Attorney Matthew C. Bangerter

Matthew C. Bangerter, Esq

Lead Attorney

call us(440) 340-1740

About Matthew C. Bangerter, Esq.

Most defense attorneys have to hire an expert to challenge the state’s forensic evidence. Matthew Bangerter reads it himself.

Before he defended people accused of crimes, he prosecuted them. As a former Assistant Prosecutor in Lake County, Bangerter learned exactly how the state builds a case – which evidence it leans on, where its proof is thin, and how it decides what to offer. He uses that knowledge on the other side of the table now.

What separates his practice is what he did after law school. Already practicing criminal defense, he went back to graduate school and earned a Master of Science in biochemistry – because too many cases turn on forensic evidence that most attorneys can only take on faith. He has cloned DNA in a laboratory with his own hands. When the state’s case rests on a breath test, a blood draw, or DNA evidence, he does not need a translator. He understands the chemistry, the instrumentation, and the assumptions built into the machines – and he knows where those assumptions break down. He published DNA Basics for Lawyers in the Vindicator, the journal of the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, to teach other attorneys the science most of them never learned.

In OVI cases, that advantage is concrete. Bangerter is certified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the International Association of Chiefs of Police in both Standardized Field Sobriety Testing and Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement – the same training the officer who made the arrest received. He knows what the protocol requires. He knows what happens when it is not followed. And he knows how to show a court the difference.

The Supreme Court of Ohio has certified him for appointment as co-counsel in capital cases, the most serious matters our justice system handles.

He also holds an MBA and a Juris Doctor. That combination – prosecutor, scientist, trial lawyer – does not exist anywhere else in this county.

If you have been charged with a crime, the state has already begun building its case against you. You should not face that alone, and you should not face it with someone who cannot read the evidence.

Awards And Recognition For Cleveland Criminal Defense Attorney Matthew C. Bangerter, Esq.

• Super Lawyers Rising (2014-2017)
• Lake County Bar Association
• Ohio State Bar Association
• Supreme Court Of Ohio
• Ohio State Bar Seal
• Ohio Association Of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Ohio Innocence Project

Court Admissions And Licenses

• Supreme Court Of Ohio
• United States District Court For The Northern District Of Ohio
• United States 6th Circuit Court Of Appeals

Certifications

• Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) — Certified Administrator By NHTSA And IACP
• Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) — Certified By NHTSA And IACP
• Certified By The Ohio Supreme Court’s Commission On Appointment Of Counsel In Capital Cases For Appointment As Co-Counsel For Indigent Defendants Facing The Death Penalty

Board Memberships

• Board Member, Ohio Association Of Criminal Defense AttorneysLawyers, Former Co-Chair, Amicus Committee
• Board Member, Northeast Ohio Board Of Advocates For The Ohio Innocence Project
• Secretary, Northeast Ohio Board Of Advocates For The Ohio Innocence Project, 2017-2018
• Board Member, Lake Health Foundation, Lake County, Ohio

Mr. Bangerter’s entire practice is built upon the enduring core values of integrity, diligence, and an unwavering commitment to achieving justice for those he serves. These core values are the active principles guiding every aspect of his dedicated legal representation, ensuring clients receive the focused and principled advocacy they deserve.