Jeffrey S. Weiner
Bio
Jeff Weiner graduated from Chicago-Kent in January 1974. At Chicago-Kent, Jeff was president of the Student Bar Association, a Moot Court winner, and editor of The Kent Commentator.
For almost 50 years, Jeff has been a staunch advocate for the preservation of our constitutional rights. Jeff has argued trials and appeals in over 25 states including before the U.S Supreme Court, The Florida Supreme Court, and numerous Florida and Federal appellate courts.
In 1991, Jeff argued Florida v Jimeno, 500 U.S. 248 (1991), before the United States Supreme Court.
Jeff’s distinguished legal career includes the term of president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), president of the Florida Criminal Defense Attorneys Association (FACDL), and chair of the Miami-Dade County Bar Criminal Courts Committee. Jeff is a Fellow of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers and a former Regent of the National Defense Criminal College. Jeff is a Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer by the National Board of Trial Advocacies.
In 1985, Jeff was the recipient of the NACDL's highest honor, awarded annually to “The One Criminal Defense attorney who best exemplifies the goals and values of the Association and the legal profession”. In 2021, Jeff received the highest recognition from the Florida Criminal Defense Attorneys Association (FACDL) for “A Career Dedicated to Preserving Constitutional Rights and Manifesting an Open Devotion to Justice, Civility, Discretion, Courage, Respect for Human Dignity and Mercy for All Citizens”.
Jeff has authored numerous legal articles and is a co-author of O’Connor’s Federal Rules & Codes Plus, published by Thompson Reuters ®, now in its 13th edition.
Jeff has been voted by his fellow attorneys as one of the 2023 “Best Lawyers in America”, is “Super Lawyer” and is named as one of Florida Trend’s “Legal Elite” which singles out less than the 2% of the nearly 108,000 Florida Bar members.
Jeff is the managing partner of Jeffrey S. Weiner, P.A. in Miami, Florida. He considers it a great honor to be 2023's commencement speaker at his beloved Alma Mater, and because his son, Fernando, is one of the 2023 graduates.
Jeff received the Chicago-Kent Distinguished Alumni Award in 1993 and was one of the “125 Alumni of Distinction” celebrating Chicago-Kent’s 125th Anniversary in 2013.
Jeff’s undergraduate years were at the University of Miami where he was voted as a member of Iron Arrow, the University’s highest honor.
My Advice
- Do not say anything to anyone without first consulting a competent and experienced criminal defense attorney.
- Do not make the mistake of thinking you will "look guilty" if you retain the services of a respected criminal defense attorney. Consult your lawyer immediately.
- A good criminal defense attorney will instruct you to say nothing to the police or investigating authorities. Do not think that your innocence and truthfulness will quickly end the matter.
- You must be candid with your attorney and tell the whole truth, omitting nothing - even embarrassing details - so your attorney can intelligently plan his or her strategy and your defenses.
Education
- J.D., Illinois Institute of Technology/Chicago-Kent College of Law, 1974
- University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
Fraternities
- Phi Alpha Delta
Past Employment Positions
- Dade County, Special Assistant Public Defender, 1974 – 1990
- Metropolitan Dade County, Florida, Hearing Examiner, 1982 – 1987
- U.S. Eleventh Circuit Judicial Conference, Lawyer-Delegate, 1988 – 1989
Areas of Practice
Attorney Jeffrey S. Weiner has been practicing criminal law since 1974.
- Federal Criminal Defense
- State Criminal Defense
- International Criminal Defense
- Professional Grievance and Disciplinary Proceedings
- Representation for Law Students
- Consultations for Non Criminal Lawyers
- White Collar and Corporate Business Crime
- Money Laundering and Racketeering (RICO)
- Environmental Crime and HAZMAT Violations
- Health Care Fraud
- Murder, Homicide, Death
- Internet Crimes
- Weapons Charges
- Sex Crimes and Abuse Allegations
- Military Disciplinary
- Drug Crimes
- Appeals / Post-Conviction / Prison Issues
Mr. Weiner has been a Fellow of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers since May, 1984.
Bar Admissions
- Illinois, 1974
- Florida, 1974
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida, 1974
- U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois, 1982
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1975
- U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1982
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1982
- U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1982
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1986
- U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 1989
- U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 1989
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1978
- U.S. Tax Court, 1981
Professional Associations & Memberships
- South Miami-Kendall
Member - Dade County, 1985 – 1986
Chairman, Criminal Courts Committee - Dade County, 1984 – 1985
Co-Chairman - Dade County, 1985
Member, Police Standards Committee - Dade County, 1975 – Present
Member - Illinois State, Criminal Law Section
Member - Federal, Criminal Law Section
Member - American, Criminal Law Section, 1987 – Present
Member, Defense Function Committee - American, Criminal Law Section
Member, White Collar Crime Committee - American, Criminal Law Section, 1999
Member, Post Conviction Committee - The Florida Bar, Criminal Law Section
Member - The Florida Bar, 1985 – 1986
Member, Liaison with the Judiciary Committee - The Florida Bar, Federal Practice Commission, 1987 – 1988
Member - California Attorneys for Criminal Justice
- The Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Criminal Law Section
Member - Florida Criminal Defense Attorneys Association, 1981 – 1982
President - Florida Criminal Defense Attorneys Association, 1977 – 1979
Member, Board of Directors - Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- American Board of Criminal Lawyers, 1985 – 1987
Member, Board of Governors - Illinois Attorneys for Criminal Justice
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Life Member - National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1991 – 1992
President - National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1998
Vice-Chair, Nominating Committee - National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1999 – 2002
Co-Chair, Nominating Committee - National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1999
Member, Post Conviction Committee - National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1985 – 1992
Member, Executive Committee - National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1979 – 1984
Member, Board of Directors - National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1982 – 1983
Chairman, Local and State Bar Liaison Committee - National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1980 – 1982
Co-Chairman, Lawyers Assistance Committee - National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1984 – 1985
Chairman, Publications Committee - National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1985 – 1986
Chairman, Lawyers Assistance Strike Force Committee - National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1988 – 1991
Chairman, Judicial Liaison Committee - National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1996
Chairman, Judicial Liaison Committee - National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1992 – 1994
Chairman, United States Department of Justice Liaison Committee - National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1995 – 1996
Chair, Judicial Relations Committee - International Association of Penal Law
- Iron Arrow
Member - Bar and Gavel
Member - Student Bar Association, 1973
President - Dade County Guardianship Ad Litem Program, 1988 – Present
Member - American Civil Liberties Union
Member, Legal Panel and Lawyers Council Steering Committee - American Arbitration Association
Member, Panel of Arbitrators - American Inns of Court
Barrister - BNA Criminal Practice Manual
Former Member, Board of Advisors - United States Federal Courts Study Committee, 1989
Witness - Inside Drug Law, 1986 – 1991
Board of Advisor
Languages
- English
Honors & Awards
- Research Fellow, Harvard Medical School Center for Addiction Studies, 1990 – 1992
- National Directory of Criminal Lawyers
- National Registry of Preeminent Lawyers
- Florida Leading American Attorneys and Law: Consumer Guidebook
- Florida Leading American Attorneys and Law: Consumer Guidebook
- Who’s Who in American Law
- Fellow, American Board of Criminal Trial Lawyers
- Recipient, Moot Court Award, 1973
- Florida Bar Award for Media Excellence, 1988
- National Registry of Preeminent Lawyers
- Former President of the National Association of Florida Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Fellow of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers
- Voted as a Top Criminal Trial Advocate by Law and Leading Lawyers
- Top 250 Lawyers in the South Florida Legal Guide
- Top Law Firm in the South Florida Legal Guide
- Recognition in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
- Selected for listing in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
- Selected as among Florida’s Top Florida Criminal Defense lawyers by Florida Trend magazine
- The Florida Bar, Member of Fifty Years
Certification/Specialties
- Board Certified Criminal Trial Advocate, National Board of Legal Specialty Certification
Published Works
- Managing Editor, The Kent Commentator, Chicago, Illinois, 1973
- Editor, “Criminal Law News Letter,” The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, 1979-1983
- Editorial Board, “Drug Research Report,” Harvard Medical School, 1985-1990
- “Entrapment,” Inside Drug Law, 1985
- “Taking the Lid Off The Government’s Silent Partner,” The Champion, Jan., 1990
- “Counseling Counsel: Contempts, Conflicts and Disciplinary Action,” The Champion, July, 1990
- “Prosecutorial Misconduct: Alive and Well,” (Co-author), Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics, 1990
Representative Cases
- United States Supreme Court Argument, State of Florida vs. Jimeno, (111 S. Ct. 1801 1991)
- U.S. v. Koblitz, 803 F.2d 1523 (11th Cir. 1986)
In re Witness-Attorney Before Grand Jury, No. 83-1, 613 F. Supp. 394 ( 1984) - U.S. v. Hernandez, 574 F.2d 1362 (5th Cir. 1978)
- State of Florida v. Gomez, 363 So. 2d 624 ( 1978)
- In re Raymond Seidler, 411 So.2d 873 ( 1982)
- State of Florida v. Robinson, 391 So. 2d 221 ( 1981)
- U.S. v. Levy-Cordero, 67 F.3d 1002 (1st Cir. 1995)
- U.S. v. Escobedo, 623 F.2d 1098 (5th Cir. 1980)
- Billie v. State, 774 So. 2d 819 (Fla. 3rd DCA 2000)
- State v. Cowles, 790 So. 2d 426 (Fla. 3rd DCA 2001)
- Cowles v. State, 758 So. 2d 682 (Fla. 3rd DCA 2000)
- State v. Mane, 780 So. 2d 82 (Fla. 3rd DCA 2000)
Pro Bono Activities
- Exceptional Participation Pro Bono Project for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit and Dade County Bar Association, 1994 – Present
Classes/Seminars Taught
- 2023 Alum Commencement Speaker, Chicago- Kent Law
- Professor of Law, Southeast Florida Institute of Criminal Justice
- Faculty and Board of Regents, National Criminal Defense College
- Faculty, Advanced Criminal Practitioner Seminar, Hawaii, Mercer University, Macon, Georgia
- Faculty, Advanced Criminal Litigation Course, Association of Trial Lawyers of America National College of Advocacy
- Faculty, Advanced Criminal Law Seminar, Aspen, Colorado