
- Because of COVID-19, Mr. Diamondstein gave the Commencement Address to a number of the members of the graduating class of the University of Wisconsin, Class of 2020 who were quarantined in Lower Merion at their ad hoc graduation ceremony., Unofficial Commencement Speaker, University of Wisconsin, Class of 2020, "Lower Merion Division", 2020
- Received American Jurisprudence Awards and Certificate of Achievements in Criminal Procedure, Constitutional Law, Secured Transactions, Capital Punishment, Professional Responsibility and Wills and Trusts
- Rated AV Preeminent every year since 2017, Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale Hubbell, Martindale Hubbell, 2024
- Picked for Super Lawyers in the Criminal field every year since 2011, Super Lawyers selection, SuperLawyers, 2024
- Wolcott Fellowship, Widener University School of Law
- Awarded William I. Schaffer and Emily N. Maxwell Memorial Scholarships
Educational Background:
- Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY, B.S. in Business Management, May, 1992
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- Illinois: An Oasis in the Middle of a Judicial Desert Haudrich v. Homedica, 2 WIDENER SYMP. L. J. 331, 1997
- On August 31st, 2022, Mr. Diamondstein addressed the American Judges Association Annual Conference regarding publishing a novel and the inspiration behind the same., Speaker, Featured Speaker, 2022 American Judges Association Annual Conference, 2022
- Provided attorneys with an update on the status of Montgomery County, Bucks County, Delaware County, Chester County and the federal courts during the COVID-19 pandemic., Presenter, Four County Criminal Practice Update, Philadelphia Bar Association, 2020
- Cloaked in Doubt, 2006
- Instructor, NITA Program, Hofstra University School of Law, January, 2000
- Judge, Regional Trial Competition, Temple University School of Law, February 2003 - Present
- Instructor, Continuing Legal Educations Courses for Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2009 - Present
- On January 12th, 2017 Mr. Diamondstein was a panelist with Louis Lappen, Acting US Attorney for the Eastern District of PA and The Honorable Luis Felipe Restrepo of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals for a CLE course for criminal attorneys and prosecutors. The topic was the difference between State and Federal Prosecutions with respect to coopeartors., Lecturer, CLE, Philadelphia Inn of Criminal Courts, 2017
- On June 10th, 2017 Mr. Diamondstein spoke to the Arkansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers on the topic of How to Handle a High Profile Case at their summer meeting in Bossier City, Louisanna., Speaker, How to Handle a High Profile Case, 2017
- Intensive Trial Advocacy Program, Instructor, Widener University School Of Law, 2017
- Lecturer on Attorney Civility in the Courts, Lecturer, Philadelphia Inn Of Criminal Courts, 2018
Other Outstanding Achievements:
- Was successful in challenging the manner in which Delaware County, PA handled inmate discovery. As a result of our litigation, George W. Hill Correctional Center was forced by Court Order to allow inmates access to their computer discovery without attorney supervision., 2024
- Multiple IRONMAN and long distance endurance events including but not limited to: IMLP, IMWI (2x), and Challenge AC, 2021
- Was successful in convincing a federal judge to sign off on the release of Willie Stokes after he was wrongfully convicted and spent 38 years in prison for a murder that he didn't commit. At the time of his release, Mr. Stokes was the longest serving exoneree in Pennsylvania state history., 2022
- Ordained Minister, 2019
- Audio of my closing argument in the acquital of Philadelphia Police Officer John Speiser. http://www.bigtrial.net/2015/05/i-stood-up-for-hero-today.html, 2015
- Song written about Michael Diamondstein by a rapper after he won a Murder trial: https://youtu.be/qWBYCREGLNs, 2016
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