Badge - AV Preeminent
Badge - Rated by Super Lawyers Top 10 Maryland
Badge - AVVO Rating 10 Superb
Badge - Best Lawyers Best Law Firms
Badge - The National Trial Lawyers, top 100 trial lawyers
Picture of Richard M. Karceski

Richard M. Karceski

Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Karceski entered into the United States Army as a Captain, assigned to the Judge Advocate General Corp. Mr. Karceski performed varied legal assignments during his tour of duty, both in the States and overseas. He served as the 38th Brigade Legal Officer while assigned to duty at Osan, Korea.

After separation from the military, Mr. Karceski became an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Baltimore City office where he served as a prosecutor in numerous court and jury felony trials.

In late l97l, Mr. Karceski entered the private practice of law as a criminal defense attorney where, for the most part, he was a solo practitioner handling the defense of numerous high-profile cases, to include the defense of Baltimore Ravens football players and coaches to include Ray Lewis, Chris McAllister, and Rex Ryan.

Mr. Karceski has been a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers since 2003. The College consists of no more than 1% of any State’s lawyers admitted to the practice of law. Throughout the entire State of Maryland, there are presently no more than 125 members, both active and retired. Membership is by a lengthy selection process.

Among the many high profile cases that Mr. Karceski defended is the case of State v. Swartz. Mr. Swartz’ case garnered national media attention. The Swartz trial became the subject of a novel by Leslie Walker entitled Sudden Fury, as well as a full-length movie for television.

Mr. Karceski has also defended 3 death penalty trials. One, State v. McWhirter, is the only death penalty jury trial in Maryland resulting in a complete acquittal of all counts.

Also gaining national media attention were the cases of State of Maryland v. Stanley Protokowicz, U.S. v. William Dee, and U.S. v. Kerry Ellis.

Mr. Protokowicz was charged criminally and brought before the Attorney Grievance Commission of the State of Maryland on charges that he burglarized his wife’s home and microwaved her cat. He remains today a member of the Maryland Bar.

The Dee and Ellis cases were both federal environmental prosecutions. Mr. Dee was the head of the chemical weapons division at Aberdeen Proving Grounds.

The Ellis case, also an environmental prosecution, centered around the salvage project of the USS Coral Sea, an aircraft carrier that was sold for salvage. Both the Dee and Ellis cases were the first of their kind environmental prosecutions by the federal government.

Education

J.D., University of Baltimore School of Law, 1969

B.A., Loyola University, Baltimore, Maryland, 1966

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice State of Maryland, 1969
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 1972
United States District Court for the District of Maryland, 1972
Supreme Court of the United States of America, 1973
United States Tax Court, 1991
Professional & Bar Association Memberships

American College of Trial Lawyers
Member Since: 2003-present

Bar Associations of Howard and Baltimore Counties

Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys Association
President: 1995-96

The Court Of Appeals Of Maryland – Standing Committee
On Rules Of Practice And Procedure (1994-2012)

The Board of Trustees of the Public Defender System
Member Since: 1992-2004

Dissenters Law Club
President: 1997-98

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Member Since: l995-present

Commission on Judicial Disabilities
Member Since: 2013-present

Governor's Commission to Reform Maryland's
Pretrial System (20l4)

Baltimore County Judicial Nominating Commission
Member Since: 20l5-present

Martindale-Hubbell – A.V. Rated

Maryland Super Lawyers in Criminal Defense
Member Since: 1995-present

Government Service

1969-71 Captain, United States Army

1971-73 Assistant State’s Attorney, Baltimore City