About Jonathan L.
Jonathan L. Katz earned his undergraduate degree in political science from Tufts University in 1985. He went on to study law at The George Washington University Law School, receiving his J.D. in 1989. Those formative years set the stage for a long career in criminal defense and related areas of practice.
He is licensed to practice in the District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland. Early in his career he joined national and state criminal defense groups and has maintained those connections for decades. Membership in professional organizations has been a steady part of his work life and professional development.
Katz has been active in the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers since 1991. He joined the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in 2005. In 2007 he became involved with the Legal Committee of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. More recently he added membership in the National College of DUI Defense in 2018. Those affiliations reflect steady engagement with peers on issues ranging from trial technique to evolving drug policy.
In practice he handles criminal defense matters, including cases involving impaired driving and controlled substances. He represents clients in trial and in negotiations. His work involves courtroom advocacy, pretrial strategy and post-conviction options. He prepares for hearings and trials and handles motions, evidentiary disputes and plea discussions when they arise.
Colleagues describe Katz as methodical in case preparation. He tends to favor direct, thorough work in the courtroom and careful review of records and lab reports outside it. He has worked in jurisdictions that have seen significant legal changes around marijuana laws and DUI standards. His professional memberships have kept him connected to evolving practices and technical updates in those areas.
Katz practices from a small firm structure. He is of counsel at Jon Katz, P.C., where he continues to take criminal cases across the Mid-Atlantic. He maintains memberships in several national and state organizations relevant to criminal defense and DUI defense. He is currently practicing criminal defense, including DUI and drug-related cases.
