David Schoen
David I. Schoen is an American attorney specializing in federal criminal defense and civil rights litigation, with over 35 years of experience as a trial and appellate lawyer handling complex cases nationwide.[1] A solo practitioner with offices in New York and Alabama, Schoen earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from George Washington University in 1980, a Juris Doctor cum laude from Boston College Law School in 1984, and a Master of Laws in criminal law, procedure, and legal education from Columbia University Law School in 1992.[1] He clerked for Chief Judge Truman M. Hobbs of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama from 1984 to 1985 and is admitted to practice in multiple jurisdictions, including Maryland, Alabama, New York, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Supreme Court, and various federal courts.[1] Schoen has achieved recognition for pro bono work, receiving the American Bar Association's National Pro Bono Publico Award in 1995 and the Boston College Law School Honorable David S. Nelson Public Interest Award in 2015.[1] His civil rights litigation includes lead counsel in class-action lawsuits that struck down Alabama's foster care and public education systems as unconstitutional, secured the largest award in Alabama history for a police shooting wrongful death case, and obtained injunctions against public officials for sponsoring prayers at school events and enforcing anti-masking laws that impeded Ku Klux Klan marches.[2] In criminal defense, he has represented reputed leaders of New York and Italian Mafia families in racketeering and murder cases, as well as an alleged Russian Mafia figure in a narcotics prosecution, contributing to landmark appellate decisions such as a significant Second Circuit ruling on post-conviction relief.[2] Schoen gained national prominence as part of the defense team for former President Donald Trump during his 2021 Senate impeachment trial over the January 6 Capitol events, delivering the opening statement and arguing against conviction on constitutional grounds.[3] He has also represented high-profile clients such as Steve Bannon in a contempt of Congress case and Roger Stone in related federal proceedings, alongside a brief consultation with Jeffrey Epstein shortly before the financier's death in 2019, during which Epstein reportedly denied any prior suicide attempt.[4][5] These representations highlight Schoen's versatility in defending controversial figures amid scrutiny from institutions often exhibiting systemic biases in coverage and legal processes.[4]