- Attorney Bio

Richard M. Karceski

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Richard Karceski is a regarded criminal defense attorney based in Silverman Thompson’s Baltimore County office in Towson, Maryland.

Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Karceski entered the United States Army as a Captain, assigned to the Judge Advocate General Corp. Mr. Karceski performed varied legal assignments during his tour of duty, both in the States and overseas. He served as the 38th Brigade Legal Officer while assigned to duty at Osan, Korea.

After separation from the military, Mr. Karceski became an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Baltimore City State’s Attorney Office where he served as a prosecutor in numerous court and jury felony trials.

In late 1971, Mr. Karceski entered the private practice of law as a criminal defense attorney where, for the most part, he was a solo practitioner handling the defense of numerous high-profile cases, including the defense of Baltimore Ravens football players and coaches such as Ray Lewis, Chris McAllister, and Rex Ryan.

Mr. Karceski has been a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers since 2003. The College consists of no more than 1% of any State’s lawyers admitted to the practice of law. Throughout Maryland, there are no more than 125 members, both active and retired. Membership is by a lengthy selection process.

Among the many high-profile cases that Mr. Karceski defended is the case of State v. Swartz. Mr. Swartz’ case garnered national media attention. The Swartz trial became the subject of a novel by Leslie Walker entitled Sudden Fury and a full-length movie for television.

Mr. Karceski has also defended 3 death penalty trials. One, State v. McWhirter, is the only death penalty jury trial in Maryland resulting in a complete acquittal of all counts.

Also gaining national media attention were the cases of State of Maryland v. Stanley Protokowicz, U.S. v. William Dee, and U.S. v. Kerry Ellis. Mr. Protokowicz was charged criminally and brought before the Attorney Grievance Commission of the State of Maryland on charges that he burglarized his wife’s home and microwaved her cat. He remains today a member of the Maryland Bar.

The Dee and Ellis cases were both federal environmental prosecutions. Mr. Dee was the head of the chemical weapons division at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. The Ellis case centered around the salvage project of the USS Coral Sea, an aircraft carrier that was sold for salvage. Both the Dee and Ellis cases were the first of their kind environmental prosecutions by the federal government.

Government Service

• Assistant State’s Attorney, Baltimore City, 1971-1973
• Captain, United States Army, 1969-1971

Honors and Awards

• The Best Lawyers in America - Criminal Defense: General Practice and DUI / DWI Defense, 2023-2026
• Best Lawyers, 2021