Michael Salnick | West Palm Beach Criminal Defense Lawyer

Michael Salnick does everything possible to assure a successful defense. Besides thorough investigation and scrupulous attention to every detail, Michael makes sure each client understands what a trial involves and often will require a client to sit through a major trial of his to fully understand the process. Michael won acquittals on most charges in the United States District Court in Newark, New Jersey after a month and a half long trial for the owner of a Private jet company whose corporate jet, after dropping off Jay Z and Beyoncé the night before, crashed upon takeoff from Teterboro airport in New Jersey. The government alleged the pilots were unfit and FAA regulations were not followed. With the help of a former NTSB expert, Michael convinced the jury that the plane malfunctioned and had nothing to do with what the government alleged. The sentence the accused received was substantially less than what the government was requesting. Michael recently won an acquittal for a police officer charged with aggravated child abuse to his girlfriend’s then five-year-old son. His careful attention to detail on cross-examination convinced a jury that the child had been coached by his father and a teacher. Michael helped to secure a new trial for a woman charged with hiring a hitman to kill her newlywed husband. At trial, Michael urged the court to permit individual jury selection due to enormous national and local publicity. The Judge refused. As a result, the entire jury panel was tainted. Michael preserved the record in a way that it was impossible for the appellate court to not grant a new trial. Prior to the reversal, she had received a 20-year sentence. (Michael did not represent her in her new trial). Michael has represented several people in death penalty cases, including many of Palm Beach County’s most infamous death-row inmates. He also represented a Boynton Beach police officer found not guilty of sexually assaulting a woman while on the job. Michael won an acquittal for an accountant charged with attempted second-degree murder and child abuse. The jury found Michael’s client not guilty by reason of insanity on all counts. Following the trial, all parties agreed that the defendant had a psychotic episode not likely to recur and is back in his home state working and living a normal life. Michael has successfully represented individuals charged with possession and distribution of child pornography. He handles white collar/financial crime cases with the same tenacity as any other case. He handles many DUI and DUI Manslaughter cases and was recently successful in getting all DUI charges dismissed for a local television newscaster. In August of 2019, he convinced the prosecution to dismiss second-degree murder charges against his client (who sat in jail with no bond for almost 12 months) after proving the witnesses were lying to the police. He has represented celebrities, professional athletes, and politicians when called upon. Michael served as lead counsel in the Southern District of New York for a sports agent involved in the Major League Baseball investigation regarding payments for autographs. His successful representation resulted in his client not getting indicted. On October 2, 2019, Michael appeared before a state appellate court in West Palm Beach requesting a new trial for a client convicted of sexual assault, arguing that the trial court erred in denying a mistrial when previously excluded evidence was presented to the jury. On November 6th, the court issued a written opinion, reversing his client's conviction, setting aside his eight-year sentence, and ordering a new trial. Although based in West Palm Beach, Florida Michael has been in State and federal courts from Honolulu to Vermont, and from Tallahassee to Key West, representing individuals accused of a variety of criminal offenses. Michael has taught prosecutors and assistant public defenders at the University of Florida. He also lectures at various police agencies on trial procedure and courtroom conduct as well as continuing legal education for attorneys. He is well respected in both state and federal court and is a "go-to" attorney for homicides and other high profile cases. He is Board Certified as a Criminal Trial Lawyer by The Florida Bar and the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Michael is available 24/7 and has a support staff who will assist at any time. You never get an answering service.