Columbus Ohio Criminal Defense Attorney W. Joseph Edwards grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Thiel University in Greenville, Pennsylvania where he double-majored in chemistry and philosophy, he moved to Ohio to attend law school at the University of Dayton. While in law school, Edwards competed on the National Moot Court Team and worked as a law clerk for two years alongside renowned Dayton defense attorney, Daniel J. O’Brien.
After graduating from The University of Dayton School of Law in 1985, Edwards was admitted to the Ohio and Federal bars. He first began his legal career working as an Assistant Attorney General in the federal litigation section under Ohio Attorney General Celebrezze. Following a successful tenure at the Attorney General’s office, Edwards worked as an Assistant Prosecutor for the Franklin County Prosecutor’s office where he prosecuted a variety of crimes in Franklin County, Ohio.
In 1990, attorney W. Joseph Edwards started his law practice in Columbus, focusing on criminal defense at the state level in Ohio and at federal levels while maintaining a civil practice for personal injury clients. Edwards’ experience on “the other side of the bench” working as a prosecuting attorney gives Attorney Edwards’ representation of his clients a unique edge as he understands the requirements and needs of the prosecution, as well as having long-standing professional relationships with many state prosecutors and U.S. Attorneys.
Edwards has tried over one hundred felonies before a jury, argued over ten cases before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and more than seven cases before the Ohio Supreme Court. He has handled over one-hundred fifty criminal appeals and has represented persons accused in a diverse array of matters, from complex mortgage and securities fraud to civil wrongful death actions. Far from just exclusively representing people in high-stakes felony cases, he also provides legal representation to people charged with DUI and misdemeanors, as well as civil personal injury matters.
From his law offices in Columbus, Edwards practices primarily in Central Ohio, focusing his practice in Franklin, Delaware, Madison, Licking, Pickaway, Ross, Fairfield and Muskingum Counties. Additionally, Edwards practices throughout the Sixth Circuit, focusing mainly in the Northern and Southern Federal Districts of Ohio.
Lectures and Talks:
Frequent lecturer for the Columbus Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association, and Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers on various topics, including:
• Voir Dire
• Evidence Issues
• Cross Examination
• Expert Witnesses
• Appellate Practice
• Motion Practice
Professional Associations and Memberships:
Columbus Bar Association, Member
Chairman of Criminal Law Committee (2004-2005)
Ohio State Bar Association, Member
Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member
