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Testimonial

“John Marshall’s externship program offers quality field placements that develop professional and practical skills while ensuring  successful and meaningful on-the-job performance.” Paul Nam, Graduate (’12)

Testimonial

“I wanted to go to an ABA-accredited school that has a strong bar passage rate. John Marshall Law School in Atlanta was the best fit for me.” Aslean Zachary, 3L

Testimonial

“Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School has a 13:1 faculty-to-student ratio and the professors have open-door policies that foster mentorship.” Alex McArthur, Graduate (’12)

Testimonial

“I wanted a law school that looked at the whole person. The caring atmosphere and specialized attention of the faculty have given me an excellent education to positively impact the community.” Chad Alexis, Graduate (’12)

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“I wanted to complete my education at a school that catered to me. I wanted to experience a world-class city full of energy. Atlanta and John Marshall – truly the best of both worlds.” Amber O’Conner, Graduate (’12)

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Michael Mears

Michael Mears

Associate Professor

mmears@johnmarshall.edu

404-872-3593 Ext. 272

Courses Taught

Advanced Criminal Procedure; Advanced Evidence; Criminal Law; Criminal Procedure; Evidence

About

Professor Mears served for over 15 years as a criminal defense attorney before joining the John Marshall faculty in 2007. His practice was dedicated to indigent defense, and he served as lead counsel in over sixty death penalty trial and appellate cases since 1984. Professor Mears was appointed as Director of the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council in 2004, and served from 1992 to 2003 as a Multi-County Public Defender for the Georgia Indigent Defense Council. Prior to entering his public defender practice, Professor Mears was the Partner-in-Charge of Litigation at McCurdy & Candler, a firm specializing in civil and banking law. In 2007, he was appointed as Co-Chair of the State Bar of Georgia’s Indigent Defense Committee and as a member of the Post-Conviction Capital Representation Committee.

Education

B.S., Mississippi State University
M.A.T., Mississippi State University
J.D., University of Georgia School of Law

Publications

“The Georgia Death penalty: A Need for Racial Justice,” John Marshall Law Journal, Volume 1, 2008.

“The Challenge of Fingerprint Comparison Opinions in the Defense of a Criminally Charged Client,” Georgia State University Law Review, Volume 19, Number 3, Spring 2003.

“Seeking Sanctuary: Interviews with Family Members of Capital Defendants,” (Co-Authored with Elizabeth Beck, Ph.D., Brenda Sims Blackwell, Ph.D., Pamela Blume Leonard, B.S.), Cornell Law Review, Volume 88, Number 2, January 2003.

“Death Penalty Law,” Mercer Law Review, Volume 54, Fall 2002, Number 1.

“Representing the Unpopular Client After September 11th,” Georgia Bar Journal, Volume 7, Number 5, April 2002.