Stephen E. Palmer, Columbus Criminal Defense Attorney
Owner and Partner
Stephen E. Palmer is a trusted Columbus criminal defense attorney of more than 20 years. He has developed a distinctive approach to criminal defense work by making a sincere effort to know each of his clients on a personal level. Steve recognizes that no two cases are the same, and neither are his clients’ needs. He believes that criminal defense isn’t just about representing a client in court; it’s about helping clients craft solutions to their problems. Steve reaches solutions through careful contemplation of all facets of a client’s problems—not just the black and white legal issues.
After more than 20 years counseling clients and countless jury trials, Steve is comfortable and capable of handling any matter inside (and outside) the courtroom. He draws upon his vast experience to find the right experts, investigators, and consultants to meet the needs of each individual case and client. And when confronted with problems outside his practice area, he can help find the right person for the job. He has an extensive referral network of attorneys who practice other areas of the law.
Steve has been included in the Ohio Super Lawyers list for the last six years and was included in Columbus Business First’s 20 People to Know in 2014. He is also a long-standing member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL). Steve remains active in the Ohio State Bar Association, speaking regularly on various criminal defense topics, ranging from evidence, trial practice, ethics, and virtually any other area of criminal law.
For the past 10 years, Steve has also provided the Columbus radio audience with legal input on several local morning radio shows. He currently appears weekly on the highly- rated morning show on 99.7 The Blitz. He has provided countless callers with legal (and non-legal) insight on a wide range of problems.
He joined Eric J. Yavitch, in 1997 to form Yavitch & Palmer, located in downtown Columbus, Ohio. Steve works in all aspects of criminal defense, from OVI/DUI charges to white collar crimes to child abuse and domestic violence. He has practiced in courts all over the State of Ohio and in federal courts in Ohio and elsewhere. He has provided consulting services for other attorneys involved in all types of criminal cases. And he is willing to travel to offer help to solve clients’ problems anywhere.
In 1995, Steve earned his law degree, magna cum laude, from Capital University. While in law school, he began working in the criminal defense field as a clerk for R. William Meeks, a distinguished criminal attorney. Steve completed his undergraduate work at the College of Wooster where he participated in varsity football and track. He studied Anglo-legal history, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in History.
Aside from law, Steve is an avid outdoorsman. He enjoys hunting, shooting, and virtually any other activity that puts him in touch with nature and the woods. With a background in construction, he also enjoys the quiet solitude of carpentry and woodworking. And when not in the courtroom, woods, or workshop, he enjoys classical guitar and continues with regular instruction and occasional performance.
Education / Awards & Distinctions
- Capital University Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, 1995
- College of Wooster, B.A., History, 1992
- Included on the Ohio Super Lawyers list 2011 – 2016
- Listed in Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, earning the AV Peer Review Rating
Admissions & Professional Involvements
- 1995, Ohio
- 1996, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
- 1998, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- 2002, U.S. Supreme Court
- Ohio State Bar Association, Member
- Columbus Bar Association, Member
- National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, Member
- Capital University Law School Law Review
Publications / Speaking Engagements / Media
- Ohio Courtroom Evidence, Third Edition, Lexis Law Publishing, 1998, co-authored with his father, John Palmer.
- Order of the Curia, Law Review, Capital University, 1994-1995. Co-Author State v. Vega and Ohio’s Operating Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated (OMVI) Law: per se Unconstitutional? Capital University Law Review, No. 3, Vol., 24, 1995.
- Columbus Business First: 20 People to Know, November 2014
- Seminar Speaker, Criminal Advocacy, Ohio State Bar Association, 2015
