John L. O'Shea - a Cincinnati, United States Criminal Defense Lawyer

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Cincinnati Criminal Defense Lawyer

Updated: 03/02/2026

Areas of Practice

Criminal Defense
Arrest & Arraignment
Assault & Battery
Criminal Appeals
Criminal Fraud
Domestic Violence
Drug & Alcohol Violations
DUI/OVI – Drunk Driving
Expungement
Felony
Juvenile Delinquency
Misdemeanor
Motor Vehicle Offenses
Probation
Theft
Traffic Violations
White Collar Defense
Personal Injury/Wrongful Death
Animal Bites
Assault
Brain Injuries
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Personal Injury
Trucking Accidents
Wrongful Death
Litigation
Civil Litigation
Business Litigation
Probate Court Litigation
Trials and Appeals

Attorney Information

Overview

Detached reflection cannot be demanded in the presence of an uplifted knife.

– Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., Brown v. U.S. (1921) No. 103, 256 U.S. 335

Those were the first words of John’s closing argument in his client’s trial for shooting an unarmed man twice. A conviction meant a mandatory minimum eight years in prison. John argued self-defense and his client was found Not Guilty. John’s client legally defended himself from his attacker at the scene and John successfully defended his client from the government at the trial. John’s client is a free man today.

Biography

John is available day or night at 513-300-4012. Call any time you need help immediately.

John is a lawyer who goes to court. He handles criminal, white collar, DUI/OVI ("drunk driving"), and juvenile defense; and civil litigation involving serious personal injury and wrongful death claims.

He was named to the Super Lawyers Top 50 lawyers in Cincinnati for 2012 through 2025 and the Super Lawyers Top 100 lawyers in Ohio for 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2025.

John was just named the 2025 Cincinnati Criminal Defense “Lawyer of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in America. This after he was voted by his peers to be the 2015 and 2023 The Best Lawyers in America Cincinnati Criminal Defense “Lawyer of the Year”. And John was The Best Lawyers in America 2018 Cincinnati Criminal Defense: White Collar “Lawyer of the Year”.

John has a perfect 10.0 rating from AVVO.com.

John O’Shea represents clients in southwest Ohio in the State and Federal Courts. He has established himself as a lawyer dedicated to tirelessly spending himself in the worthy cause of protecting his clients as a true Man in the Arena.

John served as the lead trial and appellate lawyer on the case invalidating Cincinnati’s illegal attempt to criminalize firearm possession. In 2023, Cincinnati passed a law making it a crime to have a firearm that was not always locked away when anyone under 18 was present. John argued the challenge to that law to the Trial Court, which agreed that Cincinnati’s attempt to criminalize the constitutional right to bear arms violated Ohio law. The City appealed that decision. John argued the case to the Court of Appeals, which unanimously agreed that Cincinnati’s attempt to criminalize gun ownership was illegal and ordered that the law be immediately revoked.

At 5:22 a.m., John was called by the mother of two young men in police custody accused of an early morning homicide. John was at the police department before sunrise. He coordinated defense for both, which included immediately securing co-counsel. John spent the day negotiating with the police, who ultimately charged both with Murder. Within minutes of that charging decision, John reached an agreement with the prosecutor for bail and both were released less than two hours after being charged. The case was investigated and negotiations with the prosecutor continued, which included presenting evidence of self-defense. The Grand Jury then dismissed all charges, exonerating both. John then had all the case records sealed.

John is a designated attorney of the United States Concealed Carry Association's Critical Response Team, which provides 24-hour insurance backed benefits, including immediate criminal defense representation for USCCA members.

He defended a USCCA member indicted for Murder, Attempted Murder and Felonious Assault for shooting and killing one and shooting at another. A conviction as charged carried a mandatory life prison sentence. John argued self-defense at trial, after which his client was found Not Guilty of all charges. All defense costs were paid by the USCCA.

At 3:45 a.m., John was called by the USCCA Critical Response Team to defend a USCCA member in police custody after being involved in a shooting. The USCCA member had defended himself by returning fire and shooting the assailant. The USCCA member was unharmed. John immediately responded to the police department where his new client was being held for questioning. John protected his client through the investigation. His client’s attacker was charged with Felonious Assault. John’s client was released without being charged. All defense costs were paid by the USCCA.

Before joining Cohen Todd Criminal Defense in 1994, John was an assistant prosecutor in the Juvenile, Municipal and Common Pleas Court criminal trial divisions of the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office. During that time, John was also appointed by the Ohio Attorney General to serve as a special prosecutor to the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission. While in private practice, John was twice appointed as a special prosecutor by the Hamilton County Courts.

Today, John uses his decades of courtroom experience to effectively defend individuals and businesses in white collar criminal investigations and prosecutions, as well as adults and juveniles charged with misdemeanor and felony criminal offenses of every type, including drug offenses, and driving under the influence charges. John actually tries cases when few lawyers will. That makes an enormous difference in the results John gets for his clients.

In civil matters, John has successfully advised and represented business clients on various corporate matters, disputes and litigation. He has won significant awards for clients in numerous personal injury and wrongful death cases.

John is a trusted advocate who around the clock puts his clients first. John’s unwavering commitment to his clients is a testament to his character and to the mark he is leaving on the local legal community.

Call at your convenience for a free consultation or if you just have a question.

Call John on 513-300-4012 at any time – day or night – if you need help immediately.

Awards and Honors

Super Lawyers® Selectees

John L. O'Shea included in a Super Lawyers® list

Honors

Super Lawyers Top 50 lawyers in Cincinnati for 2012 through 2025
Super Lawyers Top 100 lawyers in Ohio for 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2025
Ohio Super Lawyer, 2009 – 2024
Best Lawyers in America, Cincinnati Criminal Defense "Lawyer of the Year", 2023
Best Lawyers in America, Cincinnati Criminal Defense, White Collar “Lawyer of the Year”, 2018
Best Lawyers in America, Cincinnati Criminal Defense "Lawyer of the Year", 2015
Best Lawyers in America, Criminal Defense, White-Collar, 2014 - 2024
Best Lawyers in America, Criminal Defense, 2014 - 2024
Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, 2014 - 2024
AVVO.com Perfect 10.0 "Superb" Rating
AVVO.com Client's Choice Award, 2014

Other Sources of Feedback About John L. O'Shea

Included on the 2026 Ohio Super Lawyers list

Past Lists

2025 Ohio Super Lawyers list
2024 Ohio Super Lawyers list
2023 Ohio Super Lawyers list
2022 Ohio Super Lawyers list
2021 Ohio Super Lawyers list
2020 Ohio Super Lawyers list
2019 Ohio Super Lawyers list
2018 Ohio Super Lawyers list
2017 Ohio Super Lawyers list
2016 Ohio Super Lawyers list
2015 Ohio Super Lawyers list
2014 Ohio Super Lawyers list
2013 Ohio Super Lawyers list
2012 Ohio Super Lawyers list
2011 Ohio Super Lawyers list
2010 Ohio Super Lawyers list
2009 Ohio Super Lawyers list

Education

Legal Education
- University of Cincinnati College of Law, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1989
  J.D.
Non Legal Education
- University of Toledo, 1984
  B.S.

Current Employment Position(s)

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Member
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Past Positions

The Hon. Norman A. Murdock, The Hamilton County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas, Judicial Law Clerk, March 1989 to March 1990
Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office, Assistant Prosecutor, Juvenile, Municipal and Common Pleas Court trial divisions, March 1990 to November 1994
Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, Special Prosecutor, 1993-1994

Pro Bono Activities

Ohio Supreme Court Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring Program
Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati, Advisory Board
Toledo St. John’s Jesuit High School & Academy, Aegis Council
St. Xavier High School, Loyola Club for Tuition Assistance

Representative Cases

John served as the lead trial and appellate lawyer on the case invalidating Cincinnati’s illegal attempt to criminalize firearm possession. In 2023, Cincinnati passed a law making it a crime to have a firearm that was not always locked away when anyone under 18 was present. John argued the challenge to that law to the Trial Court, which agreed that Cincinnati’s attempt to criminalize the constitutional right to bear arms violated Ohio law. The City appealed that decision.
- Citation: John argued the case to the Court of Appeals, which unanimously agreed that Cincinnati’s attempt to criminalize gun ownership was illegal and ordered that the law be immediately revoked.

Bar Admissions

Ohio
U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio
U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit

Specialties and Certifications

Mayor’s Court Magistrate, Ohio Municipal League
City of Blue Ash, Ohio Mayor's Court Magistrate

Other Affiliations

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Ohio State Bar Association
Cincinnati Bar Association
Federal Bar Association
United States Concealed Carry Association, Critical Response Team Member
Armed Citizens’ Legal Defense Network, Affiliated Attorney Program Member

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Contact

Cincinnati, OH

250 East Fifth Street
Suite 2350
Cincinnati, OH 45202 - 5136

Directions

Phone: 513-300-4012

Fax: 513-241-4490

Email: Send a message

Websites:

Credit Cards Accepted
Free Consultations

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John L. O'Shea - Cincinnati, OH