Carney Badley Spellman, P.S. is a Pacific Northwest law firm located in Seattle, Washington. Our clients will tell you we are known for providing exceptional value in legal services by recognizing case objectives early and obtaining cost-effective results. The Carney firm provides legal services in business, litigation, construction, government affairs and insurance to individuals and to privately-held and publicly-traded companies.

James E. Lobsenz, a principal, joined the firm in 1989 through the merger of his firm, Wolfe & Lobsenz, P.S., with the Carney firm.

Mr. Lobsenz has an extensive appellate practice in both the state and federal appellate courts. His substantive areas of experience are criminal defense law, civil rights, employment law, and evidence.

After clerking for the Honorable Mathew O. Tobriner, Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court, and the Honorable Vincent L. McKusick, Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, Mr. Lobsenz came to Seattle and served as a deputy prosecuting attorney in King County for three years. Later he served as a public defender with the Washington Appellate Defender Association, before going into private practice in his own firm of Wolfe & Lobsenz.

Mr. Lobsenz is the author of several law review articles, a recipient of the 1985 United Nations Human Rights Day Award, and a winner of the ACLU Civil Libertarian Award. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Law at Seattle University where he teaches courses on the First Amendment and civil rights litigation.

Mr. Lobsenz was named a Washington Law and Politics' Super Lawyer for each of the last twelve years, including 2010, and a Top Lawyer by Seattle Magazine for multiple years.

Mr. Lobsenz was recognized by Seattle Metropolitan Magazine as one of "King County's Top Lawyers 2010." Seattle Metropolitan Magazine culled their list using the Martindale-Hubbell ratings. Mr. Lobsenz has been awarded an "AV" Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell®. This rating is given to attorneys that demonstrate the highest ethical standards and professional ability.

Mr. Lobsenz is the author of the Web site Seattle Criminal Appeals, where he publishes information on the criminal appeals process and representative cases.

Representative Cases

Washington State Physicians Exchange v. Fisons, 122 Wn.2d 299 (1993)
State v. Stein, 144 Wn.2d 236 (2001)
Watkins v. United States Army, 875 F.2d 699 9th Cir. 1989) (en banc), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 957 (1990)

Publications

"A Constitutional Right to an Appeal: Guarding Against Unacceptable Risks of Erroneous Conviction," 8 University of Puget Sound Law Review 375 (1985)
"Raising and Litigating Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claims," Washington Criminal Defense, Vol. 16, No. 3 (August 2002)

Associations

American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, Legal Committee for the past 27 years; Former Board member
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Northwest Women's Law Center
Society of Counsel for the Representation of Accused Persons, Board of Directors
Stanford Club of Western Washington, Board of Directors
Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Former board member
Washington State Bar Association

Education

Stanford University, Political Science, BA, 1974; MA, 1975; UC Berkeley School of Law, JD, 1976.