Jeffrey C. Kestenband
Jeff Kestenband focuses his practice on criminal defense in state and federal court. Jeff has represented clients charged with crimes ranging from murder, robbery, sexual assault, and other serious felonies to misdemeanors such as DUI, drug offenses, and larceny. Jeff also appears in federal court where he defends people charged with drug and firearm offenses, as well as complex white collar crimes. He has also tried many cases where he has obtained several very favorable verdicts. He is a graduate of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy, an intensive two-week trial advocacy program that includes instruction and participation in all phases of trial practice. He has also negotiated very favorable resolutions at the pretrial stage. Read more about our Pretrial Results.
Jeff has also handled numerous appeals. He has briefed and argued approximately twenty appeals before the Connecticut Supreme Court, Vermont Supreme Court, Connecticut Appellate Court and United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The Connecticut Law Tribune chose one of Jeff’s winning appeals in 2007 as one of the top 25 appellate decisions in Connecticut that year, and that case was one of only seven criminal decisions chosen. Jeff is also admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court where he has filed petitions for writs of certiorari.
Jeff has served as an adjunct professor at the University Of Connecticut School of Law where he taught Moot Court and Lawyering Process to law students. He also presented a seminar entitled Building a Foundation for a Successful Criminal Trial: The Defense Begins – Handling Initial Appearances for the National Business Institute. As a member of the Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (CCDLA), Jeff has testified about criminal legislation before the Connecticut Legislature.
Jeff graduated from Wesleyan University and the University of Connecticut School of Law, with honors. While in law school, he was an Associate Editor of the Connecticut Law Review and Executive Director of the Connecticut Moot Court Board, and he won the award for best brief and best oral advocate at a Florida invitational moot court competition focusing on evidence law.
Education
- Juris Doctor, with honors, University of Connecticut School of Law (1997)
- Bachelor of Arts, Wesleyan University, Connecticut (1993)
Admitted
- Connecticut State Bar (1997)
- United States District Court, District of Connecticut (1998)
- United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (1998)
- United States Supreme Court (2001)
Member
Practice Areas
- Criminal Defense
- Appeals
Qualifications
- National Session Graduate, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, an intensive, two-week trial advocacy program (2002)
- Adjunct Professor of Law in Moot Court and Lawyering Process, University of Connecticut School of Law
- Presenter, National Business Institute, Building a Foundation for a Successful Criminal Trial: The Defense Begins—Handling Initial Appearances
- University Of Connecticut School Of Law; Associate Editor, Connecticut Law Review
- Executive Director, Connecticut Moot Court Board
