Seattle Criminal Defense Attorney – John Taylor Hicks

John Taylor Hicks takes on the toughest criminal defendants and complex cases — AND GETS RESULTS OTHERS CAN’T. He has exclusively practiced criminal defense since 1985.

TWICE PROFILED BY THE MEDIA, JOHN HICKS IS WELL-KNOWN FOR DEFENDING INDIVIDUALS ACCUSED OF THE MOST SERIOUS CRIMES.

Mr. Hick’s limits his practice to criminal defense and practices in all courts including state, federal and misdemeanor (municipal and state district courts). Despite being regionally renowned for handling particularly difficult cases, Mr. Hicks is also well known for his extremely high success rate in the following areas:

• Homicide:

  Mr. Hicks is considered an authority in criminal defense strategy. His vast experience with all degrees of murder includes potential death penalty cases, murder for hire, mass murder and manslaughter (Extremely high win record. See other case examples for details).

  He also handles the following:

• Other violent crimes including rape and other sex crimes
• Serial crimes including murder, rape, arson, identity theft, financial crimes and fraud
• Economic crimes including complex fraud, white collar and drug crimes
• Official misconduct especially in representing police officers

• Forensic Expertise:

  Mr. Hicks has immense experience scrutinizing prosecution experts, and using defense experts that draw upon all types of forensic evidence derived from biological, and (e.g. DNA, fingerprints) and all other forms of trace evidence, mechanical, audio/visual, computer data, financial and other personal and psychiatric records. Mr. Hicks’ investigator was the lead investigator in the Green River serial killer case.

  Forensic Case Examples:

  • Dismissal of bank robbery charge following presentation by forensic engineer who utilized robbery video, and in-bank structural analysis to show defendant was wrong size
  • Dismissal of forgery matter with in-court submission of handwriting samples of defendant and actual guilty party
  • Client acquitted of malicious explosion as result of cross examination of federal arson expert demonstrating that explosive devise did not meet the definition of a "bomb"
  • Cross examination of Washington State DNA expert and use of defense DNA expert resulted in first hung jury in Washington for a cold case homicide
  • "Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity" for husband who shot wife to death (The wife was a prominent local radio station owner.)
  • Client charged with two counts of drug dealing was convicted of mere possession after Hicks analyzed the prosecutor’s own video evidence

• Media and Press:

  Mr. Hicks utilizes his extensive experience in dealing with, and occasionally using, the news media. In a four count aggravated murder in which one of the victims was pregnant with the defendant’s child, the death penalty was avoided by allowing a media story about the defendant’s history of abuse in foster homes, and the popularity of the client in the community prior to the crimes. This was, and remains, the second worst mass killing in Seattle history to go to trial, and the defendant was convicted of three counts of murder second degree as argued by Mr. Hicks, instead of three counts of aggravated first degree murder. The client was convicted only of one count of aggravated murder.

• Client Profiles:

  Mr. Hicks has represented lawyers, doctors, police officers (including a chief of police), engineers, corporate officers and managers, and religious clergy. Mr. Hicks’ insurance defense experience ensures competency in complex white collar cases. He is proudest, however, of taking and frequently winning cases for clients that other attorneys refuse.

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