Justia Legal Services & Lawyers Directory

John E. MacDonald is a trial attorney practicing criminal defense, immigration law and post-conviction relief in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Mr. MacDonald represents clients in state and federal court in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. He has aggressively and successfully defended clients charged in every type of criminal case, including capital murder, child molestation, sex crimes, rape, abuse, domestic violence, spousal abuse, homicide, manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, vehicular homicide, vehicular manslaughter, sexual assault, felony assault, domestic assault, patient abuse, bank fraud, mail fraud and wire fraud. Mr. MacDonald is the author of the Rhode Island Criminal Defense Manual (3rd Edition), a top-rated manual used throughout the state by criminal defense attorneys. He is the former president of the Rhode Island Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. For a review of the prior criminal cases, visit: http://www.aggressivelegalservices.com/Law_Firm_Cases.html.

Mr. MacDonald represents clients seeking permanent residence and naturalization. He practices before the Providence Immigration Office and the Boston Immigration Court. For many clients facing deportation, the only recourse is post-conviction relief; that is, vacating the original conviction in state or federal court. Mr. MacDonald has successfully vacated convictions in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Mr. MacDonald is an honors graduate of Suffolk University Law School (1995) and a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Rhode Island (1990). He is admitted to practice in all state courts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. He is also admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Districts of Rhode Island, Massachusetts as well as the First Circuit Court of Appeals.

Matthew T. Marin, founder of the firm, practiced criminal defense and DUI/DWI defense with The Law Offices of S. Joshua Macktaz, Esq., Inc. He then went on to work as a Rule 9 prosecutor with the Rhode Island Department of Attorney General prosecuting probation and bail violations and breathalyzer refusal cases before beginning his own practice. As a defense lawyer, he has experience defending clients charged with crimes such as DUI/DWI, felony drug charges, sex crimes, assault and battery charges, and domestic violence cases.

Matthew T. Marin obtained his J.D., magna cum laude, from Roger Williams University School of Law. He has a B.A., magna cum laude, from Clark University and an M.B.A., from the University of Rhode Island. Matthew is currently admitted to practice in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

Over the past year, Attorney Kate Godin has enjoyed several major successes in representing criminal defendants. From trying (and winning) a multiple count child molestation trial, to obtaining a dismissal in a child abuse case, Kate has shown that she is willing to challenge the State at every turn. In fact, Kate recently helped (successfully) challenge a provision of the Penalties section of Rhode Islandâs Sexual Offender Registration and Community Notification Act, R.I.G.L. §§ 11-37.1-1 et seq. After writing three legal memoranda and a filing civil complaint in the case, Superior Court Presiding Judge Rodgers found that R.I.G.L. § 11-37.1-10(c) was an unconstitutional Taking as it applied to the client. In addition to significant results in major felony cases, Kate has also represented several clients in 32(f) proceedings, motions to expunge, and district court arraignments.

Kate is a member of the National Association for Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Rhode Island Association for Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Rhode Island and Massachusetts Bar Associations, the Rhode Island Association for Justice, and is a recent graduate of the National Criminal Defense College. She is licensed to practice in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Kate graduated fourth in her class, magna cum laude, from Roger Williams University School of Law. During her time at Roger Williams, Kate strove for the best academic and practical legal experience she could receive. From teaching law to high school seniors at Cranston East in Roger Williams' "Street Law" program, to becoming a semi-finalist in the law school's Moot Court competition, to becoming a co-captain of the Roger Williams' Trial Team, Kate took full advantage of the wonderful opportunities her legal education had to offer. As a law student, Kate completed internships with the United States Attorney's Office in Providence, criminal defense attorney (and R.I. Lawyers Weekly's Lawyer of the Year in 2008) George J. West, Providence Superior Court Justice Daniel A. Procaccini, and United States District Court Judge Ernest C. Torres. She also helped research and write two published law review articles for her professors, drafted several appellate briefs to the Rhode Island Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the First and Second Circuits, and has done extensive research in the areas of medical malpractice, housing, race relations, Constitutional and International law. She authored a 100-page article on the deficiencies of the Criminal Justice System, and has aided in the submission of two amicus curie briefs: one to the Rhode Island Supreme Court in the Lead Hazard Mitigation Act case of Mackie v. State, 936 A.2d 588 (R.I. 2007), and the other to the United States Supreme Court in the Exxon Valdez oil spill case of Exxon v. Baker , 128 S.Ct. 2605 (2008).

Kate developed her focus and strong work ethic during her time as eight-time high school National Champion in the hammer and 20-pound weight throws. Throughout high school and college, Kate competed against national record-holders and Olympians, even beating the 2000 Olympic gold medalist at the Junior World Championship in Santiago, Chile at the age of sixteen. She received training at the United States Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA, and from world record-holder Yuri Sedykh. She is a former high school national record-holder, and a NCAA finalist. Finishing her athletic career upon graduation with distinction from the Pennsylvania State University (where she obtained a double major in Crime, Law, & Justice and Sociology, and a minor in Women's Studies), Kate left behind her passion for athletic competition for a career in criminal law and litigation.

Kate knows how to handle responsibility and adversity. She knows how to stay focused under the highest levels of pressure, and how to perform against the strongest of competitors. Her belief in the ideals of the Constitution and the foundation of the Criminal Justice System makes her a passionate and dedicated criminal defense attorney, and her constant desire to further her legal education and improve her researching, writing and litigation skills makes her capable of achieving positive results in various areas of the law.

At Mesiti Law, we work hard to keep our clients and their loved ones informed. Whether you have been charged with a crime or been injured in an accident, we will work closely with you to understand your particular situation and needs, and we will educate you about how the legal process and how the law applies to your case.

General practice attorney with concentration in Business, Real Estate, Criminal, Family and Personal Injury Law.

Mr. Thompson speaks spanish and french. He practices deportation/removal defense at the Boston Immigration Court. He has lived in Mexico and is familiar with Border Patrol/ICE/USCIS.

Mr. Bernardo has been practicing law for 25 years in Rhode Island. He has helped thousands of people in buying, selling and refinancing real estate both in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Mr. Bernardo has also vigorously defended many clients charged with DUI/DWI, Refusal, Assault, Drug Offenses and many other criminal matters. He is available for free consultations and does accept payment plans.