Attorney Jennifer L. Russell joined the Firm in 2019 with nearly 15 years of legal experience. Attorney Russell is based in our York Office. She focuses her practice in the areas of criminal defense, all areas of family law (divorce, support, custody, children and youth services, adoption and protection from abuse) and civil litigation.
Attorney Russell started her law practice as a line prosecutor in the York County District Attorney’s office in 2005. She ascended the ranks all the way to the most senior position in the office directly under the elected District Attorney. As the First Assistant District Attorney, Attorney Russell was responsible for supervising the twenty-five prosecuting attorneys as they prosecuted on average 8,000 cases each year. These cases ranged from Simple Assaults, to DUIs, to Sex, Firearm and Drug Offenses, to Violent Crimes and White-Collar Offenses. Throughout her nearly 15 years as a prosecutor Attorney Russell personally tried 17 homicide cases, including three death penalty cases, and over 50 cases to a jury verdict. Among several major felony cases, Attorney Russell successfully prosecuted Arik Woodard, who was convicted of first-degree murder of his girlfriend’s minor child, for which he received the death penalty. She also successfully prosecuted Joseph Fitzpatrick for the drowning death of his wife; he received a life sentence.
As a Chief Deputy and Senior Deputy District Attorney, Attorney Russell supervised the Special Crimes Unit (SCU) of the District Attorney’s Office. The SCU handles all the sex offense cases filed in York County including adult and child victims. Offenses include sexual assault, rape, Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse, child pornography, child abuse, child trafficking. In this capacity, Attorney Russell developed extensive experience dealing with sexual abuse victims and how to present these difficult cases to judges or juries. As a Senior Deputy Prosecutor, Attorney Russell coordinated with other agencies, including medical professionals, county children and youth, and law enforcement, for the investigation and prosecution of sexual abuse allegations.
Attorney Russell’s extensive experience as a prosecutor and supervisor of prosecutors gives her a distinct advantage now that she is representing individuals charged with crimes. She knows where to look for weaknesses in the prosecution’s case and knows how to capitalize on these weaknesses to the advantage of her clients. She also knows how to advocate for the best possible plea or in cases in which a plea is not available or not in her client’s best interests, she knows how to defend a case in motions court or at trial against the prosecutors and the office she used to supervise.
Attorney Russell’s trial experience is a great asset to her family law practice. Her command of the courtroom, rules of procedure and evidence and strong advocacy make her the right attorney to handle complex and highly contested divorce, custody and support cases, as well as involuntary terminations of parental rights, protection from abuse and cases involving allegations of child abuse or neglect. If the family law case is worth or needs litigating, Attorney Russell is the best choice.
These extensive courtroom and litigation skills also make Attorney Russell the right choice for any civil litigation case. She is ready, willing and more than able to put her trial skills to work representing clients involved in all types of civil litigation cases including but not limited to breach of contract, breach of warranty, Auto Law, consumer law and collections.
Attorney Russell graduated with her Juris Doctor from the Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law in 2005. There she worked at the YWCA Domestic Violence Clinic and assisted staff attorneys with Protection from Abuse, Custody and Divorce matters for victims of domestic violence. She graduated from Philadelphia University in 2002.
