Steven is one of the leading appellate litigators in Wisconsin. He has represented more than 30 clients convicted of homicide offenses, and dozens more in other serious and sensitive cases.
Steven’s advocacy has resulted in multiple convictions being overturned, and significantly reduced sentences for clients. His work has shaped how courts explain self-defense to juries. His advocacy has also been used to illustrate how Wisconsin Courts should analyze verbal interactions between citizens and law enforcement.
Steven has fought for his client’s constitutional rights all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States:
- A Black man being convicted by an all-white jury should be a horrific reminder of our past, not a common practice of our present. Steven has fought for the inclusion of minority groups in juries as required by the Sixth Amendment.
- All defendants have the constitutional right to have the witnesses testifying against them testify in person. Steven argued the use of audio-visual technology to allow witnesses to testify remotely violates the Constitution’s Confrontation Clause
- Using profanity to ask police officers to go away isn’t nice. But it shouldn’t be a criminal offense. Steven argued that a client directing a four letter word towards law enforcement is protected by the First Amendment.
- No one should spend years in jail waiting for their trial. Steven argued the Speedy Trial Clause of the Sixth Amendment imposes a strict one year deadline for the government to bring a defendant to trial.
- Police didn’t stop questioning a defendant who told them he was “just done with the conversation”. Steven pushed back. The Fifth Amendment’s right to silence should prevent coercive custodial interrogations.
- In a Second Amendment case, Steven was one of the first litigators to anticipate the Supreme Court’s ruling in New York State Rifle and Pistol Assn v. Breun. Steven made historical arguments which the Court largely adopted in United States v. Hemani.
Steven is currently licensed to practice in:
- The Supreme Court of the United States
- Wisconsin
- Maryland (inactive)
- Steven is eligible to be admitted on a case by case basis in many other jurisdictions
When he isn’t practicing law, Steven is often found reading philosophy and hanging out with his two Maine Coon cats.
For further questions please contact info@stevenroylaw.com