Edward Ungvarsky

Ed handles all kinds of criminal cases in state courts in Virginia and in the District of Columbia and in federal courts nationwide, particularly the DC, Virginia, and Maryland federal district courts. Ed has practiced as a criminal defense attorney for almost 25 years since graduating Yale Law School in 1993.

During law school, Ed worked for two large DC law firms, Jenner & Block and Akin, Gump. When his federal appellate clerkship ended, Ed continued to focus on criminal appeals and state and federal post-conviction habeas appeals at public service law offices in Tempe, Arizona and New York City. In 1997, Ed moved to Washington, DC and the Northern Virginia region to work as a criminal defense trial attorney. Ed was responsible for thousands of clients at the DC Public Defender Service for 12 years, as a trial attorney, supervising trial attorney, special counsel for forensic DNA and forensic sciences, and chief of the trial division. As the lead trial attorney in the office, Ed provided overall management of the 60-attorney unit to ensure that every client received superior representation and also enjoyed his own active trial caseload of complex criminal cases. Ed has personally tried approximately 50 cases in DC Superior Court and has closely supervised hundreds more.

In 2009, Ed was asked to take over the Northern Virginia Capital Defender Office, representing persons facing the possibility of the death penalty, Ed and his team successfully kept 18 clients from receiving death sentences. Ed's work was capped by the 2018 life verdict at trial for a client who had killed his wife and a police officer in the same incident in a county whose prosecutor had never before failed to obtain a jury's death sentence in a half-century in office.

Ed brings his successful style of thoughtful, creative, compassionate, and client-centered representation to white collar and criminal defense clients in federal court, DC Superior Court, and trial courts across Virginia.

• Free Consultation
  I maintain a limited, select caseload to give each case and each client as much time and attention as is needed to reach a successful outcome. I will give free telephone consultations and short in-person meetings to allow a potential client and myself to discuss the case and our working relationship.
• Credit Cards Accepted
  via PayPal
• Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
  I have different fee structures depending upon the case and the jurisdiction. For retained cases and for forensic science consultations, I sometimes do flat fees and sometimes do hourly fees. For court-appointed cases, I have a reduced hourly fee.

District of Columbia

District of Columbia Bar

Since 1998

New Jersey

Since 1993

New York

Since 1997

Virginia

Since 2012

Federal Circuit

Since 2018

Owner/Criminal Defense Attorney

Ungvarsky Law, PLLC

2018 - Current

• Represent persons charged with criminal offenses in state trial courts across Northern Virginia, in D.C. Superior Court and in federal courts in the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland. • Represent persons charged with and facing the possibility of the death penalty in state courts throughout Virginia and in federal courts across the United States. o Lead counsel of team that obtained unanimous life verdict sentence after 2 ½ month-long jury trial for client accused of capital murder for killing a police officer in performance of the officer’s duties and for killing two persons within the same act or transaction (Comm. v. R.W.H., Prince William County, Virginia, Oct. 2018). o Learned counsel in representation of death-eligible client in MS-alleged RICO capital murder prosecution in federal court in Baltimore. o Learned counsel in representation of death-eligible client in MS-alleged RICO capital murder prosecution in federal court in Eastern District of Virginia. • Provide forensic DNA and other forensic evidence legal consultation and trial expertise in local and federal, and state courts throughout the United States. • Conduct local, state, national, and international trainings on DNA and other forensic evidence, trial and courtroom skills, legal ethics, and capital defense representation.

Supervising Attorney, Criminal Division

DC Law Students in Court

2018 - Current

Teach and supervise law students from George Washington Law School and UDC Law School in clinical setting of the representation of defendants in DC Superior Court

Instructor, Trial Advocacy Institute

Harvard Law School

2008 - Current

Teaching practitioner for the Criminal Justice Institute's Trial Advocacy Workshop

Federal Peer Reviewer - Forensic Science Grants/Capital Defense Grants

National Institute of Justice/Bureau of Justice Assistance

2008 - Current

Peer Reviewer, Bureau of Justice Assistance, FY 2018 Capital Case Litigation Initiative (June-July 2018) Peer Reviewer, Office of Justice Programs, FY 2017 Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence (June-July 2017) Peer Reviewer, Bureau of Justice Assistance, FY 2017 Wrongful Conviction Review Program, (May-June 2017) Peer Reviewer, Office of Justice Programs, FY 2015 Postconviction DNA Testing of DNA Evidence to Exonerate the Innocent (May-June 2015) Peer Reviewer, Bureau of Justice Assistance, FY 2012 Capital Case Litigation Initiative (Apr. 2013) Peer Reviewer, National Institute of Justice, FY 2012 Postconviction DNA Testing Assistance Program (Apr. 2013) Peer Reviewer, National Institute of Justice, FY 2010 Postconviction DNA Testing Assistance Program (May 2011) Peer Reviewer, National Institute of Justice, FY 2010 Solving Cold Cases with DNA (Apr. 2011) Peer Reviewer, Bureau of Justice Assistance, FY 2011 Capital Case Litigation Initiative (Mar.-Apr. 2011) Peer Reviewer, Bureau of Justice Assistance, FY 2010 Capital Case Litigation Initiative (May 2010) Peer Reviewer, National Institute of Justice, FY 2010 Postconviction DNA Testing Assistance Program (May 2010) Peer Reviewer, National Institute of Justice, FY 2010 Solving Cold Cases with DNA (Mar. – Apr. 2010) Peer Reviewer, Bureau of Justice Assistance, FY 2009 Encouraging Innovation: Field –Initiated Programs (June-July 2009) Peer Reviewer, National Institute

Northern Virginia Capital Defender

Northern Virginia Capital Defender Office

2009 - 2018

• Led and directed office of lawyers, investigators, mitigation specialists, and support staff in representing indigent persons charged with capital murder in Northern Virginia at the trial-level and direct appeal stages. • Worked collaboratively with, and provide consultation to, private bar attorneys representing persons charged with and/or convicted of capital murder at all trial stages of case • Provided public education on issues related to capital punishment and criminal justice

Adjunct Profesor

Marymount University

2013 - 2017

Designed and co-taught graduate-level course entitled Death Penalty and Mitigation in the Department of Legal and Forensic Psychology

Chief of the Trial Division

Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia

2007 - 2009

• Provided overall management of the 60-attorney Trial Division to ensure that every client, all court-appointed, was provide superior representation. • Set and directed policy initiatives for the adult court and juvenile units of the Division. • Coordinated training for the different practice groups in the Division. • Directly supervised attorneys who handled homicide and sex abuse cases and provided overall supervision to every attorney, including supervisors, in the Division. • Maintained regular contact with and consulted with counterparts at the Office of the United States Attorney and the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia. • Frequently communicated with leadership of the Superior Court for the District of Columbia about matters of shared interest. • Represented PDS on various court committees, including coordination of 2007 Fugitive Safe Surrender Program, Superior Court Drug Court Committee, Superior Court Case Differential Management Committee, and Committee to Revise the Pattern Jury Instructions. • Conducted a comprehensive assessment of PDS’s Family Court, Juvenile Division. Made recommendations for “best practices” reform, and then effectuated those reforms. • Directly represented indigent clients accused of serious felony charges; maintained an active caseload of complex criminal cases, frequently involving scientific evidence, at all times; tried approximately fifty cases in Superior Court.

Special Counsel to the Director for Forensic Science and Expert Witnesses

Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia

2003 - 2007

• Served as member of senior management team of 230-employee federally funded independent legal agency and managed budget, personnel, and policy priorities of Offender Rehabilitation Division and Mental Health Division. • Led organization in development of expertise in forensic evidence; directed group of attorneys specializing in forensic science, with particular emphasis on DNA evidence; had ultimate authority and responsibility regarding hiring of all expert witnesses; held budgetary authority and provided frequent individual case consultation; organized annual forensic science conference open to regional criminal justice community. • Supervised and trained PDS attorneys, DC private bar attorneys, public defenders and court-appointed attorneys in other jurisdictions, law students, public and private forensic scientists, and other criminal justice professionals on all aspects of criminal defense, including trial practice and strategy, professionalism, ethics, forensic evidence, criminal procedure, and substantive criminal law.

Supervising Attorney, Trial Division

Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia

2002 - 2003

Staff Attorney, Trial Division

Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia

1997 - 2002

(Appellate) Staff Attorney

Office of the Appellate Defender

1995 - 1997

• Wrote briefs and argued direct appeals on behalf of indigent persons before state appellate division. • Submitted petitions for review of adverse appellate rulings to the New York Court of Appeals. • Raised claims of federal constitutional violations in habeas corpus petitions and appeals in the Southern District of New York and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. • Supervised private firm attorneys handling pro bono direct appeals. • Represented staff on Board of Directors.

(Appellate) Staff Attorney

Office of the Appellate Defender

1995 - 1997

• Wrote briefs and argued direct appeals on behalf of indigent persons before state appellate division. • Submitted petitions for review of adverse appellate rulings to the New York Court of Appeals. • Raised claims of federal constitutional violations in habeas corpus petitions and appeals in the Southern District of New York and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. • Supervised private firm attorneys handling pro bono direct appeals. • Represented staff on Board of Directors.

(Appellate) Staff Attorney

Office of the Appellate Defender

1995 - 1997

• Wrote briefs and argued direct appeals on behalf of indigent persons before state appellate division. • Submitted petitions for review of adverse appellate rulings to the New York Court of Appeals. • Raised claims of federal constitutional violations in habeas corpus petitions and appeals in the Southern District of New York and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. • Supervised private firm attorneys handling pro bono direct appeals. • Represented staff on Board of Directors.

(Appellate and Post-Conviction) Staff Attorney

Arizona Capital Representation Project

1994 - 1995

• Assisted representation of inmates on direct appeal by drafting appellate briefs and consulting with appellate counsel and clients. • Filed petitions for writs of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court. • Litigated and consulted on state post-conviction and federal habeas corpus proceedings, crafting complex arguments related to criminal and constitutional law, habeas corpus law, and procedural default. • Challenged state clemency statute in mandamus action.

Adjunct Profesor

Arizona State University College of Law

1994 - 1995

Held position of Adjunct Professor at ASU Law School. Participated in substantive course on the death penalty. Supervised students in clinical setting.

Federal Judicial Law Clerk

Hon. Frank M. Johnson, Jr. 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals

1993 - 1994

• Assisted federal appellate judge in preparing for oral argument, writing judicial opinions, and drafting speeches.

Summer Law Clerk

Jenner & Block

1993 - 1993

• Conducted legal research on effectiveness of trial counsel in Maryland capital case, in which the sentence was later vacated by the U.S. Supreme Court, see Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S. 510 (2003) (raising standards of representation for counsel at capital sentencing phase of case). • Wrote legal memoranda on First Amendment cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Summer Law Clerk

Jenner & Block

1993 - 1993

• Conducted legal research on effectiveness of trial counsel in Maryland capital case, in which the sentence was later vacated by the U.S. Supreme Court, see Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S. 510 (2003) (raising standards of representation for counsel at capital sentencing phase of case). • Wrote legal memoranda on First Amendment cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Law Clerk

Alabama Capital Representation Resource Center (EJI)

1992 - 1992

• Wrote legal memoranda and investigated guilt/innocence and mitigation evidence and jury deliberations evidence for capital cases at direct appeal and post-conviction stages. • Volunteered remotely, Fall Semester, 1992.

Summer Law Clerk

Akin Gump Hauer & Feld

1992 - 1992

• Conducted legal research into variety of civil and corporate law matters.

Summer Law Clerk

National Housing Law Project

1991 - 1991

• Helped initiate welfare rights class action lawsuit. Drafted manual on homelessness law.

Yale Law School

J.D. (1994) | Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Professional Ethics and Responsibility

1991 - 1993

Honors: Mary McCarthy Fellowship in Public Interest Law (1992)

Activities: YALE LAW JOURNAL, Essays Editor Poverty Legal Services Clinic (1991-93) Mary McCarthy Fellow in Public Interest Law (competitive fellowship) Transferred from Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, DC (1990-91)

Wesleyan University

B.A. (1990) | Government

1987 - 1990

Activities: Studied and Interned Abroad, Royal United Services Institute, London, England (Fall 1989) Resident Advisor (supervised and mentored co-educational first-year hall) (1988-89) Member, Wesleyan Student Assembly (elected student representative, 2 terms) (1988-89) Member, Budget Committee, Wesleyan Student Assembly (1988-89) Member, First-Year Men’s Crew Team (Spring 1987)

Bill Geimer Award

Virginia Capital Case Clearinghouse, Washingon & Lee School of Law

2018

state-wide award given to only one person, awarded for excellent in capital defense representation

Kutak-Dodds Prize

National Legal Aid & Defender Association

2014

National annual award given to one criminal defense practitioner - “awarded to attorneys that have significantly contributed to the human dignity and quality of life of individuals unable to afford legal representation”

President's Commendation

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

2010

President's Commendation

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

2006

Mary McCarthy Fellowship in Public Interest Law

Yale Law School

1992

competitive fellowship awarded only after interview and committee evaluation

Virginia State Bar  # 83014

Member

Current

Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Member

2018 - Current

DC Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Member

2018 - Current

(DC) Superior Court Trial Lawyers Association

Member

2018 - Current

National Association for Public Defense

Member

2013 - Current

Co-Counsel Capital Trial Qualified

Virginia Indigent Defense Commission

Appellate Capital Qualified

Virginia Indigent Defense Commission

Learned Counsel, Federal Capital Trial

US district court

First-Chair Capital Trial Qualified

Virginia Indigent Defense Commission