Some criminal defense firms try cases. Others handle appeals. Moran & Fisher, Attorneys at Law, LLC does both — and has done both, at a high level, for over six decades combined. That is a rare thing in Cleveland criminal law, and it is the reason clients come to this firm when the stakes are highest.
A Two-Partner Boutique Built Around Trial Work
Moran & Fisher is not a large firm. It is two experienced trial attorneys, each with decades in Cuyahoga County courtrooms, and a practice that runs from the first hearing through verdict — and, when necessary, through the Court of Appeals, the Ohio Supreme Court, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Susan Moran has been practicing since 1996. Michael Fisher has been practicing since 1994. Together, they bring over 60 years of combined criminal defense experience to every case.
That structure is intentional. When you hire Moran & Fisher, you work with the partners — not associates, not paralegals taking your calls. Every decision is made by lawyers who have stood in front of juries, argued before appellate panels, and handled cases exactly like yours.
The Record
The firm's combined numbers are not marketing language. They reflect a practice that has consistently been asked to handle the most serious cases in Northeast Ohio:
- 60+ years combined criminal defense experience
- 100+ jury trials tried to verdict
- 300+ bench trials completed
- 500+ cases written and argued in the Court of Appeals
- Not-guilty verdicts in two Aggravated Murder jury trials
- Acquittals in two rape cases that each carried a potential life sentence
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different.
The Appellate Difference
Most trial defense firms in Cleveland treat an appeal as an afterthought — something a client pursues after losing at trial. Moran & Fisher treats appeals as a core part of criminal practice, not a fallback.
With over 500 cases argued in the Court of Appeals and admission to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, the firm brings genuine appellate depth to every engagement. That means trial work is conducted with the appellate record in mind from day one — preserving issues, building the record, and positioning every client for every phase of their case.
This dual strength — deep trial experience backed by a substantial appellate practice — is uncommon among Cleveland criminal defense firms. It is the central reason clients who have already been convicted, as well as those who are newly charged, choose Moran & Fisher.
Decades in Cuyahoga County Courts
The firm's practice is rooted in Northeast Ohio. Susan Moran and Michael Fisher have appeared regularly in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, the Cleveland Justice Center, and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio for decades. The judges know them. The prosecutors know them. That standing, built over years of honest, serious courtroom work, matters when your case is called.
The firm's geographic reach extends beyond Cuyahoga County. Moran & Fisher represents clients across 17 counties in Northeast Ohio, including Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Summit, Stark, and Mahoning counties, among others.
Recognition
The firm's reputation is not self-described — it is recognized by the institutions that evaluate it:
- Susan Moran holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest combined peer and judicial rating for professional ability and ethical standards.
- Moran is a CJA panel attorney in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio — a federal court designation awarded to attorneys who meet the court's standards for competence in serious federal criminal matters.
- She has been selected to review cases for the Cuyahoga County Conviction Integrity Unit, which investigates potential wrongful convictions.
- She is a Life Member of the Eighth District Judicial Conference.
- She is widely recognized by Cleveland's legal community as one of the city's most respected courthouse defense attorneys.
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What to Expect
Criminal charges move quickly. The decisions made in the first hours and days after an arrest — what is said, what is preserved, what is challenged — can shape everything that follows. Moran & Fisher offers free and confidential consultations so you can understand your situation and your options before making any decisions.
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different.