William Marsh

None of us should only be judged by our worst day. We have all, at some point, faced the injustice of a wrongful accusation—whether criminal or not. Some of us simply make personal choices that the state has unjustifiably outlawed. Whatever the case may be, we all need an advocate, and Bill Marsh has been proud to assume that role for more than 15 years. Bill started his career in 2009 and has only ever practiced law as a criminal defense attorney. Over the last decade-and-a-half, he has witnessed a criminal legal system that is often driven by hysteria and recognizes the crucial need for a strong buffer between the State and the Accused. As a respected litigator in St. Louis, Bill has successfully tried dozens of cases to juries and had countless others dismissed through an aggressive motions practice. While Bill has represented thousands of clients in state court, more than half of his practice involves defending federal defendants. As the Director of Federal Practice at Kessler Williams, he knows the intricacies of this very specialized area of law—a minefield that can lead to disastrous unforeseen consequences for those who lack proper expertise. Bill prides his ability to help clients navigate this complex system and obtain the best outcomes possible. This often involves acquiring downward variance sentences, including supervisory terms when the federal sentencing guidelines have recommended significant prison time. Over the last decade-and-a-half, Bill has learned that mitigation can be just as important as litigation. As a skilled storyteller, he knows how to present his clients to judges and prosecutors as nuanced human beings who are ultimately good at their core. His work has also taught him to understand addiction and its role in the lives of people who become ensnared in the system. While Bill believes substance use should be treated as a public health issue, he is intimately familiar with the various diversionary approaches courts have adopted in a partial (and often begrudging) concession that the War on Drugs has failed. Through these avenues, he has helped numerous clients circumvent the system outright. Bill firmly believes that the criminal legal system cannot function without good defense lawyers. Therefore, he devotes significant time to mentoring and educating young lawyers and law students. In addition to teaching a yearly trial skills program to students at Emory University School of Law, Bill regularly presents to lawyers throughout Missouri on topics ranging from trial advocacy to the complex interplay between state and federal criminal law.

• Attorney, Director of Federal Practice

• Office of Federal Defender, Federal Defender