Stitzel Law, PLLC is a civil rights and criminal defense law firm located in Arlington, Virginia. Principal Amy Stitzel has been advocating for rights for almost 20 years at all levels in state court and various federal courts.
As the Deputy Public Defender in Arlington and Falls Church, she defended thousands of people and had about 40 jury trials, many with success. She represented people, including juveniles, accused of a range of crimes: from misdemeanors such as assault, DUIs and drug possession to felonies such as assault on a police officer, robbery, drug distribution, rape, embezzlement and capital murder. She successfully appealed numerous convictions to the Virginia Court of Appeals and Supreme Court.
Amy was an advanced trainer for Virginia public defenders and co-taught a law school clinic. Additionally, she organized with the community to improve the criminal legal system by addressing mental illness intersecting with the system, including Crisis Intervention Team training, Drug Treatment Court, prosecutor reform, and pay parity.
She has been an attorney at the Civilian Office of Police Accountability working with a team on investigations of serious police alleged misconduct and analyzing police policy. Additionally, she successfully advocated in federal court for compassionate release of people in prison who were a high-risk of severe COVID.
Amy is a lifelong volunteer and public servant. Prior to law school, she was a research analyst in the energy field, reporter and white-collar crime paralegal.
Admissions
- Virginia State Bar, Court of Appeals, Supreme Court – 2004
- Illinois State Bar – 2021
- Central & Northern Districts of Illinois – 2020
- Eastern & Western Districts of Virginia – 2023
You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. Please remember that your difficulties do not define you. They simply strengthen your ability to overcome.
Maya Angelou