David S. Marshall

David S. Marshall defends people accused of sex crimes, child abuse, and domestic violence. He has focused on this work for more than 25 years. From Seattle, he handles cases across Washington State and throughout the Northwest. He often speaks and writes on sexual assault defense.

David earned a B.A. in Government from Cornell University. He received his J.D. from the University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law. He began as a deputy prosecuting attorney before moving into private practice. He is admitted in Washington State and before the Supreme Court of the United States. He is also a member of the State Bar of California.

In 1995, David spent nearly a year building the defense of a young man charged with molesting two young girls. Although the evidence seemed overwhelming at times, His investigation showed the charges rested on poor interviewing and false statements. A jury acquitted the man on all four counts. That trial showed him how easily an innocent person can be convicted.

David has earned an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and recognition as a Washington Super Lawyer. He has also been ranked among the top attorneys in child abuse law by Avvo and named a Top Lawyer by Seattle Met. In 2000, he was a co-recipient of the National Law Journal’s Pro Bono Award for his work freeing individuals wrongfully imprisoned in the Wenatchee case. In 2026, he received the prestigious William O. Douglas Award from the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

David S. Marshall is also a past co-chair of that association’s Continuing Legal Education Committee. He is the defense bar representative on the Washington Governor’s Sex Offender Task Force and the Child Sex Abuse Investigation Work Group. He is a charter member of the National Child Abuse Defense and Resource Center and volunteers with Innocence Project Northwest. He also belongs to the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Washington State Bar Association, and the King County Bar Association.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Marshall & Saunders
• Member, Washington State Bar Association
• Member, The State Bar of California
• Past Co-Chair, Continuing Legal Education Committee of the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Member, King County Bar Association
• Defense Bar Representative, Washington Governor’s Sex Offender Task Force
• Defense Bar Representative, Child Sex Abuse Investigation Work Group
• Charter Member, National Child Abuse Defense and Resource Center
• Volunteer Attorney, Innocence Project Northwest
• Volunteer Attorney, Guantanamo Bay Defense Clients (2006-2015)
• Volunteer Attorney, ACLU
• Volunteer Attorney, Central American Refugees

Licensed State

• Washington
• California

Education

• University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Cornell University
  Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Government

Awards & Badges