Stephen Knights Jr.
Criminal Defense Attorney
In 2006, Attorney Stephen Knights became an Assistant Solicitor General with the Clayton County Solicitor General's Office. There he prosecuted all misdemeanor offenses ranging from traffic offenses (suspended license, speeding, tag violation, no insurance) to DUIs (per-se and less-safe) and Battery-Family Violence cases. He also received the Professional Image Award while at that office.
In 2007, he became an Assistant District Attorney with the Griffin Judicial Circuit for three years. There he specialized in prosecuting drug offenses and had cases in Spalding, Pike, Upson, and Fayette Counties. He had numerous jury trials, ranging from ounces to kilograms of drugs including; cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. Part of his duties also included arguing Motions to Suppress, Preliminary Hearings, Bond Hearings, and occasional Juvenile Court proceedings.
In 2009, he became a Senior Litigation Assistant District Attorney with the Clayton County District Attorney's Office. He prosecuted all felony criminal cases including murders, armed robberies, rapes, and child molestations. In addition, he handled appeals to the Georgia Court of Appeals and Georgia Supreme Court. He completed 10 successful appeals. Most recently, in June 2011, he successfully presented a case in front of the seven justices of the Georgia Supreme Court. The case involved an issue of the inconsistent verdict rule in a murder conviction. The Georgia Supreme Court affirmed the conviction in the case of Guajardo v. State, S11A0965. While at the Clayton County District Attorney's Office, Mr. Knights had a 98% conviction for his two and a half years tenure. And a 100% conviction rate in 2011.
Mr. Knights is licensed to practice law in Georgia, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. Mr. Knights has over 6 years experience as a Prosecutor in Georgia, and he has over a decade of experience in the Criminal Justice System. He now brings his expertise to Knights Law Group to serve you. Mr. Knights solely specializes in Criminal Defense.
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
- DUI & DWI
- Criminal Felonies
- Criminal Misdemeanors
- Drug Charges/Trafficking
- Not Currently Accepting Clients
- District of Columbia
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- Georgia
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- New Jersey
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- 11th Circuit
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- Sr. Litigation Assistant District Attorney
- Clayton County District Attorney's Office
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- Oral Argument - Guajardo v. State S11A0965 at Georgia Supreme Court Prepared and conducted Jury Trials. Supervised and conducted training sessions for Assistant District Attorneys. Prepared and conducted Motions to Suppress, Motions for new trial, and other motions. Conducted Preliminary Hearings and Bond Hearings. Presented cases to Grand Jury. Successfully completed eight appeals to the Georgia Court of Appeals and Supreme Court.
- Assistant District Attorney
- Griffin Judicial Circuit - Office of District Attorney
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- Prepared and conducted Jury Trials and Bench Trials. Prepared and conducted Motions to Suppress. Conducted Preliminary Hearings. Presented cases to Grand Jury. Prepared Accusations and Indictments for over one thousand cases. Interviewed law enforcement officers; drug experts; and other witnesses.
- Assistant Solicitor General
- Clayton County Solicitor General's Office
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- Completed a successful appeal. Curtis et al v. The State, 285 Ga. App. 298 (2007) Recipient of Professional Image Award Prepared and conducted Jury Trials and Bench Trials. Argued Motions to Suppress. Prepared Accusations for over one thousand cases. Interviewed police officers; experts; drug testers; victims; and other witnesses. Completed training for The Georgia Crime Information Center
- Intern
- WASHTENAW COUNTY OFFICE OF PUBLIC DEFENDER
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- Represented over one hundred clients in misdemeanor cases under Michigan Court Rule 8.120 (a) which allows law students to practice law under the supervision of a member of the bar. Conducted intensive interviews of clients and witnesses. Learned how to calculate Michigan Sentencing Guidelines. Learned how to code files under Criminal Disposition Codes. Completed documentation on analysis of cases.
- Intern
- Innocene Project
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- Reviewed post conviction Michigan case files of inmates to see whether there was strong evidence of factual innocence; and prepared appropriate cases for court action. Learned case screening procedures, reviewed case histories, investigated facts, interviewed involved persons, wrote case time lines and summaries, prepared case evaluations.
- Intern, 17th Precinct
- New York Police Department
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- Western Michigan University Cooley Law School
- J.D.
- Honors: While in Law School, Mr. Knights was Winner of the First-Year Moot Court Competition, Best Advocate of Intra-School Mock Trial Competition, and Winner of the Intra-School Alternative Dispute Resolution Competition. He received the Distinguished Student Award as well as several other notable awards.
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- City University of New York - John Jay College of Criminal Justice
- B.A. | Criminal Justice (Major), Psychology (Minor)
- Activities: While at John Jay, Attorney Knights was a member of the Firearms Training Society. He was also an Auxiliary Police Officer with the New York City Police Department (NYPD).
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- Professional Image Award
- Clayton Couny Solicitor General's Office
- Professionalism, courtesy and efficiency in prosecution.
- Thomas M. Cooley Leadership Achievement Award
- Thomas M. Cooley Law School
- Oustanding student leadership throughout law school career.
- Thomas E. Brennan Student Leadership Scholarship
- Thomas M. Cooley Law School
- Outstanding student leadership throughtout law school career.
- Student Bar Association Distinguished Student Award (Winter 2005), WINNER
- Thomas M. Cooley Law School - SBA
- Outstanding student leadership.
- Phi Delta Phi Distinguished Student of Character and Integrity Award
- Phi Delta Phi - Maher Inn
- American Bar Association
- Member
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- Clayton County Bar Association
- Member
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- Phi Delta Phi International Legal Fraternity
- Member and Former Vice Magister (Maher Inn)
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- Thomas M. Cooley Law School
- Teaching Assistant - Intra-School Moot Court
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- Thomas M. Cooley Law School - Moot Court Board
- Chairman
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- Thomas M. Cooley Law School - Moot Court Board
- Bench Brief Author
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- Thomas M. Cooley Law School - Pillar Newspaper
- Features Editor
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- Thomas M. Cooley Law School
- Teaching Assistant - Introduction to Law II
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- Thomas M. Cooley Law School
- Teaching Assitant - Trial Workshop
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- Thomas M. Cooley Law School Journal of Practical and Clinical Law
- Senior Research Editor
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- Website
- Website
