The Law Firm of Shein & Brandenburg

Law Firm Overview

At the Law Firm of Shein & Brandenburg, Federal Criminal Law Center, we are a nationally recognized federal and state criminal defense law firm that has the strength to protect the rights of people charged with serious crimes in Georgia and federal crimes throughout the United States. We also provide appellate and post-conviction representation, as well as consultation with criminal defense attorneys on complex federal trial work & sentencing mitigation.

Our services include representation in matters dealing with complex federal criminal defense work and sentencing matters, including federal trials, pleas, sentencing, federal appeals and post-conviction proceedings. We provide representation in federal court, including creation of trial strategies, plea bargaining, objections to government pre-sentence reports, trial and sentencing appeals, post-conviction relief, sentencing mitigation strategies & 2255 (habeas corpus).

Over 25 Years of Experience

With over 25 years of experience in consultation and representation in federal criminal & Georgia state defense work, our founding attorney, Marcia G. Shein, has been admitted to practice law in all federal circuit courts of appeal in the United States and the State of Georgia. She successfully represented her client in a case, United States v. Husband, before the United States Supreme Court. In addition to her Juris Doctorate degree, she has a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology. Her experience as a probation/parole officer, therapist and attorney has given her a comprehensive view of the criminal justice system and the people and families who face the challenge of dealing with criminal charges.

Frequent Case Types

• Child Pornography Defense in Decatur, GA

Areas of Practice

• Criminal
• DUI/DWI
• Federal
• Federal Appellate Practice
• Federal Trial Practice
• Litigation & Appeals
• White Collar Crimes
• Juvenile Crimes
• Habeas Corpus
• Federal Appeals

Published Works

• United States v. Booker: Where Are We Now?, The Federal Lawyer, May, 2005
• United States v. Booker and Fanfan, 543 U.S. (2005): Where Are We Now?, The Georgia Defender, January, 2005
• The Federal Sentencing Guidelines: A Troubling Historical Perspective, The Federal Lawyer, May, 2004
• Martha's Fall, Newsweek, May, 2004
• Apprendi Arguments of Jurisdiction and Retroactivity, GRID & BEAR IT, The Champion Magazine, July, 2001
• Inconsistent Use of Money Laundering Charges in Fraud Cases, American Bar Association Journal Interview, Vol. 85, November, 1999
• Federal Criminal Law Inmate Handbook, Quill Publications
• Sentencing Defense Manual, West Group
• Habeas Corpus Reform & Ineffective Assistance of Counsel: Last Bastian of Hope or Defense Attorneys' Worst Nightmare?, Prison Life Magazine, June-July, 1997
• Sentencing Manipulation and Entrapment, Courts Are Wary, But Admit the Possibility, Criminal Justice Magazine, American Bar Association, Fall, 1995
• A 'Knowing, Intelligent and Voluntary' Plea: The Justice Department's Latest Oxymoron, The Champion Magazine , National Association Of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Jan/Feb, 1995
• Racial Disparity In Crack Cocaine Offenses, Criminal Justice Magazine, American Bar Association
• The Criminal Defendant and Cooperation, The Advocate
• Get the Agreement In Writing First, Criminal Justice Magazine, American Bar Association, 1991
• The Criminal Defendant and Cooperation, Calendar Call, State Bar of Georgia, Criminal Law Section Newsletter, The Florida Bar
• Sentencing Drug Offenders: The Need to Sensitize the Sentencing Judge, Criminal Law Bulletin, 1988
• Second Draft of Sentencing Guidelines Paints Dim Picture, The Verdict , GTLA
• Sentencing Reform, The Champion, NACDL, 1987
• Sentencing Act's Stated Goals Seem Lost in New Draft Guidelines, National Law Journal
• Preponderance of Evidence in Criminal Law: The Double Standard, Inside Drug Law and Texas Voice for the Defense
• U.S. Sentencing Commission on Offender Characteristics, NACDL Sentencing Commission Liaison Committee
• A Homeland of Confusion: A Heartland of Opportunity, Voice for the Defense
• 4205(b)(1), The Forgotten Sentence and No Prison Camps for Women, The Georgia Defender
• Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984 and Rule 35 Changes, The Georgia Defender
• Inside Drug Law, 4205(b)(1), The Forgotten Sentence, 1985
• DUI Alternatives, Wall Street Journal
• The Expert Witness and Sentencing Reports, The Expert and Law
• Federal Sentencing Memorandum: A Different Perspective, The Champion, NACDL, Silver Anniversary issue
• Minimum Mandatory Sentencing Laws, Texas Voice for the Defense
• Race and Crack Cocaine Offenses: Correcting a Troubling Injustice Post-Booker, The Champion Magazine, April, 2007

Classes and Seminars

• Speaker, Sentencing Mitigation and Beyond- Principles of Booker that Work, Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2006
• Adjunct Professor, Criminal Justice (Evidence) CJ 4442, Troy State University, 2001
• Speaker, Post-Conviction Remedies in Federal Court, Norml Convention, Key West, Florida, 1998
• Sentencing and Appellate Mitigation and Federal Sentencing Guideline Amendments, NAACP, United States Penitentiary, Atlanta, Georgia, 1996
• Speaker, Preventing Plea Agreement Problems, National Association of Sentencing Advocates
• Speaker, Using Federal Sentencing Alternative Specialists Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines To Obtain Downward Departures, National Organization For Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)
• Speaker, How To Get Downward Departure Under The Federal Sentencing Guidelines, Alabama - Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
• Guest Speaker, Sentencing Reform, Rhode Island Bar Association, Providence, RI
• Guest Speaker, Sentencing Alternatives for Drug Offenders - Addicts and Dealers, National Conference on Sentencing Advocacy, Washington, D.C., 1989
• Guest Speaker, Constitutionality of Sentencing Guidelines and Sentencing Alternatives for Drug Offenders, Southern Criminal Justice Association, Asheville, North Carolina
• Guest Speaker, Future Implications of the New Federal Sentencing Guidelines, Wake County Academy of Trial Lawyers, Raleigh, North Carolina
• Guest Speaker, Future Implications of the New Federal Sentencing Guidelines, Gate City Bar Association, Atlanta, Georgia
• Sentencing Alternatives, NACDL Sentencing Commission Liaison Committee, 1984
• Speaker, Sentencing and Parole Issues, Georgia Trial Lawyers Association
• Speaker, Sentencing Alternatives and the Prevention of Parole Problems, Florida Criminal Trial Lawyers
• Guest Lecturer, Prison, Post-Conviction Relief, and Sentencing Alternatives, Nova University Law School, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Speaker, Sentencing Alternatives and Prevention of Parole Problems, Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
• Speaker, Sentencing Alternatives and the Prevention of Parole Problems, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Adjunct Professor, Criminal Justice Program, Evidence, Criminal Procedures and Law, Criminology courses, Kaplan University, 2004 - Present
• Adjunct Professor, Criminal Justice Program, Evidence courses, Troy State University, 2001 - 2002
• Speaker, Using Sentencing & Post Conviction Mitigation Attorneys, Orlando Bar Association, 2003
• Guest Speaker, The Good, The Bad, and the Misunderstood, Georgia Criminal Trial Lawyers Association

Representative Cases

• U.S. v. Bugella , (M.D. Florida 1992)
• U.S. v. Murphy , (M.D. Florida 1992)
• U.S. v. Hankish , (W.D. Pennsylvania 1992)
• U.S. v. Griggs , (N.D. Georgia 1992)
• U.S. v. Miller , (S.D. Florida 1992)
• U.S. v. Western , (D. Minnesota 1992)
• U.S. v. Roberts , (D. Minnesota 1992)
• U.S. v. McDonald , (D. Minnesota)
• U.S. v. Roy , (New York 1992)

West Practice Categories

Criminal Defense, DUI / DWI, Litigation & Appeals, White Collar Crimes