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BIO

FAMILY LAW

CRIMINAL LAW

PERSONAL INJURY

Practicing Law Since 1992

Sam was raised in Seattle, Washington. He received his bachelor's degree in Political Science from Brigham Young University in 1989. He went on to earn his law degree from Brigham Young University Law School in 1992. He was admitted to the Washington State Bar Association in 1992.

After graduating, he and his family moved to Pasco, Washington, where he worked as a Franklin County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney until 1996. While a prosecutor, Sam handled adult felonies, murder cases, appeals, and conducted criminal trials at the Superior, Juvenile, and District Court levels.

In 1996, Sam left the Franklin County Prosecutors Office to start his private practice.

His experience, qualifications, and service to the community include:

• Admitted to the United States District Court for the District of Eastern Washington since 1996
• Member of the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers since 1996
• Judge Pro Tempore, Pasco Municipal, Benton County District, and Benton/Franklin County Juvenile Court since 1996
• Domestic/Family/Civil Litigation cases of all types handled in Benton, Franklin, Yakima, and Grant County Superior Court since 1996
• Panel Attorney for Franklin County District Court 1997-1998
• Panel Attorney for Franklin and Benton County Superior Court since 1998
• Goodwill Industries for Benton and Franklin County Board of Directors 1998-2001
• A.N.G.L.S. Network Chief Legal Counsel and Volunteer 1999-2004
• Criminal Justice Act Attorney for Eastern District of Washington since 2002
• Admitted to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit since 2005

Extended experience (Beyond Civil Litigation) include:

Class A Felony Experience at Trial and Appellate Levels:

• Capital Murder - Death Penalty
• Murder in the First Degree
• Conspiracy to Commit Murder in the First Degree
• Murder in the Second Degree

United States Federal Court Experience at Trial and Appellate Levels:

• Complex Drug Trafficking
• Drug Possession and Delivery
• Illegal Firearm Possession
• Counterfeiting
• Bank Robbery
• Burglary