Donald F. Samuel

Donald F. Samuel is a senior partner at Garland, Samuel & Loeb, P.C., specializing in criminal defense. With over 40 years of courtroom experience, he has built a national reputation through landmark cases and expert legal commentary. His work spans federal and state courts across the U.S.

Don earned his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1980. He received his B.A. from Oberlin College in 1975. At UGA, he was an editor of the Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law.

Don began his legal career clerking for U.S. District Judge Harold L. Murphy. He then joined GSL, where he has represented clients in complex criminal cases, from federal drug trials to constitutional litigation. He argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in Georgia v. Randolph.

Don has defended celebrities, politicians, and professionals, including Ray Lewis, Ben Roethlisberger, and musicians like T.I. In the high-profile Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil case, Don secured an acquittal for Jim Williams after multiple murder trials.

Don is also a prolific author. His published works include treatises on Georgia criminal law, the Eleventh Circuit, and the Fourth Amendment. His books are widely used by lawyers and judges in Georgia and beyond.

Don has taught law at Georgia State University and the University of Georgia, covering topics such as white collar crime, constitutional law, and business crimes. He regularly speaks at legal seminars nationwide and serves as a media legal analyst.

Donald F. Samuel is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Board of Criminal Lawyers. He has received numerous awards, including the Rees Smith Lifetime Achievement Award and multiple “Top Ten” rankings by Super Lawyers.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Garland, Samuel & Loeb, P.C.
• Member, Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (GACDL)
• Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
• Member, American Board of Criminal Lawyers
• Member, American College of Trial Lawyers

Licensed State

• Georgia

Education

• University of Georgia School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Oberlin College
  BA with Cum Laude

Awards & Badges