Melanie S. Morgan began her career as a criminal defense lawyer while in law school at the University of Kansas School of Law where she was first an intern and then a student director at the Defender Project. While serving the Defender Project, Melanie became convinced that effective advocacy demands not only a sharp intellect but also a deep commitment to justice. Following her fervor of representing the criminally accused, Melanie started out as an attorney in 1993 with the prominent criminal defense firm the Law Office of Joseph D. Johnson, Chtd., before opening her own firm in 2002. Federal cases comprise the vast majority of Melanie’s caseload and she regularly litigates a wide variety of criminal defense cases including drug and drug conspiracy charges, gun and firearm violations, robbery, sex and pornography offenses, immigration violations, and various types of fraud cases including check, wire, mortgage and tax. Melanie has a very active trial practice and is widely known for the passion and persuasiveness of her courtroom presentations.
Melanie’s commitment to criminal defense extends beyond her own practice. She is the Immediate Past President of the Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and consults with other lawyers on various legal matters. She has twice been invited to be part of the faculty of the prestigious National Criminal Defense College in Macon, Georgia. Melanie has also lectured on ethics and search and seizure issues.
Education: 1989 BA, Journalism and Mass Communications, Spanish
Kansas State University
1993 JD, University of Kansas School of Law
1995 National Criminal Defense College
Bars: 1993 State of Kansas
1993 District of Kansas
1993 Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals
2002 Western District of Missouri
2005 State of Missouri
2005 Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
United States Supreme Court