Steven P. Berne

Legal Experience:

• Law Office of Steven Berne, Federal and State Trial Practice. Atlanta, GA. Focus on federal and state criminal defense and federal civil rights. Have appeared in all metro county courts and federal courts throughout the country. Responsible for pleadings, brief writing, court appearances and appellate work. (1991 to present)

• Group Leader at the Emory University School of Law Orientation on Professionalism (2025 to present)

• Emory University School of Law, Adjunct Professor, Criminal Law Defenses (2017 to present)

• Trial Techniques Faculty (2012 to present)

• Nick Long and Associates, Personal injury practice. Atlanta GA. Managed day to day responsibilities of personal injury clientele. Interviewed clients and witnesses, prepared settlement demand packages and negotiated settlements. Prepared pleadings, conducted depositions and appeared at court proceedings. (1990 to 1991)

• Federal Defender Program, Assistant public defender. Atlanta, GA. Representing indigent persons accused of committing federal crimes. Handled all aspects of representation, including legal research, brief writing and legal argument. (1988 to 1990)

• DeKalb County Public Defender, Assistant public defender, Decatur, GA. Represented indigent persons accused of committing crimes in DeKalb County. Appeared in the magistrate, state and superior court. (1987 to 1988)

Significant Cases:

• 2026: NOT GUILTY: Client acquitted of all charges in Assault and Battery trial

• 2025: INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE DISMISSED on first day of trial

• 2024: NOT GUILTY ALL COUNTS: Client acquitted of all charges in Drug Distribution case

• 2024: Federal felony assault charge reduced to misdemeanor

• 2021: FEDERAL CHARGE OF THEFT REDUCED to $25 fine

• 2020: FEDERAL CHARGES DISMISSED for Client accused of Purchasing Firearm for Convicted Felon

• 2018: NOT GUILTY: Client acquitted of all charges in Domestic Relations incident

• 2016: FEDERAL CHARGE DISMISSED for Client accused of Accessory After the Fact

• 2016: Misdemeanor and Probation for Federal Client accused of Immigration Fraud

• 2015: Misdemeanor and Probation for Federal Client accused of Bank Fraud

• 2015: 2 Federal Trials resulting in Probation for Clients

• 2014: NOT GUILTY Verdicts in Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Assault, and Firearm Case. Self-Defense theory justified shooting victim.

• 2013: DISMISSAL of all federal charges in Marijuana grow house case

• 2013: Representing police officer in federal corruption case

• 2013: Representing school employee in Atlanta Public School racketeering case

• DISMISSAL of charges for police officer accused of racketeering in famous Gold Club case

• ACQUITTAL of an accused drug dealer in federal racketeering trial

• ACQUITTAL of a man accused of shooting an acquaintance

• ACQUITTAL in murder case

• United States Court of Appeals reversals

• Hudson v. Hall, 231 F.3d 1289:civil rights

• U.S.A. v. Veteto, 920 F.2d 823:sentencing

• U.S.A. v. Morelock, 260 F.3d 625: indictment

• State of Louisiana v. Richard Woods: 935 So.2d 827 forfeiture of more than $100,000

• State of Georgia v. McCrary: trafficking in drugs dismissed during trial when police corruption exposed (featured story on WSBTV)

• State of Georgia v. Taylor: nationwide telemarketing fraud case results in reduced sentence

• Client accused of fraud tells reporter to call Steven Berne for comment

• NOT GUILTY in DUI Jury Trial (11/08) 5 MINUTE JURY DELIBERATION!

• NOT GUILTY in Federal Aggravated Identity Theft (3/09)

• NOT GUILTY in Child Molestation Charges (4/11)

• Affirmance in Court of Appeals representing lawyer in declaratory judgment action: Minnesota Lawyers Mutual v. Gordon, A11A1879

Publications and Honors:

• Featured in Legal Elite 2017

• Featured speaker at NBI seminar on Gun Law: Advanced Issues

• Featured speaker at GACDL and other litigation seminars

• Featured writer for Georgia Defender

• AV Rated as PREEMINENT by the legal community

• Georgia Criminal Practice Guide, Discovery Chapter

• AVVO Superb Rating

• AVVO Clients’ Choice for Federal Crimes

• Voted one of Georgia’s top criminal defense attorneys in Georgia Trend Magazine in 2017

• Featured commentator on CourtTV and WXIA TV

Organizations:

• Executive Board Member, Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

• Vice-President, Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

• Emory University School of Law Trial Techniques Faculty Member

• Coach, Georgia High School Mock Trial Competition

• Judge, Emory University School of Law Moot Court