Stanley Woodward (attorney)
Stanley Woodward | |
|---|---|
| Born | Stanley Edmund Woodward Jr. |
| Education | |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Employer | Brand Woodward Law |
Stanley Edmund Woodward Jr. is an American attorney with Brand Woodward Law.[1][2][3] His clients have included those subpoenaed or convicted for the January 6 United States Capitol attack, and aides to Donald Trump.
Education[edit]
Woodward earned a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from the American University in 2004.[4][5] He earned a Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law in 2008.[4][5]
Legal career[edit]
2008–19[edit]
Woodward served as a law clerk for three judges from 2008 to 2010: Judge Vanessa Ruiz of the D.C. Court of Appeals, and Judge Joan Zeldon and Chief Judge Rufus G. King III of the D.C. Superior Court.[1]
Woodward then worked for the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP for 10 years, from 2010 until mid-2020.[6][1] While there he led the Housing Law practice group of the firm's D.C. office.[1] His clients at Akin Gump included C.F. Folks, a longstanding downtown D.C. luncheonette.[7]
In 2018, Woodward was one of two recipients of the D.C. Bar's Laura N. Rinaldi Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year award for representing tenants facing eviction in the District.[1][8]
2020–present[edit]
He co-founded a law firm, Brand Woodward, Attorneys at Law, in 2020.[4] Woodward's law partner, Stanley M. Brand, is also a former Akin Gump lawyer, and formerly general counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives during the Tip O'Neill era.[6] Woodward represents individuals and companies in white-collar criminal cases,[9] as well as government and internal investigations and civil litigation.[4][9] He has also worked as defense counsel in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act matters.[9] Woodward previously served as a part-time lecturer and adjunct professor at his alma mater, Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law.[5][4][10] He has taught pre-trial litigation and employment law courses there.[10]
In 2020, the D.C. Judicial Nomination Commission recommended Woodward as one of three finalists to fill a vacancy on the D.C. Superior Court.[6][11] However, another finalist, Rupa Ranga Puttagunta, was appointed to fill the judicial seat.[11][12]
In 2023, Judge Aileen Cannon agreed to a US Justice Department request to hold a hearing to examine potential conflicts of interest of Woodward, who represents both Trump's co-defendant Walt Nauta as well as potential witnesses in the federal Mar-a-Lago classified documents case, and Trump’s offer to pay for the attorneys of those involved in his litigation.[13] At the hearing, Nauta waived his right to a conflict-free attorney, and Cannon allowed Woodward to continue representing him.[14]
Notable clients of Woodward include:
- Oath Keeper Kelly Meggs — he was convicted of seditious conspiracy for his role in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol (Meggs was sentenced to 12 years in prison).[6]
- Longtime Donald Trump aide Dan Scavino, whom Woodward represented in fighting a subpoena from the United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack.[6][15]
- Ex-Trump aide Kash Patel, whom Woodward represented in connection with Patel's grand jury appearance related to Trump's retention of classified documents and national defense-related documents after his presidency.[6]
- Ryan Samsel, a Pennsylvania man — he was found guilty of assaulting a police officer during the January 6 attack (Samsel is incarcerated).[6][16][17]
- Federico "Freddie" Klein, a Trump administration staffer in the State Department — he was convicted in July 2023 of violent participation in the January 6 attack (Klein was sentenced to 5 years and 10 months in prison).[18][6][19][20][21]
- Then-House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise — Woodward and his partner filed a brief on behalf of the Republican leaders in support of Steve Bannon in the criminal contempt of Congress case against Bannon (Bannon was found guilty, and sentenced to four months in prison).[6][22][23][24]
- Peter Navarro, a former Trump aide — he was found guilty of criminal contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena issued by the January 6 committee (Navarro was sentenced to 4 months in jail).[6][25][26]
- Walt Nauta, Trump aide — he was indicted alongside Trump on federal criminal charges in 2023 following an investigation into Trump's retention and handling of classified documents and national defense-related documents after his presidency.[6][27][28][29][30][31][32] Trump's Save America PAC pays Woodward's legal fees for his representation of Nauta.[33]
- Yuscil Taveras, Trump's director of information technology at Mar-a-Lago (named as "Trump Employee 4" in the indictment in the prosecution of Trump on mishandling of documents). While represented by Woodward, Taveras testified to a federal grand jury that he was unable to recall any discussions about security-camera footage at Mar-a-Lago. Taveras subsequently dropped Woodward as his attorney and cooperated with prosecutors in the investigation (including giving a proffer session); Taveras acknowledged that his previous testimony had been false, and gave new testimony implicating Trump and Nauta.[34][35][36]
Personal[edit]
Woodward married Kristin McGough in 2012. She is also a lawyer.[37] As of 2012, they lived in Washington's Columbia Heights neighborhood.[37]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e "Stanley Woodward Jr". Brand Woodward Law.
- ^ "Coca-Cola's Special Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to District of Columbia Anti-Slapp Act, D.C. Code § 16-5501 et seq.", The Praxis Project v. The Coca-Cola Company, Superior Court of the District of Columbia, October 23, 2017.
- ^ "Stanley Woodward". lawyer.com.
- ^ a b c d e "Stanley Woodward, Jr". D.C. Judicial Nomination Commission.
- ^ a b c "Lecturers". The Catholic University of America.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Cheney, Kyle (November 30, 2022). "Meet the legal nerd who MAGA bigwigs are turning to for help; Stanley Woodward is not a typical Trump-world lawyer. He's just trying to save their hides in court". Politico.
- ^ Maura Judkis, After 37 years, beloved lunch counter C.F. Folks closes in landlord dispute, Washington Post (November 12, 2018).
- ^ "CUA Law Alumnus, Stanley Woodward '08, was featured in Washington Lawyer Magazine". Catholic Law News. The Catholic University of America. January 9, 2019.
- ^ a b c Stanley E. Woodward Jr.: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, Practicing Law Institute.
- ^ a b "Text Messages and Litigation: Discovery and Evidentiary Issues". North Carolina Bar Association CLE. June 9, 2020.
- ^ a b JNC Recommends Candidates for DC Superior Court Vacancy, District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission (November 23, 2020).
- ^ John Murph, Superior Court Welcomes Five New Associate Judges, (March 1, 2022).
- ^ Beitsch, Rebecca (September 25, 2023). "Judge to examine alleged attorney conflicts of interest in Mar-a-Lago case".
- ^ Greg Allen, Judge says Trump aide can keep his lawyer in Mar-a-Lago documents case, NPR (October 20, 2023).
- ^ House votes to hold former Trump aides Peter Navarro, Scavino in contempt of Congress for defying Jan. 6 committee subpoenas, Washington Post. Jacqueline Alemany, Felicia Sonmez, Matt Zapotosky and Josh Dawsey, April 6, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
- ^ Alan Feuer, Dispute Over Claim That Proud Boys Leader Urged Attack at Capitol, New York Times (October 7, 2021).
- ^ Marisa Sarnoff, 'Guess What? You're an A**hole': Unidentified Voice Disrupts Listeners During Detention Hearing for Pa. Man Accused of Assaulting a Cop on Jan. 6, Law & Crime (May 3, 2022).
- ^ "Two Found Guilty of Assaulting Law Enforcement in West Terrace Tunnel and Other Charges Related to Capitol Breach". www.justice.gov. July 20, 2023.
- ^ Rachel Weiner, Battle for the West Terrace: Capitol riot charges reveal details of police attacks on Jan. 6, Washington Post (March 10, 2021).
- ^ Rachel Weiner, "Ex-State Department employee appointed by Trump 'switched sides' in joining Capitol mob, judge says", Washington Post (March 9, 2021).
- ^ Former Trump State Dept. appointee guilty in Jan. 6 tunnel assaults Former Trump appointee Federico Klein found guilty in Jan. 6 tunnel assaults on police," The Washington Post (July 20, 2023).
- ^ Kyle Cheney, GOP leader tells court that Bannon contempt charges won't stand, Politico (May 24, 2022).
- ^ "Steve Bannon convicted on contempt charges for defying Jan. 6 committee subpoena". PBS NewsHour. July 22, 2022.
- ^ Thrush, Glenn; Feuer, Alan (October 21, 2022). "Bannon Sentenced to 4 Months in Prison for Contempt of Congress". The New York Times.
- ^ Michael Macagnone (June 21, 2023). "Judge weighs Navarro arguments on contempt of Congress charges". Roll Call.
- ^ Montague, Zach (September 7, 2023). "Peter Navarro Convicted of Contempt of Congress Over Jan. 6 Subpoena". The New York Times.
- ^ Matt Naham (June 14, 2023). "These are the lawyers tasked with saving Trump from centuries of prison time in special counsel's Mar-a-Lago case". Law & Crime.
- ^ Sarah Jarvis (June 9, 2023). "Meet The Atty For Trump's Indicted 'Body Man' Walt Nauta". Law360.
- ^ "Trump valet defense: A daunting task? Maybe not as much as you'd think". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. July 1, 2023.
- ^ Feuer, Alan; Haberman, Maggie; Savage, Charlie (June 20, 2023). "Judge in Trump Documents Case Sets Tentative Trial Date as Soon as August". The New York Times.
- ^ Adriana Gomez Licon & Eric Tucker, Court date postponed for Trump’s valet Walt Nauta in the classified documents case, Associated Press (June 27, 2023).
- ^ Lowell, Hugo (June 27, 2023). "Trump valet arraignment delayed after losing Florida lawyer over fees dispute". The Guardian.
- ^ Palmer, Ewan (August 25, 2023). "Trump rep faces "legal peril" over Mar-a-Lago conflict of interest—Attorney". Newsweek.
- ^ Eric Tucker (August 22, 2023). "Key witness in Trump classified docs case retracted false testimony after switching lawyers, special counsel says". Associated Press – via NBC Miami.
- ^ Hugo Lowell (October 20, 2023). "Hearing sheds light on how Mar-a-Lago worker implicated Trump and valet". The Guardian.
- ^ Maggie Haberman and Alan Feuer (August 22, 2023). "Witness in Trump Documents Case Changed Lawyers, and Then Testimony". New York Times.
- ^ a b Rachel Kaufman, Kristin McGough, Stanley Woodward Jr., Washington Post Express (September 4, 2012).