SL_PROFILE_Michael_Diamonstein_0720_Layout 1 7 / 22 / 20 9 : 01 AM Page 2 Diamondstein , because of his efforts to clear the name of her then - boyfriend , onte Small Atwell’s involvement in now - husband . Approximately four years a shooting death landed him in a M ago , her husband’s daughter from another marriage accused him of sexual courtroom facing a murder charge . He abuse . Her husband maintained his inno - walked free after his attorney , Michael cence throughout , but Diamondstein prepared them for the worst . Diamondstein , convinced members of “ Michael was quite a pill to swallow at first , and the worst - case scenarios he the jury that he had acted in self - defense . told us were really tough to hear , ” she recalls . “ Making the decision to go to trial was terrifying , because should they be able to sentence [ my husband ] of the local media . Along with five other Elonzer Perkins found himself behind according to the accusations , he was officers , Speiser faced a raft of federal bars , facing 30 to 60 years in prison , looking at multiple - year sentences . The corruption charges . Diamondstein poked over an allegation that he had raped an trial was about two weeks long , and a number of holes in the prosecution’s 11 - year - old girl . Again , Diamondstein during that first week , I started seeing case and capped his defense with an got the call . He pressed until Perkins ’ Michael in a different light , where I said , impassioned closing argument that drew name had been cleared , with DNA evi - ‘ I think I might like this guy . ’ I saw that tears from the eyes of several jurors . dence conclusively showing that he was he was an empathetic , hardworking Speiser and his fellow officers were ulti - not the rapist . man who was doing everything in his mately acquitted of the charges . When the U.S . Government indicted power to save us . ” “ What I do is a calling , ” Diamond - Philadelphia District Attorney Seth While Diamondstein’s burly defense stein says . “ There is no crueler tyranny Williams on multiple counts of bribery , of her husband impressed her , Smith than that which is perpetrated under fraud , and extortion , Williams wanted worried that her husband had “ the cards the shield of law and in the name of jus - Diamondstein to represent him . stacked against him ” because he was tice . When the government , with its lim - While each man’s story is unique , an African - American male . The jury ulti - itless resources , steps beyond its lawful all three share a commonality : They mately found him not guilty of the role , people can be destroyed . My clients ’ turned to the same individual , Michael charges , and Diamondstein was “ 100 lives are on the line , and that’s why I J . Diamondstein — one of the Philadelphia percent responsible for that , ” according refuse to give up . ” area’s most sought - after attorneys to Smith . focusing on criminal defense — as their Hanging in only hope of escaping legal entangle - the Balance ments that could have effectively ended During a brief phone inter - their lives . view , Diamondstein main - Known for his thoroughness , tena - tains a cordial but no - non - ciousness , and eloquence in the court - We never thought we would sense demeanor — seem - room , Diamondstein has defended clients have a need for a criminal ingly mindful that the time in cases that run the gamut of criminal spent discussing his prac - allegations : assault , drug - related charges , defense attorney , and we had tice is time he can’t spend DWI / DUI , murder , sex crimes , and working on helping weapons charges , as well as white - collar no idea what to expect . people . It’s a 24 / 7 job , after clients — both individual and corporate — all , where minutes matter for a multitude of allegations , including Michael ended up being such a and clients ’ fates hang in fraud . The thousands of clients he has the balance . represented in courtrooms in Pennsyl - rock . It was a horrible situation “ Generally speaking , vania , New Jersey , and across the country when someone walks in have included everyone from high - profile to be put through , but Michael my door , they are literally athletes and politicians to law enforcers fighting for their lives , ” he and everyday working people . led us through it . ” says . “ They’re facing the Perhaps his most high - profile case heat of a government to date involved Ray Rice , the former — Belinda Smith , the wife of one of investigation or are being Baltimore Ravens running back who michael diamondStein’S paSt clientS charged with a crime , and faced third - degree assault charges after you cannot imagine what a physical altercation with his fiancée that experience is like . ( now wife ) in an Atlantic City , N.J . , hotel “ We never thought we would have Without significant help , life as they elevator . If convicted , Rice likely would a need for a criminal defense attorney , know it is over . A conviction can end have gone to jail , but Diamondstein was and we had no idea what to expect , ” the life you had . You can lose your able to negotiate a pretrial intervention she adds . “ Michael ended up being such freedom , lose your livelihood , and have program for first - time offenders , thereby a rock . It was a horrible situation to be your hopes and dreams smashed to helping his client avoid a criminal con - put through , but Michael led us through pieces . ” viction . it . The experience solidified us as a Belinda Smith knows what it’s like . Closer to home , a case involving a couple . We’ve made it through something Though she asked not to use her real Philadelphia narcotics officer named horribly tragic — I think I have PTSD from name , Smith feels deeply indebted to John Speiser drew the glaring spotlight SUBURBANLIFEMAGAZINE.COM JULY 2020 | 49