Patrick Hanifin

Patrick Hanifin is a Maryland attorney with Gritz, Hanifin whose practice includes criminal defense, traffic, juvenile, landlord and tenant, and personal injury law. His criminal-defense work forms an important part of a broader litigation practice involving individuals facing charges, court proceedings, and other contested matters. He brings experience from criminal justice and judicial settings to client representation, allowing him to approach cases with an understanding of courtroom procedure and case development.

Hanifin earned two B.A. degrees from Pennsylvania State University, majoring in English and Political Science with a minor in Environmental Inquiry. He later received a J.D., cum laude, from Widener University Delaware Law School. His education supports the research, writing, and analytical skills required in criminal and civil litigation. The combination of legal training and broad undergraduate study provides a foundation for evaluating evidence, statutory issues, and competing factual accounts.

Hanifin began his legal career as an intern with the Pennsylvania Innocence Project in Philadelphia. He later clerked for Judge Jane Cairns Murray in the Circuit Court for Cecil County, Maryland. These roles provided exposure to post-conviction issues, judicial decision-making, case records, and courtroom procedure before he moved into private practice. His current work spans criminal and traffic matters along with juvenile, property-related, and personal injury disputes.

Patrick Hanifin is connected with the Maryland State Bar Association, the Bar Association of Montgomery County, and other professional organizations. His practice combines criminal-defense experience with a broader range of litigation matters. He helps clients understand legal allegations, procedural choices, and possible paths forward while bringing a background in judicial clerkship work and innocence-project service to the preparation of criminal and civil cases.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Gritz, Hanifin & Shih, LLC
• Member, Maryland State Bar Association
• Member, Maryland Court of Appeals
• Member, Bar Association of Montgomery County, Maryland
• Member, American Institute of Legal Advocates

Licensed State

• Maryland

Education

• Widener University Delaware Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Pennsylvania State University
  Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science and English

Awards & Badges