Queens Criminal Defense Lawyer

Queens is one of the most ethnically and legally complex boroughs in New York City, and the Queens County criminal court system reflects that complexity at every level. If you or someone you care about has been arrested in Queens, the decisions made in the first hours after an arrest — who you call, what you say, and whether you have a defense attorney in your corner before arraignment — will shape everything that follows. I have been defending clients in Queens courts for more than 30 years. I know the judges, the prosecutors, and the clerks. I answer my phone personally, and I take on only criminal defense cases, so when you call me, you get my full attention and my full experience.

TROPHY

LAW FIRM

Criminal Charges I Defend in Queens

Whether you are facing a misdemeanor arraignment in Queens Criminal Court or a felony indictment headed to Queens Supreme Court, the range of charges I handle covers the full spectrum of criminal law. I do not practice any area of law except criminal defense — it is all I do, and it is all I have done for over three decades.

 

I represent clients in Queens on charges including:

 

  • Violent crimes: murder, attempted murder, robbery, burglary, manslaughter, and assault
  • Drug crimes: criminal possession and sale of controlled substances at every weight and schedule
  • Gun and weapons charges, including unlawful possession and criminal use
  • Sex crimes: rape, sexual assault, and child pornography offenses
  • DWI and driving while impaired
  • White collar crimes: fraud, forgery, money laundering, and financial offenses
  • Federal charges in the Eastern District of New York (EDNY), with courthouses in Brooklyn and Central Islip serving Queens federal cases
  • Grand jury investigations and representation before the grand jury
  • Appeals and post-conviction relief for clients whose cases did not end the right way at trial

The Queens Courts and What You Are Walking Into

Queens is home to one of the most linguistically diverse populations in the world, and a significant portion of my clients come from Spanish-speaking households. Maria provides Spanish-language interpretation and communication support across every stage of your case — from the initial consultation through court appearances. You will never have to navigate this process through a language barrier.

Why Experience in Queens Courts Is Not Interchangeable

Hiring a criminal defense attorney who practices across multiple boroughs without deep roots in any of them is a risk you do not need to take. The Queens County DA's office has its own charging patterns, its own policies on plea negotiations, and its own institutional culture. The judges on the Queens Supreme Court bench have individual courtroom practices that experienced defense counsel know and account for. My 30 years of work in New York City courts — including Queens — means I am not learning the terrain on your case. I already know it.

 

I hold adjunct faculty positions at New York University and St. John's University, and I have published in the New York Law Journal. That academic and professional record reflects the depth of legal knowledge I bring to every case I take. More importantly, I have taken serious cases to trial in this city and won. Acquittals on violent felonies, dismissed charges, suppressed evidence — these are the outcomes that come from preparation, courtroom skill, and institutional knowledge, not from volume practice.

Serious Charges Require a Trial Attorney

Time is not on your side after an arrest. Evidence can be lost, witnesses' memories fade, and prosecutors move quickly. The sooner you have counsel, the stronger your position. Here is how to get started:

 

  1. Call me directly. I answer personally — not a receptionist, not a paralegal, not an answering service.
  2. Tell me what happened. I will listen, ask the right questions, and give you an honest assessment of what you are facing.
  3. We discuss representation and fees. Payment plans are available through LawPay for clients who need them.
  4. I get to work. That means reviewing the charges, identifying suppression issues, making court appearances, and building your defense from day one.

 

If you are a family member searching on behalf of someone who has been arrested, call me now. I can help you understand the arraignment process, what to expect at the first court date, and what needs to happen immediately to protect your loved one's rights.

How to Retain Me for a Queens Criminal Case

  • What court will my Queens criminal case be heard in?
    Misdemeanor charges and all arraignments are handled at Queens Criminal Court at 125-01 Queens Boulevard in Kew Gardens. If your case is indicted as a felony, it moves to Queens Supreme Court, Criminal Term, in the same courthouse complex. Federal charges arising from conduct in Queens are typically prosecuted in the Eastern District of New York, with courthouses in Brooklyn and Central Islip.
  • How quickly do I need to hire a lawyer after an arrest in Queens?
    Immediately. Arraignment in New York typically occurs within 24 hours of arrest, and what happens at arraignment — bail arguments, the initial plea, the conditions of release — matters enormously. Having counsel before that first court appearance is the strongest position you can be in. Every hour you wait without a lawyer is an hour the prosecution has an advantage you don't.
  • Does Glenn Hardy handle federal charges for Queens residents?
    Yes. Queens federal cases are prosecuted in the Eastern District of New York. I am admitted to practice in the EDNY and appear regularly in federal court. Federal charges carry mandatory minimums and sentencing guidelines that make experienced federal defense counsel essential from the earliest stage of an investigation.
  • What if I cannot afford to pay a retainer all at once?
    Payment plans are available through LawPay. I understand that an arrest creates financial pressure on top of everything else, and I do not want cost to be the reason someone goes without experienced representation. Call me and we will discuss what is workable.
  • Can Glenn Hardy help if my family member was arrested and I don't know what's happening?
    Yes, and this is one of the most common calls I receive. If someone you care about has been arrested in Queens and you don't know where they are, what they are being charged with, or what happens next, call me. I can help you locate them, explain the arraignment process, and take immediate steps to protect their rights before the first court date.

Defending Queens Clients Across Every Charge and Every Court

If you are facing criminal charges in Queens — or anywhere across New York City, Long Island, or Westchester — I am ready to take your call. Thirty years of criminal defense, a record of acquittals on serious charges, and direct access to me from the first conversation to the last. That is what you get when you hire Glenn F. Hardy.

 

I also represent clients in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Staten Island, as well as Nassau County, Suffolk County, and Westchester County.