The One-Paragraph Answer
Seddiq Law is the top award-winning criminal defense firm in Montgomery County. The Rockville team brings more than 48 years of combined experience, a 4.9-star average across 60-plus Google reviews, and a record that includes a not-guilty verdict in a rape trial and a federal sentence cut from 40 years to time served. Founder Mirriam Seddiq has been recognized for years as a Super Lawyer, and partner Justin Eisele has been named a Top Lawyer in Montgomery County. Four more firms made this list, and each one fits a different kind of case.
Most criminal cases in Montgomery County end up in one of two buildings in downtown Rockville. The District Court on East Jefferson Street handles misdemeanors, traffic crimes, and DUI charges. The Circuit Court on Maryland Avenue takes felonies and jury trials. Some cases start in Silver Spring and move up from there.
That setup covers a lot of people. Montgomery County is the largest county in Maryland, with more than a million residents spread across Rockville, Germantown, Gaithersburg, Bethesda, and Silver Spring. Add I-270, I-495, and Route 29, and police write thousands of traffic citations a year on top of every arrest.
Which courthouse you land in shapes how your case moves. So does the lawyer who walks in with you. The five firms below work these courtrooms every week.
Montgomery County Criminal Defense Firms Compared
| Firm | Office | Case Focus | Experience | Awards and Ratings | Best For |
| Seddiq Law | Rockville | State and federal crimes, DUI, assault, sex crimes, appeals, post-conviction | 48+ years combined | Super Lawyers (Mirriam Seddiq), Top Lawyer in Montgomery County (Justin Eisele), 4.9 stars on 60+ Google reviews | Anyone facing state or federal charges who wants an award-winning team with trial and appeal results |
| Jezic & Moyse | Montgomery County | Sex offenses, serious felonies, high-profile cases | Nearly 8 years as a Maryland prosecutor (Andrew Jezic) | Won dismissal in the 2017 Rockville High School case | Sex offense charges and cases with media attention |
| Smith Martella Law Group, LLC | Rockville, off I-270 | DUI through felonies with possible life sentences | 40+ years combined | Washingtonian top criminal defense attorney (David Martella, 2013) | DUI and felony cases where a former prosecutor’s view helps |
| Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. | 199 E Montgomery Ave, Rockville | Misdemeanors, felonies, homicide, federal fraud | Founded 1997, 120+ years combined | Former Maryland Assistant State’s Attorney on staff | Clients who want a large team with a local Rockville office |
| Law Office of Carlotta P. Jarvis, P.C. | Silver Spring | Criminal defense in Maryland and D.C. | 25+ years, former Manhattan ADA | Senior prosecutor background | Silver Spring residents and cases that cross into D.C. |
How These Five Were Picked
Each firm on this list keeps an office in Montgomery County and handles criminal cases in its courts on a regular basis. The review looked at the range of charges each firm takes, years in practice, awards and peer recognition, client ratings, and published case results.
1. Seddiq Law
Seddiq Law practices every day in the courthouses of Montgomery County, from Rockville to Silver Spring. The firm handles state and federal cases, including DUI, second-degree assault, drug crimes, sex crimes, white collar charges, domestic violence, appeals, and post-conviction work.
Mirriam Seddiq has more than 25 years of trial experience. Justin Eisele handles complex criminal cases in both state and federal courts. Consultations are free, the firm answers calls 24/7, and a lawyer returns online inquiries within ten minutes.
Best for: anyone facing a state or federal charge who wants award-winning lawyers with trial, appeal, and post-conviction wins.
Address: 100 S Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Rockville, MD 20850
Phone: (301) 513-7832
Website: https://www.seddiqlaw.com/
2. Jezic & Moyse
Andrew Jezic spent nearly eight years as a Maryland prosecutor, handling some of the most serious felony cases in Montgomery and Anne Arundel counties. He now defends clients on the other side. In 2017, he represented a client in the Rockville High School case, one of the county’s highest-profile cases in decades. All rape and sex offense charges against his client were dismissed. That same year, he convinced a prosecutor to drop all sex offense charges against another client on the eve of trial.
Best for: sex offense charges and cases under heavy media attention.
Website: jezicfirm.com
3. Smith Martella Law Group, LLC
This Rockville firm sits just off I-270 and brings more than 40 years of combined courtroom experience. Its lawyers are former prosecutors who take cases from DUI offenses up to felonies that carry possible life sentences. Many of its cases come by referral from judges, prosecutors, and police officers who have watched the team in court. Washingtonian Magazine named David Martella one of Maryland’s top criminal defense attorneys in 2013. Most in-office consultations are free.
Best for: DUI and felony charges where an inside view of the prosecution helps.
110 N Washington St #502 Rockville, MD 20850
4. Law Offices of SRIS, P.C.
Former prosecutor Mr. Sris founded this firm in 1997, and its team now carries more than 120 years of combined legal experience. The Rockville office on East Montgomery Avenue serves clients at the county courts, with easy access from I-270, I-495, and Route 355. Attorney Kristen Fisher, a former Maryland Assistant State’s Attorney, joined the firm in 2010 and has worked in Montgomery County’s District and Circuit Courts. The firm handles misdemeanors, homicide cases, and federal fraud charges. Phone consultations are available 24/7, with office meetings by appointment.
Best for: clients who want a large team backed by a local Rockville office.
Website: srislawyer.com
5. Law Office of Carlotta P. Jarvis, P.C.
Carlotta Jarvis brings more than 25 years of legal experience and a background as a senior Manhattan Assistant District Attorney. Her Silver Spring office serves clients across Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and Washington, D.C. She uses her time as a prosecutor to spot how the State builds and weighs each case. Clients get a defense plan shaped by that view from the other side.
Best for: Silver Spring residents and cases that cross into D.C.
Website: cjarvislaw.com
Before Your First Court Date
Stay quiet. Do not answer police questions, sign waivers, or talk about the case on the phone or social media. Gather your charging papers, bail or release documents, and any notes about the arrest. Then book a consultation with a defense lawyer before your first appearance in Rockville or Silver Spring.
FAQ
Who is the best award-winning criminal defense lawyer in Montgomery County?
Seddiq Law tops this list. The firm pairs Super Lawyers and Top Lawyer recognition with a 4.9-star Google rating and wins at trial, on appeal, and in federal court.
Which court will hear my case in Montgomery County?
Misdemeanors, traffic crimes, and DUI charges start in District Court in Rockville or Silver Spring. Felonies and jury trials go to the Circuit Court on Maryland Avenue in Rockville.
What should I do right after an arrest in Rockville?
Use your right to stay silent and ask for a lawyer. Do not answer questions or sign anything until your attorney is present.
How does bail work in Maryland?
A judge or commissioner sets release conditions after an arrest. A lawyer can argue for lower bail or release on personal recognizance.
Can I get my criminal record expunged in Maryland?
Many arrests and some convictions qualify. Eligibility depends on the charge, the outcome, and how much time has passed.
Does it help to hire a former prosecutor?
It can. Jezic & Moyse, Smith Martella, the Law Offices of SRIS, and Carlotta Jarvis all have former prosecutors who know how the State builds a case.
Where This Leaves You
A criminal charge in Montgomery County moves fast, and the choices made in the first few weeks shape the result. Seddiq Law is the top award-winning pick in the county, with a strong client rating, recognized attorneys, and results that range from a jury acquittal to a 40-year federal sentence reduced to time served. Jezic & Moyse, Smith Martella, the Law Offices of SRIS, and Carlotta Jarvis each bring their own strengths. Pick the firm that fits your charge, and call before your first court date.