John Kenneth Zwerling

Member

Location: Alexandria, Virginia
Phone: 703-684-8000
Fax: 703-684-9700
Email: E-mail Me

John Zwerling, known as an aggressive criminal defense litigator, has a wide range of experience in complex grand jury, trial and appellate advocacy, including considerable knowledge in the area of Fourth Amendment search and seizure law and Fifth Amendment issues. After serving as a Naval Boat Group Commander in Vietnam, John graduated from the American University’s Washington College of Law in 1970.

John is a member of the Board of Directors for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and served as President of the Alexandria Bar Association (July 2001 – June 2002). He was the founding President of the Virginia College of Criminal Defense Attorneys and is a member of the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Founding Member), and the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Law (Legal Committee).

John has served as an Instructor in Forensic Expert Training (FBI Academy), as well as a member of the faculty for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Georgetown University. John has also served as a liaison on the Task Force on Pretrial Release to compile the ABA Standards for Criminal Justice – Third Edition.

Lectures and Speaking Appearances

John Zwerling is a frequent lecturer at national and state CLE seminars and has appeared as a legal commentator and consultant on numerous television and radio shows, including NBC and CBS Evening News, Today Show, and Burden of Proof.

John Zwerling has given lectures at a number of continuing legal education seminars. Some of his topics include:

• Finding the Bullets and Shooting the Rat (Cross-Examination of Cooperating Citizens), October 1996, Richmond, Virginia (Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys).
• Dealing with the Expert Guilt Witness, We can Dream or we can Prepare for War, September 1997, Roanoke, Virginia (Virginia Trial Lawyers Association).
• Rising Above the Truth to Reach Justice, April 23-25, 1998, New Orleans, Lousiana (Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers).
• Can Narcotics Cases be Won in 2000, September 1999 (Virginia Trial Lawyers Association).
• Voir Dire in a Medical Marijuana Cultivation Case, May 27, 1999, Aspen, Colorado (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws).

Areas of Practice

• Drug Conspiracy and Federal Drug Crimes
• DUI/DWI and Reckless Driving
• Fraud, including Health Care Fraud and Real Estate and Mortgage Fraud
• Grand Jury Investigations
• Expungements and Appeals
• Criminal Law

Litigation Percentage

• 90% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions

• Virginia, 1970
• New York, 1981
• District of Columbia, 1971
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Virginia
• U.S. District Court Western District of Virginia
• U.S. Federal Courts, 1970
• U.S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1971

Education

• American University, Washington College of Law, Washington, District of Columbia
  • J.D. – 1970
• Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts
  • B.S. – 1965

Classes/Seminars

• Instructor, Forensic Expert Training, FBI Academy

Professional Associations and Memberships

• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Board of Directors
• National Association to Reform Marijuana Laws, Chairman, Board of Directors
• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member, 1987 – Present
• Virginia College of Criminal Defense Attorneys, Founding President, 1982 – 1983
• Federal Bar Association, Section of Criminal Justice, Member
• American Bar Association, Section of Criminal Justice, Member
• Alexandria Bar Association, Secretary, Board of Directors
• New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Founding Member

Fraternities/Sororities

• Phi Alpha Delta