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Philadelphia Criminal Defense Lawyer
Overview
Ronald L. Greenblatt, the managing partner of Weir Greenblatt Pierce LLP, is one of the most respected and sought after attorneys in Pennsylvania. Mr. Greenblatt has successfully litigated over 1,000 criminal trials on charges ranging from homicide, homicide by vehicle, sexual assault, serious drug offenses, fraud and other white collar crimes, Internet crimes, DUI, DWI, driving under the influence, including those involving the insanity defense. After years of experience, Mr. Greenblatt knows the criminal justice system from the inside-out-including the judges, prosecutors, police and investigators associated with his cases. He regularly lectures to his fellow attorneys and judges on both trial technique and changes in the law. Attorneys throughout the region refer their clients to him with confidence-due to both his outstanding track record and his tireless work ethic.
Since the age of 20, Mr. Greenblatt has sought to protect the rights of men and women. In 1981, he became one of the youngest union shop stewards in U.S. history when he was elected union shop steward for New Jersey Restaurant Local 54 (now Local 33). In this position, he fought grievances brought against his fellow union members and filed grievances on behalf of union members. Upon his graduation from law school, Mr. Greenblatt joined the Philadelphia Public Defenders Office. There, he handled the defense and trials of hundreds of accused men and women and was one of only two lawyers appointed to the prestigious Special Defense Unit (SDU). While in this unit, he received specialized training in forensics, including accident reconstruction, DNA and fingerprint training, ballistic training, and training in the use of forensic psychiatry and psychology in the defense of criminal cases-all of which he relies on today to build his cases. This is focused training that very few other lawyers have. He has also received training in media relations in connection with successfully trying some of the area's highest profile cases.
In addition to managing his criminal practice, Mr. Greenblatt co-manages the firm's extensive civil rights practice with Patricia Pierce. They have handled claims of police misconduct that have resulted in wrongful arrest, prosecution, and incarceration as well as traumatic injury of their clients. Mr. Greenblatt and Ms. Pierce have successfully represented GPEFF's clients in state and federal court actions that have resulted in recoveries of millions of dollars. Additionally, Mr. Greenblatt works with Ms. Pierce on her class action and large employment discrimination cases.
Today, after 25 years of practice, Mr. Greenblatt is one of the leaders of the criminal defense bar in Pennsylvania and he is highly engaged in service to the profession. He is the immediate past chairperson of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and still serves on its Executive Committee. He is a founding member and Master of the Philadelphia Inn of Criminal Court, where he is on the Executive Committee, Planning Committee and serves as Secretary of the Inn. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Defender Association of Philadelphia Alumni Association and an active member of the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey, the Philadelphia Bar Association and the Camden County Bar Association.
He has been given the prestigious AV rating by the Martindale-Hubbel ratings service. This rating means that he is one of the preeminent lawyers in his field as determined by lawyers and judges in the criminal law field. He has also been named to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers List. However, probably even more telling about his expertise, Mr. Greenblatt is regularly asked to lecture to judges as well as to other criminal defense lawyers, new prosecutors and even Rutgers and Temple law students on adult and juvenile criminal law subjects. A graduate of Rutgers University School of Law, Mr. Greenblatt also received his B.A. from Rutger's University where he majored in Economics and minored in Accounting.
About Ronald L. Greenblatt
Practice Areas
- Criminal Defense
- Civil Rights Litigation
- Employment Law
- Family Law
Current Employment Position(s)
- Managing Partner
Qualifications
Bar Admissions
- New Jersey, 1988
- Pennsylvania, 1987
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court District of New Jersey
- U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit
Other Affiliations
- Philadelphia Chapter of the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Past Chairperson)
- Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, 2011 - Present (Member of the Board of Directors)
- Master of the Philadelphia Inn of Criminal Court, Executive Committee member (Founding member)
- Defender Association of Philadelphia Alumni Association (Executive Board Member)
- Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Member Board of Trustees)
- Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey
- Philadelphia Bar Association-Criminal Justice Section
- Camden County Bar Association-Criminal justice Section
Education
- Rutgers University School of Law, Newark, New Jersey, 1987
J.D. - Rutgers College of Arts and Sciences, 1984
B.A.
Classes and Seminars
- Defense of Aggravated Assault Case- November 17, 2012
- Handling the Sexual Assault Case- PBI August, 2012
- Justification and the Castle Doctrine-Pennsylvania Council of State Trial Judges, July 2012
- Preservation and Presentation of Electronic Evidence in the Courtroom- December 10, 2011
- Ethical Considerations for the Pennsylvania Criminal Lawyer-June 18, 2011
- How to Litigate at DUI Case-Seminar Presentation- June 18, 2011
- Nuts and Bolts of Handling Cases in Philadelphia Municipal Court Case- PBI April 14, 2007
Achievements
Other Sources of Feedback About Ronald L. Greenblatt
Included on the 2025 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2024 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
- 2023 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
- 2022 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
- 2021 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
- 2020 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
- 2019 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
- 2018 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
- 2017 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
- 2016 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
- 2015 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
- 2014 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
- 2013 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
Honors
- AV Rated-Martindale Hubbell
- Pennsylvania Super Lawyer, 2013
- Recipient of the 2011 First Judicial District Award of Pennsylvania, in recognition of Pro Bono Service to the community
- Recipient of the 2011 Charles Gelso President’s Award, Pennsylvania Assciation of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Citation by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter for his Excellence and Tireless Work for Justice-June 20, 3013
- Philadelphia Chapter of the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2013
Office Information
Address
1339 Chestnut StreetSuite 500 Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone
Fax
- (215) 665-8464
Websites
Publication
Articles
- Handling the Sexual Assault Case- PBI 2012
- Justification and the Castle Doctrine-July 2012
- Handling the Municipal Court Case- PBI 2008
Representative Cases
- Commonwealth v SN
- Commonwealth v JK
- Commonwealth v DC
- Commonwealth v RM
- Commonwealth v JZ
- Commonwealth v SP
- Commonwealth v John Doe
- Commonwealth v AM
- State v John Doe
- State v KM
- State v VB
- State v John Doe – Homicide by Boating DWI
- John Doe v City of Philadelphia
- JJ V city of Philadelphia
- RC v City of Philadelphia
- DE v. City of Philadelphia
- AB v City of Philadelphia
- SP v Harrah’s Casino and Pennsylvania State Police
- WR and SR v Delaware County Magisterial District Judge
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