About Chris
Chris Trotter studied political science and Spanish education before turning to law. He earned a B.A. from Brigham Young University–Idaho in 2010 and completed his J.D. at Willamette University College of Law in 2013. Those years set the stage for a career rooted in criminal defense work in Oregon.
His early legal work came while he was still in law school and immediately after. In 2010 he interned at the Office of the State Public Defender in Montana. He then spent time as a law clerk at the Washington County District Lawyer's Office in 2011. Those experiences exposed him to trial preparation and client advocacy in real-world settings.
After law school he moved into private practice. In 2013 he joined Gilroy, Napoli, Short Law Group, LLP as an associate lawyer. He worked there on criminal matters and learned the mechanics of courtroom practice and motion work. In 2017 he established Trotter Law, LLC and has practiced under that firm name since then.
Trotter is licensed in Oregon. He joined the Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association in 2013 and remains a member. That association work has kept him connected to defense practitioners across the state and to continuing education opportunities. He also completed training through La Pier & Associates to administer the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, a credential that is commonly relevant in driving-under-the-influence cases.
His practice has involved a range of criminal-defense matters. He has handled cases that require work on pretrial motions, negotiating plea agreements, and courtroom advocacy. Cases often involve clients who face allegations where sobriety testing and traffic procedures are central. He has experience preparing evidence challenges and cross-examinations that hinge on procedural and scientific details.
Colleagues describe him as methodical in preparing files and deliberate in courtroom strategy. He approaches each matter by assessing the record, outlining options for a client, and explaining potential outcomes in straightforward terms. He balances advocacy in the courtroom with efforts to resolve cases when that route serves a client's interests.
As of 2026 he continues to practice through Trotter Law, LLC in Oregon, concentrating his work on criminal defense and related issues involving driving offenses and procedural challenges.
