David M. Eldridge, Attorney

Mr. Eldridge was educated at the University of Tennessee, receiving his undergraduate degree in 1982. He graduated from the Wake Forest University School of Law, cum laude, in 1986. While there, he served as the Editor-in-Chief of its law review publication. Following graduation, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable W. Eugene Davis of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Mr. Eldridge began the private practice of law in 1987, joining Ritchie, Fels & Dillard in 1988, where in 1992 he became a partner. In 2003, Mr. Eldridge established the law firm of Eldridge & Blakney, P.C. where he is currently the managing partner.

Mr. Eldridge has represented clients in state and federal cases, and in all stages of the criminal justice system ranging from the pre-indictment investigative phase to trial representation.

Mr. Eldridge's practice has included the representation of clients in high profile state felony criminal prosecutions, federal drug crimes, as well as the representation of physicians, medical professionals, accountants, and corporate executives in a broad range of white-collar criminal matters including health care fraud, environmental crime, tax fraud, bank and loan fraud, money laundering and racketeering allegations.

Mr. Eldridge has received the highest rating awarded by Martindale - Hubbell (AV) and is a graduate of the National Criminal Defense College in Macon, Georgia. He is Board Certified as a Criminal Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, is certified as a Criminal Trial Specialist by the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization, and has been selected by his peers to be included in The Best Lawyers in America since 2006. Mr. Eldridge has also been cited as one of the best criminal defense lawyers in the United States, based on his inclusion in a listing compiled by The Best of the U. S. LLC, and has been selected for inclusion among the top 100 lawyers in Tennessee in the Mid-South Super Lawyers magazine since 2006.

He has taught at continuing legal education seminars hosted by the American Bar Association (ABA), the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), the Bureau of National Affairs, the Tennessee Bar Association (TBA), the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (TACDL), the Institute for Continuing Legal Education for Georgia, the Knoxville Bar Association (KBA), and others. He has also published instructional articles in ABA, NACDL, TBA, TACDL, and KBA publications.

Mr. Eldridge has also lectured overseas at the University of Jordan in Amman, Jordan where he presented a discussion of the World Wide Implications of World Wide Media Coverage of the Criminal Justice System.

He is a Master of the Bench Emeritus of the Hamilton Burnett American Inn of Court. Mr. Eldridge has served as President of the KBA's Young Lawyers Division (The Barristers) and two terms on the KBA Board of Governors and is a Past President of the Knoxville Bar Association. He was inducted as a Fellow of the Knoxville Bar Foundation in 2007. He is a Life Member of NACDL and serves on its Amicus committee and has served as a Co-Chair of its Environmental Crime Committee. While on the Amicus Committee, he authored NACDL Amicus Briefs in support of positions adopted by the United States Supreme Court, one of which was quoted by the Court in its opinion. Mr. Eldridge also serves on the Board of Directors of the TACDL and the Federal Defender Services of East Tennessee, as well as the Board of Trustees of the East Tennessee Discovery Center. He served as a Commissioner of the Knox County Election Commission from 1998 to 2003, ending his term as its Chair and was selected for participation in the Leadership Knoxville Class for 2003.