Get a Consultation

David S. Marshall

For over 25 years, David Marshall has been committed to providing the best possible defense to persons accused of child abuse, sexual assault, rape, domestic violence, and other sexual assaults. That commitment has shown in decades of victories, many in trial, some without need for trial.

From his office in Seattle, David handles cases around Washington State and throughout the Northwest.

David is frequent speaker and writer on sexual assault defense, and other attorneys in need of a second opinion often consult him. He has earned wide respect throughout the legal community — indeed most of his clients are referred to him by other lawyers. Their respect for David also shows in his recognition as a Super Lawyer and in his receiving the highest ratings available by both Avvo and Martindale-Hubbell.

Listen to David describe his practice, including how he got into Sexual Assault Defense Law, what he does for his clients, and what distinguishes his work from the work of other attorneys here:

You can also read about David’s cases and learn what David’s clients say about working with him.

David began his career as a deputy prosecuting attorney. He decided to focus on child abuse and sexual assault defense several years after moving to private practice. His decision resulted from a case that came to him in 1995. He spent nearly a year developing the defense of a young man charged with molesting two young girls. Evidence against the man seemed overwhelming at times, but David’s investigation eventually showed the charges rested on bad interviewing and lying. A jury acquitted the man on all four counts, sparing him a likely 20-year prison sentence.

That trial showed David that an innocent person could easily be convicted, and have his life ruined, when falsely accused of child abuse. It also showed him that his strengths match the particular demands of defending child abuse and other sexual assault cases. It was then that he decided to focus on defending the accused in these sensitive cases — and to commit to keeping up with developments in psychology and medicine, as well as in the law, as it pertains to these kinds of cases.

David and his wife have two sons. He loves to ski and to cycle and has coached youth soccer. He roots hard for the Seahawks.

Bar Admissions

  • Washington State
  • United States District Courts (Western and Eastern Districts of Washington, District of Columbia, District of Oregon, Northern District of California)
  • United States Courts of Appeals (Ninth Circuit, District of Columbia Circuit)
  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • A member of the State Bar of California

Education

  • University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, J.D.
  • Cornell University, B.A. in Government

Professional Recognition and Honors

  • Rated AV Preeminent® (highest possible for legal skills and ethics) by Martindale-Hubbell®
  • Recognized as a Washington Super Lawyer
  • Top Rated in Avvo for Child Abuse Law
  • Listed as a Top Lawyer, Seattle Met magazine
  • One of several attorneys who received the National Law Journal’s Pro Bono Award for 2000, for freeing persons wrongly imprisoned in the Wenatchee, Washington “child sex abuse ring” scandal
  • Honored by the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and by the Southern Poverty Law Center, based in Atlanta.

Professional Achievements and Engagements

  • Appointed by the governor and legislature to Washington task forces dealing with child abuse issues in the justice system.
  • 2024: Child Abuse Allegations Conference - "The Sexsomnia Defense: Law, Medicine, and Strategy"

Professional and Community Activities

  • Charter Member, National Child Abuse Defense and Resource Center
  • Defense Bar Representative, Washington Governor’s Sex Offender Task Force
  • Defense Bar Representative, Child Sex Abuse Investigation Work Group
  • Volunteer Attorney, Innocence Project Northwest
  • Volunteer Attorney for three men imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay, 2006-2015
  • Volunteer Attorney for ACLU in the 1980’s
  • Volunteer Attorney for Central American refugees in the 1980’s
  • Past co-chair, Continuing Legal Education Committee of the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Member, Washington State Bar Association
  • Member, King County Bar Association

Recent News