About Michael G.
Michael G. Palmer built a foundation in communication before turning to law. He earned both an A.A. and an A.S. from North Idaho College in 1991, a B.S. in Communication from the University of Idaho in 1993, and a J.D. from the University of Idaho College of Law in 1996. Those years in Idaho classrooms and courtrooms shaped a practice rooted in trial work and public defense.
He cut his teeth in public service early. In 1995 he interned at the Asotin County Prosecutor’s Office. A year after law school he joined the Kootenai County Public Defender’s Office as a senior staff lawyer. Those posts put him on the front line of criminal defense and gave him frequent courtroom exposure. He has since appeared in state and federal courts, including the U.S. District Court of Idaho and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Palmer has also spent time on the other side of the classroom. In 2003 he served as an adjunct instructor at the University of Idaho College of Law, teaching a trial skills class called Practice Court. Students learned evidence handling, witness examination and courtroom strategy. Colleagues and former students describe him as a practical teacher who emphasizes technique over theory.
Professional associations have been part of his working life. He has been a member of the Idaho State Bar since 1996. He joined the Idaho Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in 1997 and later took on leadership roles there, serving on the board of directors and as president. He has been a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers since 2003. Those affiliations keep him connected to developments in criminal law and trial practice.
His career moves from public defense to private practice, but the through-line remains trial work. He has handled contested hearings and jury trials, and he is experienced in appellate filings in the Ninth Circuit. He blends courtroom experience with an awareness of procedural detail, which shapes how he prepares cases and advises clients.
Today he practices at Palmer | George PLLC. He represents clients in criminal matters at both the trial and appellate levels and often draws on earlier public defender work when assembling a case strategy. He is licensed in Idaho and holds admission to the federal district and Ninth Circuit courts, and he continues to participate in bar and defense association activities as part of his professional routine.
He currently practices at Palmer | George PLLC, where he concentrates on criminal defense and trial work.
