Staten Island Criminal Defense Lawyer With 30+ Years in the Courtroom

If you or someone you love has been arrested in Staten Island, the next decision you make is the most important one. I'm Glenn F. Hardy — a criminal defense attorney with more than three decades of trial experience, a record of acquittals on serious charges, and a practice built exclusively around defending people facing New York criminal charges. When you call my office, I answer.

TROPHY

LAW FIRM

What's at Stake When You're Charged With a Crime in Staten Island

Staten Island sits within Richmond County, and its courts — Staten Island Supreme Court and Criminal Court — handle everything from misdemeanor charges to felony indictments carrying decades in prison. The Richmond County District Attorney's office prosecutes aggressively, and the window between arrest and arraignment is short. What you do in that window, and who you have in your corner, shapes everything that follows.

 

I've spent over 30 years learning how prosecutors think, how judges rule, and how to build a defense that holds up at trial. I know the institutional dynamics of the New York court system because I've worked inside it for decades — not as a generalist who handles criminal cases alongside divorces and car accidents, but as a criminal defense attorney. That's all I do.

Charges I Defend in Staten Island

Most large criminal defense firms route clients through layers of staff. You call, you get an intake coordinator. You meet with a junior associate. The attorney you hired shows up at your court date. That's not how I work. I'm a solo practitioner. Every client I take speaks directly with me — from the first call through the final resolution. Your case doesn't get handed off.

Why Experience at Trial Changes Everything

There's a significant difference between a lawyer who negotiates pleas and a lawyer who wins at trial. Prosecutors know the difference too. When I represent a client, the DA across the table knows I'm prepared to take the case in front of a jury — and that I've done it, repeatedly, on murder, robbery, assault, and other serious charges. That credibility changes the dynamic in every negotiation.

 

My work in criminal defense extends beyond the courtroom. I teach criminal law as an adjunct professor at New York University and St. John's University, and I've been published in the New York Law Journal. I bring that depth of knowledge to every client I represent.

Serving Staten Island and All Five Boroughs

My office represents clients throughout Staten Island and across all five boroughs of New York City. I also handle cases in Nassau County, Suffolk County, and Westchester County, and I'm available to appear in federal court in both the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York. If your case requires travel upstate, I go.

 

Whether you were arrested in St. George, Stapleton, or anywhere else on the Island, I can be reached immediately. If someone you care about is sitting in a holding cell right now, don't wait to make contact.

Spanish-Language Support for Staten Island Clients

  • What should I do immediately after being arrested in Staten Island?
    Do not make any statements to police or investigators. Invoke your right to remain silent and ask for an attorney immediately. Then contact my office. The period between arrest and arraignment is critical, and having counsel in place early gives you the best possible footing going into your first court appearance.
  • How quickly can you get involved in my case after an arrest?
    I'm reachable by phone and I answer personally. If you call today, we can speak today. Arraignment in Staten Island typically happens within 24 hours of arrest — sometimes sooner — so there is no time to waste in getting an attorney involved.
  • Do you handle both misdemeanor and felony charges in Staten Island?
    Yes. I represent clients facing the full range of criminal charges in Staten Island Criminal Court and Staten Island Supreme Court, from misdemeanors to Class A felonies. The severity of the charge doesn't change my approach — every case gets my full attention.
  • Can you represent me if my case moves to federal court?
    Yes. I'm admitted to practice in the Eastern District of New York, which covers federal cases originating in Brooklyn and Central Islip, as well as the Southern District of New York in Manhattan. If your Staten Island case involves federal charges, I handle it without referring you out.
  • Do you offer payment plans?
    Yes. I understand that a criminal charge often comes at the worst possible financial moment. I offer payment plans through LawPay so that cost doesn't stand between you and experienced legal representation.

Ready to Talk? Your First Call Goes Directly to Me.

If you're facing criminal charges in Staten Island, the time to act is now. I've spent over 30 years defending clients in New York's courts — and I've built this practice on the belief that every person deserves a real defense from a real trial attorney. Call my office today. I'll answer, I'll listen, and I'll tell you exactly where you stand.