Chicago, IL criminal defense attorney Michael Leonard discusses how many federal criminal trials he’s won and why. He notes that he has achieved remarkable success in federal criminal trials, with eight separate cases resulting in juries returning not-guilty verdicts on every count against his clients. In seven of these cases, his clients were entirely exonerated, while in the eighth, a single count was declared a mistrial. Such outcomes are highly unusual in federal court, where many attorneys rarely experience even one complete acquittal.

This track record underscores his expertise and effectiveness in defending clients against federal charges. Successfully navigating federal criminal trials—particularly in complex cases in Chicago and other jurisdictions—has become a hallmark of his practice and a defining feature of his reputation as a skilled and strategic trial attorney.